New Orleans, October 29, 1861
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| Hon. S. R. Mallory |
| Secretary of the Navy, Richmond, Va. |
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| Sir, |
| ***** |
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The following approximate statement in brief will give you an idea
of our expenditures for different purposes in advance of the monthly
statements, viz:
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Paid
for railroad T-iron and duties
$9,619.69
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| We found the
above railroad iron in two lots, for one of which we paid $37.50 per
ton and the other the same price, with the duty (15 cents) added {255.5
tons}. These lots are new railroad iron and were purchased
below the market price; we do not know of another lot that can be
purchased here, but there are in "bond" here, as we learn
from a statement which we have obtained from the customhouse, over
20,000 bars of railroad iron {almost enough
track to lay 40 miles, both sides}, for 14,000 of which there
is no claimant here, and the whole of which it is believed belongs
mostly to alien enemies. Can we not get a requisition for such of
this as we may want, and have it valued, so that we shall not need
to pay any more for that article if we use it for covering the
vessel ?
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| We have
received the report of the experiment made by Captain Jones,
commanding at Jamestown, with 8-inch shot and 9-inch shell, on a
target 527 yards distant, covered with railroad iron (T), double and
locked by reversal. Captain Jones is doubtless right in his
conclusions; first, that flat iron, in three layers, 1 x 8 inches,
is better than railroad iron for covering batteries; second, that
the railroad iron was not sufficiently fastened, and we think the
experiment was not a satisfactory test for this reason: If, instead
of five 8-inch spikes in a bar of 12 feet, there had been 12, or
even more, say 24 spikes, and the bars had been well secured at both
ends, we think that the effect of the ball on the iron would have
been circumscribed to a small space.
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| If the
interstice of the rails could be filled with cement, it would make
the cover more solid and aid in resisting shot. Can we get flat
iron, or shall we at once make preparation for covering with
railroad T-iron?
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| Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
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| N. and A. F. Tift
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| Agents, Navy Department
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