The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-02
The sale of Iros-CIads.
The following letter from Assistant Secretary
Faxon appears in the Hartford Courant:


"WAsHNGToN, june %, 1865.
MY Dear Sir-The Courant Of Saturday did
not reach me until this morning. and embrace
the earliest opportunity To thaGk you for promptly
expressing your disbelief in the statements grow
ing out of the sale OF the iron clads Cstawba and
0neota. For yOur own satisfaction let me briefly
explain TO you the other side Of the story, stating,
however, that there is no charge Of stealing
against either the secretary, the assistant secre-
tary, or the chief Of the bureau who consummsted
the sale-it is only Of so arranging matters as TO
prevent other bidders than those who purchased
the vessels from obtaining them-in other words.
Of favoritism. or want OF good administration OF
executive duties.
These vessels, with six Others exactly like
them in every respect, were appraised and ad-
vertised according to law. When the bids were
opened II was found that for these two vessels
there were six bidders, and, Of course, the high
est offer was promptly accepted, and the bidder
notified to make deposit, as required by the adj
veriisement. This, Of course, released all other
bidders from any obligation, expressed or i'm.
piled, to stand by their offers. Nothing was
heard from the highest bidder, and as the depart
ment was anxious TO obtain as much as possible
for the vessels, it notified the next highest bidder
that he could have them at his bid; but he, too,
failed TO respond.
that II they desired the vessels at the prices named
by them. they must make q deposit OF the re.
CURED percentage within the time specified In
the advertisement, and were distinctly informed,
should more than one party make the deposit,
the boats will be awarded 20 the highest bidder
and the amounts deposited by the others re-
turned. The only arrangement necessary to
secure the vessels was to put up the money but
not dollar was deposited by any one. The bid
der representing the parties who ultimately took
the vessel knew that IL was no object for him to
put up the money, as he was the lowest bidder,
and be knew also, that there were six other YES.
sis as near like those two as the buttons upon
your coat are like each other, shat could be pur-
chased at the appraisal. Messrs. Swift 4 Co. then
came forward as purchasers at the appraised
value. The chief Of the bureau lsboring long
aud hard to make them come up TO the bid Of enc
Of their associates, but they would not give
$4,000 more tor the Catawba and Oneota than for
two others OF the same class, 10 every way as
perfect vessels, which could be had at valuation
made, in pursuance Of an act OF Congress by
board of which Commodore winslow. Of Kear.
sage fame. was chairman, assisted by four other
officers, including two engineers of experience
The department bad no choice as to the particu-
lar vessels TO be taken. The eight were exactly
alike and it would as soon sell the Catawba and
Oneota as any other two, or any two as the
Catawba and Oneota and IL made the sale and
put in the treasury over s750,000. The remain
ing six vessels have not been applied for TO this
dsy by any OF the parties who think that they
have been unfairly treated.
'Messrs Swift & Co. had gone out of the
country and sold two vessels. as IL now appears,
under an intimatiou given them by the depart
ncut tnht ihty mlgnt nave JnOse Dullt DY them
upon the same terms that Congress, winter before
last. gave TO the builders OF two other vessels
and as certain parties had got hold of this fact,
and as Congress authorized the sale in another
way, concerning operation was attempted
and had there not been more vessels Of the same
kind then in the market possibly il might have
been successful, ard the government thereby
have got'more money. IL did, however receive
the full value Of the vessels. and day con-
tract 10 build new ones exactly like those Il has
sold for the money II has placed 10 the treasury,
ard have them where they can be protected with
less expense, and without exposing those in
charge Of them TO death by yellow fever.
" If the purchasers successful In delivering
the vessels, have no doubt but that they will
make a handsome sum Of money, and they ought
10. Any one who will 60 into this extra hsz.
ardous' business, without the prospect OF very
large returns, should have a couservator over
him Sincerely yours. WILLIAM FAxoSD