New-York tribune., 1878-06-10
OLD SALES OF NAVY MATERIAL.
EXTRACTS FROM CHIEF-ENGINEER KINGS REPORT
IBr TELEGRAPH TO IHE TRIBUNE

EXTRACTS FROM CHIEF-ENGINEER KINGS REPORTS.
iBr TELEGRAPH IHE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, June 9.-The testimony taken by
the House Naval Committee in its investigation Of
the operations of the Navy Department during the
past few years. is strikngly interesting in parts.
That portion Of it relating to the sale of engines
and materials at fraction of their value is partcu-
iarly significant, nasmuch as it is shown by official
documents that the engines were of the same pat
tern as were subsequently used in Government
ships and were perfect and servceable in every re-
spect. The same firms buying the boilers from the
Government were employed to furnish new ones of
precisely the same pattern at largely increased
rates.
After the present Secretary Of the Navy came into
Office. Chief-Engineer King was directed to make
report on the sale Of Government property at tho
Navy Yards in Portsmouth, New-York and Philadel-
phia. This report dated August 90 1877, referring
70 the sale of ten new boilers and material says:
None Of the completed boilers had been used al
and OF the type and dimensions as those sup
Piled 70 ships for years past from the stock
st0red n the several Navy Yards and they gen
orally the same furnished by order OF the bureau before
and AZ the me Of the sales for the kind OF vesses
AeepthaI tof OF them contained tubes placed vertically
instead Of horizontally difference not afectiug their
oufaoiiy or success as steam generators, may he
poteQ u the TACT that set ike these sold thirteen
years In the Wabash Two OF those sold were made Of
SG0 lrOn metal costly than any In the boilers
tlat nave required and viii require new boilers Two
Of them had been recommended for the Wschusett
Nearly ten tons Of copper sold embraced many
new pipes. "Al the piping was valuable for use in
the repair Of vessels and some Of it could at
present be used and for the want of il new pipes
must be made. The sheet copper sold was just such
as will have to be again purchased" In a subse-
quent reDort-April 10, 157S,-Mr. King presents
summary Of new boilers and materials sold
non the three yards as follows:
Iota humber Of new boilers sold from the three Navy
5os VISITED, was thirty. Total weight OF the thirty
S0efs y2slOSsall0 tons Taking the contract price OF
Hs Hens per pound contracted to be paid for the new
sS,,,t - sne value Of those sold. the result IS Is
sssis srS % ooiers, We9ht m yZ2SloSogel0 ~ tons at 81
hhlst be deducted the price received for the
bSoes sold VIZ, s2s245 "a loss 70 the Government on
0ee sOld e59J 68i Z6 aud 20 this must be added
We cost to the Government OF the delivery Of much or
an Materials On the wharf These figures are CONSIDER
eieers for the delivery OF tho boilers sold included R
ls expensive valves and attachments while the boilers
copper and other materials cannot be aseertained:
There has been question as 10 the propiety OF
use ~ tne naval service ana exchange OF condemned
ees ioF materials needed could be made 70 better aa
ltags than by sale SUCH for instance, 90 the exchange
=" ~ old tubes or old scrap 70 be WORKED into
nv, metals II would seem Be.t % o,oS. 90 80
we're not old materials, worthless for use. on tns CON
they were new and stored IN the Navy Yards Ior
see 70 naval vessels requiring lew boilers ana Tor sew
- years many 0T precisely the same Kind were esuppned
. vessels returning frOm cruises with their boilers worn
t1lry bOers sod we're sound in good order and in
M especs t Tor use in naval vessels, Il can befound Dy
,ossus sim on the stocks At the Hew-York
sayy YARD. These boilers are Of the same age as the
81 the stock lett They too were sold but not delivered
consequent upon an order from the present Chief OF
No esnsre can be atfsc6ed 70 the purc8ssers Of tho
sssFs and other maferal1 They were onegsd 10 them