The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-20
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written by practical engineer who fully acquainted
with the circumstances under which the contract for the
engines Of the Phiiadephia aloopof-wsr was awarded
leosArsvArEDslg aasF ava
There has been published Ia several papers statement
OF pretended facts regarding the award by the Navy De
parent Of the contract the machinery OF OF the
steam sloops of busidng at the Philadelphia
yard which is tissue Of fasehood from beginning
20 end, and is briefly this
That Mr. William Norris of Philadelphia In Septem
Der last offered proposals buiidng the machinery OF
Of the steam soops. In the statement he Is
called engineer which Is incorrect he is merely
of the contract hunters who frequent the departments at
Washington and that he deprived OF the contract
by fraud and corruption the part Of the Secretary Of
the Navy and of the eng chief The simple history
Of Mr. Noriss proposals will set the wholo transaction
Ia its true light and clearly show by whom fraud and
corruption attempted.
The soop in question is the designed by Mr.. Grit
ths who employed by the department for that pur
pose Mr. Grfiths permitted TO choose the system
of propulsion he considers that essential part of his
plan, and it was, the sequel will show He adopted
two under each counter of the
Of ouy and that placed ia the dead wood according
to the universal practice AT the time the department
advertised for proposals was for several steam oop
Mr. Grifiths' among the number His selection of
had not been expected by the department and
there but bid for the machinery having this
rangement that bid was by Mr. Norris, who had with
out the knowledge Of he department been
furnished with the section ani plans Of the
vessel by MIR Griffiths, and notified by him to
adapt the machinery to two screws. The plans pre-
sented by Mr.. Norris endorsed approved
the signature Of Mr. Grifths In fact, Mr.. GTihiths
absurdly claimed the giving of the contract TO Mr. Nor
rs matter essential TO the of his model and
its propulsion by two According to him. power
not power unless Mr. Norris paid for it, AT this
time the department had not been furnished by blr.
Criths with the plans of his vessel and knew nothing
either Of the peculiartes of his model OF the method
by which he intended to prope it neither had Mr. Grif
ths furnished copies of his plans to any engineering
III L. Ia. Ma. la.
the whole affair had been arranged between the two, and
the department TO be taken by surprise. When
these plans received at Washington with Mr.
Norris machinery drawn In and approved by hlr Grit
fths the department. being thus for the ist time put
in possession of Mr.. Githss views very properly de-
cded that the machinery OF this vessel should be
peted for by all in the the machinery of
the other vessels and, in order that new propositions
might be offered it necessary to furnish the various
competing establishments with plans OF the vessel Now
the department had not been furnished with these
plans by Mr. Grifths, and time pressing and
the plans of the vessel carrying the machinery Of Mr.
Norris endorsed by Mr., Griiths and therefore
rect, the engineer nchef directed by the Secretary
of the Navy to have copies made of these plans of the
vessel only, not line Of Mr. Norriss machinery and
sent to those desiring to bid in order that they might
adapt their machinery properly to them.
These few truths completely expose the garbed false
hood published in the statement referred to- that copies
of Mr.. Norris drawings had been sent competing
bidder No such act had been DONE and Mr. Toucev
entirely candid when he assured Mr.. Norris in reply
his complaint this point, that disgracei an
could not be pepetated and that he would dismiss any
person proven to haye done So Mr.. Norris contnuing
to press this charge, Mr. Ioucey investigated it, and
found that the alleged drawings furnished Confined
a line OF Mr.. Norrss machinery, but simply tho
plans of government vessel which he himself had order
ed to be furnished that the different engineering estab
lishments might compete for its machinery well Mr.
Norris for the department had no intention of allowing
any "open and shut arrangement. but meant to pro-
cure for the country the cheapest and best ma
chinery for its money As regards the enginecrn
chief, he has had any action in the matter,
except minsterally and by the direction of the
Secretary The falsehood thus completely exposed,
that Mr. Norris's drawings had been furnished to
pettors is tho ESSENCE of the whole statement and the
sole foundation for the Malignant charge of fraud and
corruption" In the Engineer Bureau.
Now apart from other considerations the plans offered
by Mr.. Norris considered in important features
highly Objectionable and the first board of naval
gneers two Of high reputation and eminent for experience
reported strongly against themnone reported in their
favor. second bard of naval engineers, and board
of engineers not in tho navy followed DESTROYS
Mr. Toucey to procure mature consideration OF the sub
ect and the best plan for the government In the
gate Of these boards there decided majority opposed
to the plans of Mr. Norris and in favor Of those pro-
posed by the eminent engineering establishment to which
the contract was finally and properly awarded.
Pending the decision of the contract the department
became d6srous OF procuring higher sIeed than had been
originally contemplated In fact the greatest pracca
BILE speed required and Mr.. Toucey determined to
be built accordingly the old proposals Withdrawn,
and the competitors forward with
purely speed basis the bids being made for certain speeds
obtained, high minimum Of fixed by the de-
partment When these new proposals We're examined, it
was found that for the speed Fifteen miles per hour
which il was at al probable could be obtained by the
machinery offered, the bid Of Mr. Norris was S. 900 high
than that of the firm to which the contract award
ed and that their plans greatly superior his and
had been recommended by clear majority of the aggre
gate of the boards OF engineers which examined them
These the facts of the case and easily be sub
santiated by reference TO the files OF the department
yet their obvousness, the Secretary Is
charged with endeayoring 10 cheat Mr. Norris out Of the
contract The only thing the Secretary did endeavor to
do was to obtain the highest speed Of vessel with the
best machinery at the least cost Ar Noriss machinery
Of inferior design and greater cost and these the
simple reasons why he did not obtain the contract.
The firm to which the contract was awarded is Of
the FIRST engineering establishments In the country they
are bona d engineers and builders Mr. Norris is Meth
er he sought the contract purely speculation to sell
il again jn his reckessess to obtain il he asserted for
his machinery the ability 10 propeI the vessel a the pre-
posterous speed OF twenty miles Per hour and gould not
when questioned by the Secretary explain his plans
which Is not TO be wondered at considering he did not
design them. The advertisement of the department
stated that bids would be received except from build
ers and it not till several days after his proposals
were In thu. Mr. Norris able to give in
compliance with this condition II has been the object
of Mr. Touccy to foster the genuine engineering talent of
the country by giving contracts to such only, excluding
those who crowd In before the real business men, obtain
contracts and sell them at profit to others
The steam navy is particularly fortunate at this juno
ture in having Mr. Toucey for the Secretary He pos
sesses very thorough and comprehensive knowledge of
machinery and Is first rate practical Judge Mr. Nor
he al