The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-13
NAVAL INTELLIGENCF.

Tho New Steam Launches aud Cutters for tho
Navy-DescrirtiOn OF These Admirable Small
Craft--TheIr Superiority Over Foreign Steam
Launchcs- Movements Of the Tall upeosa with
Supplies.
Mr.. Benjamin F. Delano naval constructor In the
Brooklyn Navy Yard, has designed and is now
building several improved steam launches for YES
sells OF the first second and third rates. There are
TO be three sizes OF small boats to be propelled by
steam The first class is TO be steel boats SO feet
OK inches In length, s feet 0 inches BEAM
with 4 feet depth OF hold. The most approved
models OF boilers and engines are to be
constructed for these launches at the Wash
ington Navy Yard, ana efforts are to be
made to obtain the highest possible power with the
lowest possible weight of boilers and machinery.
Our earlier and cruaer efforts In this style Of lipu-
tan naval architecture compared very favorably
with the specimens OF foreign manufacture. mdeed,
the steam launch OF the Delaware frgatc flagship OF
Vice Admiral Rowan, commanding Asiatlc squad
ron, several races, in which she was formally
entered ut various points In the East, where the
steam launches Of French aud English irgates and
oil private parties participated in the contest Crack
French launches were beaten handsomely by the
Dclaware's launch. The Bureau OF Construction de-
sires, however, 10 improve the present style. only
III speed, but In sea-going qualities. All the
launches 81 the first m0uel were VIGOROUSLY heavy
and wet, II not dangerous in a seaway. They were
and several accidents have occurred IN consequence
of something giving way, from the tremendous
weight OF the boat rhe new launches are expected
10 be lighter, more broyant ana faster than any
thing We have yet had, and AT the same time eX.
tremey strong and elastic: Several steam cutters,
built somewhat on the plans OF the light, handy
boats Of the French and Russian naves, are
also N process OF construction, and ii expected
that they Win prove to he the very hes. boat Or the
kind atsat. The cutters arc 10 be constructed OF
plates or steel oneelghth OF inch thick rlyeted on
frame OF wrought iron. which Is light and yet very
strSng. The Length or this new class OF ,team cut
tiers Is 26 feet breadth or beam, feet inches; depth
OF hold 3 feet They TO be fitted with upright
boilers and u single propeller, to be driven by an
engine with cylinder six inches diameter ana six
board small ships with great ease and security. A
stu stu smaller SIZE Or boat IS yet to be built.
men -of-war compelled to anchor long distance
from snore, an+rt frequently becomes serious job
to send ashore boat, propelled By oars alone.
Tides and currents aud 1iefCe winds are hard to
pull against. Progress IS necessarily very slow ana
the labors Of the sailors protracted. All these
troubles are in great measure ELEVATED by the use
OF the steam launch, which requires not more
than four men to- handle 1t ana which can steam
crsay seawa No sser anS or ana ca
evmced by the Navy Department for the welfare
and comfort of the officers and sailors in the service
can be shown than In the attention 1t gives 10 the
Improvement In the construction OF steam small
b ats and the readiness with which 1t supplies all
vessels q proper class with TINS wonderful labor
and t.me-sayIng machine. Hereafter every class OF
vessel in our navy is likely to be furnished with
launch or cutter for performing boat duty in port.
The TallapoOsa, store vessel, Lieutenant David q.
McIitchle, sails tomorrow from the Brooklyn Yard
with supplies for the Newport Torpedo station. Fos
ton NAVY Yard ana Portsmouth IN. H. Yard. She
Will carry a draft OF men for the California, now
ready fer sea at Boston, and TO Newport she VIII
transport $50 barrels Of powder for experiments by
the Torpedo CORPS, which Is buslly engaged in per-
fectng this very important arm OF The naval service
OF the future.
Lieutenant Commander Dewitt Q. Kells lately re-
tired from the receiving ship Vermont and ordered
10 the command OF the sloop-of-war Pawnee. has
left New York TO enter upon the performance or
his new duties. 1t Is probable that the Pawnee
which has been converted INTO sailing snip, adUi-
rably arranged ana ventilated for hospital vessel
VIII sail the laL.er part si this month for Key West,
where she Is TO be stationed 10 receive the sick Of
the North division OF the North Atlantic SQUADRON
Lieutenant Commander Kells viii SHOW himself 10
be the right man IN the right place.
The United States frigate Franklin. first rate.
thirty nine guns Commodore c. r. 2. Rodgers bear
ing the Dag OF Rear Admiral Oliver S. Glisson, COM
Manding the European squadron, and the sloop OF
war Brooklyn, second rate, twenty guns Captain
John Guest, sailed November IS from Lisbon for the
Mediterranean for winter quarters.
The soop-owar Plymouth, third rate, twelve
guns, Commander X. Randolph Breese, put into Fal-
mouth. from Plymouth to Lisbon November 2s.
IL is rumsred in naval circles That Rear Admiral
Charles s. Boggs now Lighthouse Inspector OF this
district, will be ordered TO the command OF the
son, who goes upon the retired list early next year.
In this case Rear Admiral Boggs is likely to take
the frigate Tennessee, second rate, twenty-three
guns, now fitting out at the Brooklyn Navy YARD, as
his flagship to sail the latter part OF the winter
The frigate Guerrero, Captain stevens, will probably
sail for Europe in few days.
Lieutenant Commander Z. Dichman has resigned.