The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-16

J The Protest OF Mr.. p. .. Forbes to the
Secretary OF the Navy.
Il


in regard my contract for the engine Of the Algonquin
makes it necessary for TO ask for your decision IN
order that may be made on record for appeal
need be- or for such other action the ends OF justice
may require.
At the suggestion Of Assistant Secretary Fox l as
sumed the responsibility of making contract for the
construction OF an engine in double ender" with the
view Of reducing tho of actual demonstration the
question whether the world has been hitherto mistaken
in acting upon the theory discovered by James Watt,
that q great economic advantage is 10 be gained by
using the expansive power OF steam as developed by
the employment of ''cut off," whether the Navy
Department has been mistaken in building an entire
navy upon the hypothesis advanced by Mr. sherwood,
and sustained by an experiment tried old steam
boat fastened the dock in Lake Erie that there 10 no
economic advantage in using the expansive power of
steam beyond very ranges ana that the point OF
greatest efficiency for engine Is to Ill cylinder
tenths full from the boiler beforc the valve is
closed ..ts4 ~ ~, = a.
The question Is one Of vital Importance, and involves
in It's practical decision the relative standing OF our navy
In comparison with the naves Of the world. My own
experience in number Of steamers, has proved to me
that in proportion TO the use mac of the aw Of WATT
the gain In power and economy and was therc
fore anxious prevent the further expenditure Of
national in building q navy upon the
hypohess which stood on no broader foundation than an
obs curs experiment tried out engine tied fast
dock The Assistant Secretary seemed to agree with
that the object of vital Importance and to favor
this method Of determining the question practically.
When the contract prepared by the department ID
contained extraordinary conditions tending rather TO
in this important matter; but thought the subject
worthy tho attempt although became bound by the
contract TO remove the engine and replace with
another mado according to the navy pattern in
short of the others in excellence and although one
third of the total price was withheld as security 70 Inc
whereas in all other only onefth Is retained for
| this purpose.
nounced that no intended destroy this engine when
built and to Mr. CoryelI no said that II "Mr Lincoln
were reelected he would have military powor to do AS he
pleased and he threatened various outagcs which no
would commit upon this engine and tho engine OF the
Idaho also building by me tor similar pI tt .o 10
partment would protect mo In the effort was making TO
the country; an effort which, may DO permitted
to say making without poss bility OF pront,
and thus far with large loss and with no expectation
of advantage except that which might share with all
my fellow citizens who hope to the United States
maintain itself the ocean, has on the land in the
| front rank OF nations.
thirds to be made in sx equal parts as the work
progresses with reservation OF thirty three and third
per Of each part" Of which the last was due when
the engine completed leaving one-hrd as guar
| antee that l would perform the remaining condi-
| tions of agreement Tho engine was completed about
tho LIST Of July and at tho dock for four days as
required by the Department. and the bill for the sixth
nstallmcnt duly certified for payment by the en-
gineer Of tho department under whose
and Admiral Gregory by regulation required to
be- When presented Mr. Isherwood for his 81 mature
ofcia certificate Of the completion Of the engine ac-
cordny contract from which alone he could know
| anything about It. Mr.. Gardnor my agent, went to
WASHINGTON to demand tho necessary signature and he
refused by Mr. lshcrwood, who ASSIGNED for rca-
not that he had any n %nder p ao .onS
my part OF the agreement In case II should be found on
trial that the engine did not perform as vol az was ex
pccted and that intended to this sixth pay
men addition TO the one third reserved by the terms
Of the agreement further guarantee for my honesty
Against This outrage protest as gross violation Of
the agreement on the part Of the department; and
demand that Mr. lsherwood be compelled forthwith 70
| me under the contract On this point request your
decision that may II necessary take such further
steps for enforcing my rights may be open to me.
By the terms Of the contract the engine, being com
peted must be tried In order TO determine the very
WHITTIER the laws Of steam have been unknown in the
world till the year 1850 The trial stipulated FOL
in the contract to be made Dy cnmparns ,ne
| namely with machine similar to those which arc
| in twenty-five other "doubleendsrs." When the con
tract was written I introduced n clause that the
trial should be made by running tho two YES
| sells together with weighed coal but the Depart
could not be certain to have one of this Class
| of vessels of use for such a trial when needed
and assented 20 tho reason thinking II not require
war; for SO important service as this But thai
does not now exist, and whole heot OF these
Algonquin was brought to New York Saturday, the
odd July by officer Of the navy and on Monday, the
.4tf, the department. Vue,e noI W 70 N v y~ E
was coaled) for trial In the harpor OF new ik a. !
was alleged, Tor the purpose Oh oetermns tnc 4ues
tons at ssuo ana the standard Oh COMPARISON oy wc
a report maze by Congressional committee OF the
performance OF the Euaw IN the foomac river. LIE
order recognized the very obvious Necessity VI Wy
question when the vessel was motion ana mere wa
no precnce maze oy tue tis .he 'ue
was to remove the pecnlisr wheels OF tne AIsonq.n
which constitute part OF her eScenence e ner w 70
dock and asccrtan now wen sne ougns 70 DO ao,c ~
perform ny calculations maae Dy PERSONS appom.eu ~
the department 10, .nas pu.pIS & . ~ uar
fatal objections 10 the proposed standard OF
one Of which was that the Eutaws engine onereo IRON
the speciicaon whcn cstapsned .ne contiactsanusI.
In worry Important particular ana tne otneI was tna
the Eutaw was run IN rcsn wafer as cola - noans
could mako IT, ana the algonquin mum Do run IN ~
water oil summer tempera.ure. .neso oHJoc''ons
after some opposition by MT isncrwood prevse1; an
II then seemed that the only proper course Os ue ~
parlment was 10 SUBSTITUTE one OIL sne vesscss W ~
|