The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-12
Their Visit to the Stevens Institute, Hell
Gate, the Brooklyn Bridge and the
Fourth Avenue Improvement.
inspection of the Stevens
Battery.


appliances for demonstrating physical laws.
Plaleau's apparatus for showing the equi-
librium OF liquid masses and the invention OF
SIMON (de Metz illustrating the laws Of capillar
lty, were first SHOWN. Then Hipps' chrom0scope
for measuring time with accuracy to the 1-l,oO0th
OF q second; also the apparatus OF Lissajous,
Helmhotz and others for illustrating the laws OF
vibration: and large galvanic induction coil
showing spark twenty-one inches in length.
Many Of the instruments were exceed
ingly delicate. The visitors walked over the
workshop in the basement, where the students
are taught the rudiments Of practical mechanics.
In the basement are also located the batteries and
boilers. The lecture rooms OF the institute were
then visited in order, and some very beautiful
specimens or spectrum analysis shown in the
Presidents lecture ROOM The route then led
through the photograph room with Its cameras,
clark roomn baths. developers &C. The tour
ended in the library.
THE STEVENS BATTERY.
The civil engineers then proceeded In O body
from the Institute to visit the Stevens ironclad
battery, which has for 80 many years been an OBJ
ject OF curiosity and mystery. This enormous
ironcad, OF the monitor pattern, has been in the
course OF construction for twenty.six years. The
designers were the late Messrs. Robert L. and Ed
win A. Stevens and, upon the death OF the latter.
(his brother having died some years previous) in
1871 1t was left by will to the State OF New Jersey.
When the vessel was first commenced there were
very few iron vessels a1Oat The Messrs. Stevens
proposed to build for the government an iron shot
proof vessel for the defence OF New York Harpor,
d wea ns o.
beam, 40 feet; depth rnidshlps, % feet;
number Of boilers 4; accessory engines, 2; con.
densing engines A; horse power 900; one pro.
peler and shaftlng; protection against shot, AZ
inches OF iron arlnor. There were to be seven guns
ers. The projectors proceeded to construct YES
sci upon the above plan, and had advanced con-
Sev way uPoa the 20 so when II
government informing them that as very great
and important changes had taken place in ord
shot proof. This brought the WORK to stand still,
and It was not until 1855 that it was resumed upon
ment. The following were the 1855 specidca-
tlons:-Lengsh, 45 ,o ieet; beam, 4s feet;
Of boers. To- Horse power, sea- two propeers
and shaiting; accessory engines, 81 condensing en-
gines, 8; protection against shot OK inches Of
iron. The armament was to consist or five 15-
inch guns, each weighing twenty-five tons and
capable Of projecting shot OF 425 pounds and two
from time to time from the appropriation $500 600
When the war commenced. the builders endeav0red
the government, but, this being reused the work
came to stand still. MIR. L. A. Stevens being
in III health neal s,v was toes compelled to visit
stopped. alter his death in 1877 the State OF New
Jersey to whom 1t was lett. called IN the
completing the vessel After careful examina-
ton he reported oraa TO- the trustees that
make. a serylceable war ship under the
specifications. 1t was then determined TO remodel
beam, is ieet depth, 24H ieet engines 4 boil.
ers, 10; 3 twin screw; horse power. 5000. 1t was
ao 70 se neT side 81 o. IRON
turret with IS inches OF solid iron. The side
armor backing now on 10 ieet OF oak and yellow
rfnn hn oil LODI hmm
ing CT iron one inch thick. The ordnance
was to he two 2o-inch smooth bore guns,
two wrought iron Pinch rires, throwing q
6Oo-pound shot and capable OF penetrating fifteen
knots per hour. the sum already expended upon
her has been So 50O 00O and 1t is calculated that
Will take about 100000 more TO put her aloat.
The engines were built at the Delamater Works, and
are models OF cOmpactness, rejecting credit upon
their Workmanship. One OF the remarkable features
in her construction IS That OF the twin screws,
which give her facility OF man9uvrlng, as they
are under the control OF separate engines. They
be revolved in opposite directions thus allow
ing her to turn upon her ..neel," which would be
OF Importance In narrow channel. by an act OF
the last Legislature OF New Jersey IL was decided
to offer her at public sale, which will take place
on November q Those having charge OF the vessel
have secured the services OF Professor R. II.
as the consulting engineer, and he Is now engaged
In making measurements and preparing an
elaborate paper upon It, which Is to be published
in pampnlet form in English, French and German.
The Commission OF Sale appointed by the Legisa-
ture consists Of Governor Parker, Vice Chancellor
Dodd and the executors or Mr. Stevens-vZ.,
Messrs. w. W. Shlppen and $. b. bod. oil Hoboken.
After partaklng OF q lunch on the deck Of the
pier adjoining the Eagle steamship wharf and
there embarked on the ferryboat Farragut, ten
dered by the Union Ferry Company.
THE BATTERY IMPROVEMENT
The Farragut leaded down stream and soon
reached the Battery, where all disembarKed to
inspect the improvement is making In the sea wall.
The stone pier and the method OF constructing the
Beton blocks was carefully examined.
next commanded the attention OF the engineers.
The landing was made near the base of the Brook
cnorage foundation large number ascended to to
the top OF the tower. The top OF the stone
s.snso w where tine last rc eeTns
night giving an ascent OF ten feet.
The view from the top is one OF wondrous beauty,
including the Bay, the entire island OF Manhattan
and most OF Brooklyn. At the giddv height OF 24O
feet IT seemed as ii one could see down the smoke
stacks OF the steamers on the river, and Trinity
church spire seemed to be the only companionable
OBJECT In the great city Of New York.
THE HE'LL GATE IMPROVEMENT.
The excursionsts then took steamer Tor Halett's
Point, to visit the Hell Gate excavations. This
work has been SO often described that all appeared
the tunnels or .'headlngs" Tor the purpose OF hav-
ing IT to say rney had been there. 1t Is estimated
and that there is nothing wanting to push the
work TO completion. save the appropriation await.
ing the ACTON n Of Congress, me visit was u OF
the steamer conducted the party to Harlem
bridge about i've O'Clock, whence they took train
10 the Grand Central depot, inspecting the Fourth
avenue Improvement on the way down.
DINNER AT TAMMANY HALL.
The sixth annual dinner OF the American So
ciery OF civil Engineers took place last evening at
Tammany Hail. Colonel julius w. Adams presiding.
At the head OF the table, as guests sat President
r. A. r. Barnard, OF Columbia College; Hon. Hora-
ITO Allen, OF pennsylvania /; Mr.. Hennany, of
Louisville, KY; Mr.. Chesbrough, OF Chi.
cago; George wilson, Secretary OF the
Chamber OF Commercei General ST.. John,
Of Louisville, ~; j. ?. DAVIS, OF Boston;
OF ST. LOUIS. and others. speeches were made by Mr..
Adams, the chairman: William +. Wortnen and
W. NJ Roberts. President Barnard was then intro.
duced. He SAID 81 don't know by what title
happen TO be here tonight. know very little
OF civil engineering, but thought knew enough
to hold my peace, and was prepared to DO so.
DO think That your science requires the greatest
natural gifts. You hold In your hands, to a great
extent, the safety Of your fellow citizens.
We need not speak OF the disasters which
have recently happened, to point out to you
the Importance OF having able ciyil engineers.
Your profession is one OF the oIdesSln all history
/ u han Erfht