National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-04-04
The Stevens battery,


: An exchange, in referring to tho Ste
vens battery, says:
by the will of the late Edwin Stevens
: OF Hobokon, his last experiment in m
val architecture, then lying in yard II
: lloboken IN but a skeleton condition
after having been built partly up ant
then taken down half dozen times, :,
'nlt the ideas of the protector, was be
qneathed to the State of New Jersey n,
a gift, as soon as HShoUid be completed
on ms executors al an crJJcnSe, Ia his
SfcrchS, estate If not more Than one
miftl0n Of d0tiars. The executors OF
Mr.. Stevens at once set about compile
ting the vessel, and employed Gen. Me-
Clellan and Capt. Isaac Newton ms their
engineers. These gentlemen estimated
that tho vessel could be completed, and
even partly equipped with her guns for
the mllllol, and yet leave n leeway of
some Sll2,0 900. Accordingly, work was
enei8etically 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 net, and authorized
the Governor to appoint three commits
sloners on the part of the State to keep
an eye on the war vessel of New Jersey.
In following year the Legislature dis
cussod what should be done with the
money coming from the proposed sale
OF the battery, and while certain per-
sons favored its 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
char the State might be said to be large
ly ahead in its financial possessions, the
amount to be received being varously
estimated at from 81, 600, 600 to 81, 000,-
600. Congress also was petitioned, and
ana 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 |
rafting in her State Treasury. So GER
tam was she that contract was made |
between the State Commissioners and n |
large New York firm, whereby the latter
were to have the vessel at the price of |
81 800, 900, provided that firm could dis
pose of 1T rs they expected, to the Gov
eminent of Turkey. This contract was
ratified by the Governor of New Jersey
and her Chief-Justice, but it was but a
contract, and though re-
newed for 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
beenpushed energetically for some time,
It was discovered that the estimates were
lar under what the real amount needed
would be to finish the vessel. Other
estimates were made, and it was learned
hat $500, O00had been expended already,
md that fully $600,000 more would be
needed. This would bring the cost some
800, 900 beyond the 81 900, 900 to be
spent, and here troubles at once broke
'ut. BY the will, not only must the
to be expended not exceed ST.
)OO, 900, but also the vessel could not be
passed over to the State until she was
ully completed. The widow of Mr.
stevens and her children then threw the
Whole matter into the Court of Cham
cry, where 1t has remained ever since,
nd now is awaiting a decision. The
I'll IN Chancery claims that as they can !
lot use more than the million, nor give q
p the vessel till she is completed, the t
Ill of MIR. Stevens in regard TO tLis .
essel must be deemed imperative and :
old, and they ask the Court to decide $
pom the future disposition of the partly
nished vessel. The State authorities
robably feel disposed to themselves
lrnish the needed 100000, finish the a
essel, sell it, and then repay the State a
er advance, and hand her over the bal d
ice. But this was not the will of Mr..
tevens, nor is it to the interests of the
-evens estate. And so the Chancellor Il
called upon to decide as to what dis "
lsltion can or may be made of the YES al
i either now or when, if ever, COM
eted, and till he does this, New Jer ha
y has only her navy in eSSe and not in a. a,
)SSe