New-York tribune., 1882-04-10


!BY TELEGRAPH TO TRIBUNE,l
WASHINGTON, April 0.-It may be remembered
that, after the Jeanette arrived at San Francisco
to reit for the Arctic expedition, questions were
raised as to whether she a proper vessel to un-
dertake such n service and naval board OF sur
vey WAS directed to examine her and recommend
such changes and repairs as might in their Judgment
fit her for an Arctic cruise The alterations and re-
pairs recommended by the Board Of Survey were
made, and every effort exered so to strengthen
the Jeanette that she would be n seaworhy vessel
for the purposes intended After all had been done
that was possible, strong doubts seemed to have dis
tnrbed the minds of naval officers to the sea wor-
thine g of the vessel; and Commodore Calhoun
commander Of the Marc Island Navy Yard, ap-
pointed another board June 6, 1879 to examine the
Jeanette and report if all the alterations and repairs
directed to be made had been completed. and also
If in their opinion she has been, far rs practical
blc repaired and placed in condition for service in
the Arctic Ocean"
On tho 10Th of June, 1870, the Board submitted
their report which. on June %. was approved by
Commodore Calhoun, and forwarded TO Sec
retary Thompson. Now for the first time
the order of Commodore Calhoun, convening
the Board, and the report of the
Board are made public the publication being sac
toned by Secretary Hunt, of the Navy Department.
Tie report, which has sad interest in view of the
fate of the Jeanette and part of her gallant oii-
GERS and crew, is as follows:
NAVY YARD, MARE ISLAND CAL,l
June 26, 1879 :
Commodore:
In accordance with your order Of the 9th inst,
hereto annexed, we have made careful examination
of the repairs and outfit of the Arctic steamer Jean
ncttc, and respectfully report as follows:
In regard to the repairs and alterations
as recommended in the survey upon that vessel;
She has been dOcked, her bottoms On outside and
deck recaulked, deck over boilers renewed a new
and WIDER bridge made, water-cOsctS, pumps and
side lights Oyerhauled and repaired; the diagonal
or truss braces for some hfty lcet anidNnps, nave
frame timbcrs in that locality The lead of the
wheel ropes was not changed because the officers of
the vessel preferred the present arrangement
The necessary repairs were made on the matches
and other work OF minor importance done. The
vessel has been painted throughout: For. an eX-
tended cruise in the Arctic regions il was
not possible, in our opinion, to make her
particularly adapted for such service.
10 strengthen her in the space between
the lower ci gc of the spar-dcck clamps and upper
edg Of hiiGc stroke in wake of boilers. engine and
coal bunseIs, she was plankcd with sX-inch Oregon
pine, well fastened through M thTough ana IN
mrndcd IN survey. beams and heavy truss work or
athwartships diagonal bracing has been substi-
tulcd. Heavy staucinons under every beam were
not put in bee use they were not authorized by the
bureau I'm addition to The original iron breast
hooks and instead of the three or four heavy
wooden hooks, as recommended by survey, it was
found after removing tie joiner work above the
Icrth-cck that hooks Of the proper shape could not
be obtained, so pointers ana bracng were used in
stead but the e. extreme tna s 1o,e ore eng OF the
and from the bcrth-dcck down has been filed in
solid and all well bolied through and through. The
spars were not changed, as there was no authority
from the Bureau 10 90 50. he sugg stlons made by
Tie commanding officer of the vessel have been car
ricd ont She has been provided with a house on
deck fitted to be put in sections when required
Felt has becn provided for fclng such parts of the
shin as may be dcsired bY the commanding officer
The entprir r0Om or porch 10 cabin. has not been
nut ND but material for il has been supplied as Lieu
tenant DE Long preferred to do the work with his
The Jeanette has becn provided with one COM
p ete set of sqiis, n complete set running rigging
= cover for poop deck, fve hel iug stove and l3j
tons of anthracite coal, tha being all her bunkcrs
would stow.
alteration made in the gear for raising tie screw
and in the lead of the main steam pipe, as recon-
ncnd,d by survey. .
boilers as being worn out rev boilers % different
design and less pOHec, but occupying less space,
which has been added TO TIC bankers, have
Lcpn nut into tie ship. The boilers ard
bunkers have been arranged very nearly as
shown in the outline drawing accompanyin ing
the report of the board that recommended the
change. Other work has been done, not embraced
in the recommendation of survey but considered
necessary which consists rs follows
A No. j Scwell and Cameron pump has been fur
uised and connected with boilers distilling appa-
RAT rs and bilcc. A pair of steam launch engines
have been ftcd with gearing, drums, etc, for hoist
lus and working. -Four extra propeller blades have
been furnished Il he survey rccommcnding but two;
il having been deemed advisable TO increase the
surface and pitch three blades weie east
tIom the new pattern, and one of the
Old blade Two new main steam slide
valves have been put in it being desirable TO
work the engine more eXpanoiyoiy. The old valves
remain on board as extra ones. new SmOkepIpc
has been furnished, the Old one having been
found not worth repairing The dlstliling apparatus
has been removed from forward aud placed III The |
cngne-ToOm, and the proper connections made. The |
DrOper number OF pieces OF spare machinery ar
board ship. The tOOis, Outlts and stores good IN
quantity and quality with the exception Ol bhe OH
winch is of inferior quality, but there is other
kind III store Whatever Is required IN the way of
outfits ana stores has been supplied by the different
d, partments, so far as the stock on hand would |
admit. The comman ing officer proposes To furnish |
III san Francisco Whatever else he may require. |
la our opinion, the vessel should carry |
more drinklng-water, as She mas bdt one |
Long Is of the opinion that with the GlsIllIng APP
paratus the tank IS sufficient, that bcing al she
earn led III her trip out here ana rs her stOWage room
is 30 contracted.
trial was made after she had received her coal, |
stores and PROVISIONS. The hrcs were lighted at |
900 a. H. and steam formed az 1ll5 a. IN. At 300 |
D. III. started engines ahead. Up TO tins time $500
pounds OF coal had been put into the furnaces.
Steamed down Mare Island straits INTO san Pueblo
BAY AGAINST FREE bleeZe and strong tlde, aYc rag
lng i!t,-eght revolutions a minute The speed of
tine vessel shown BY log was four aud oue-half
knobs. the screw showing sip of 1884 per cent.
On the return, with wind aft ana tide favor
able the log showed five and Onc7iuaTieT knots,
engines making sixty revolutions per minute The
boilers steamed freely, and no difficulty WAS
pcrenced III holding the steam pressure for fit,
eight and sixty revolutions. HE coal used was
very hard anthracite of inferior quality, contain
ing considerable slate. The hremen were entirely |
me xpeIicnCcd, having but recently shipped as
,oa heayers. The run was not OF suiic i'nt dura-
ion TO ncccsoitato blowing the boilers" the en-
gInc, have jet condenser, nor to clean fires The
.ngines were stopped at o:-2 J. III. During tie
.ilac they were in operation LOCO pounds coal
were put IN the furnaces. This uIai Nas not OF
,uliicicnt length TO enable the Board 10 determine
lie consumption OF Iuei nor cost OF hoIse power but
sufficient to show ne satisfactory working OF the