Connecticut western news., 1873-04-11
The Stevens Battery.

An exchange, in referring to the Ste vens battery, says:
 By the will of the late Edwin Stevens, of Hoboken, his last experiment. i'll na- val architecture, then lying in yard at Hoboken in but skeleton condition, after having been built partly up and then taken down half dozen times, to suit the ideas of the projector, was be- queathed to the State of New Jersey as gift, as soon 0s itshould De completed 6y his executors at a'a expense, to his,
 SteUens', estate of aaot more than one million of dollars. The executors of Mir. Stevens at once set about comple- ting the vessel, and employed Gen. Nc Clellan and Capt. Isaac Newton as their engineers. These gentlemen estimated that the vessel could be completed, and even partly equipped with her guns for the million, and yet leave leeway of some SIP, ,O0O. Accordingly, work was energetically pushed, and the vessel, then named the Stevens Battery, was to be done in three years. The Legis- lature of New Jersey accepted the gift by an appropriate act, and authorized the Governor to appoint three commits sioners on the part of the State to keep an eye on the war vessel of New Jersey. In a following year the Legislature dis cussed what should be done with the money coming from the proposed sale of the battery, and while certain per- sons favored it's being placed in the school fund, Gov. Randolph would have liked to have had the sum credited to the general fund of the State, so that on his retiring from the gubernatorial chair the State might be said to be large ly ahead in its financial possessions, the amount to be received being variously estimated at from $2,O0O,O 900 to $4,OOO,- 900. Congress also was petitioned, and did validate the prospective passing over of the vessel to New Jerseys pos session, but said that she must dispose of 1t by sale, and therefore not keep the monster in defiance of the Constitution. Everything was working very smoothly, and New Jersey almost felt the money rattling in her State Treasury. So cer- tain was she that a contract was made between the State Commissioners and large New York firm, whereby the latter were to have the vessel at the price of $1, 800, ,0OO, provided that firm could dis pose of 1t as they expected, to the Gov ernment of Turkey. This contract was ratified by the Governor of New Jersey and her Chief-Justice, but it was but a conditional contract, and though re- newed for Q second term, the New-York house did not make their sale to Turkey nor their handsome commission.
 But after the work on the Battery had been pushed energetically for some time, 1t was discovered that the estimates were far under what the real amount needed would be to finish the vessel. Other estimates were made, and 1t was learned that $500, ,000had been expended already, and that fully $500, 1000 more would be needed. This would bring the cost some. $40O,O00 beyond the $1 1,OOO,OO to be spent, and here troubles at once broke out. By the will, not only must the amount to be expended not exceed $1,- GOO, ,000 but also the vessel could not be passed over to the State until she was fully completed. The widow of MT. Stevens and her children then threw the whole matter into the Court of Chan cery, where 1t has remained ever since, and now IS awaiting 8 decision. The bill in Chancery claims that as they can not use more than the million, nor give up the vessel till she is completed, the will of MT. Stevens in regard to this vessel must be deemed imperative and void, and they ask the Court to decide upon the future disposition of the partly finished vessel. The State authorities probably feel disposed to themselves furnish the needed $4OO,0OO, finish the vessel, sell it, and then repay the State her advance, and hand her over the bal ance. But this was not the will of MT. Stevens, nor is it to the interests of the Stevens estate And so the Chancellor is called upon to decide as to what dis position can or may be made of the yes sel either now or when, if ever, com pleted, and till he does this, New Jer- sey has only her navy an esse and aaot i'a 21OSSe