New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-03
THE UNFINISHED MONITORS.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-The report OF the
Naval Advisory Board created by the act OF Congress Oh
August s. 1882 to the wisdom and expedency OF co'n'
Melting the ironclad steamers Monadnock. Puritan Am
phrite and Terror was laid before Congress To-Day III
letter transmitting the report Secretary Chandef ap
proves the conclusions Of the Board ana recommends
that provision be made by Congress for the completion
of the monitors accordingly After calling attention TO
his views as expressed in his last report to Congress- NO
vember 90 1882, the Secretary says;
II the Nation regain its position as maritime ana
naval power reasonable provision snoH & oe nr borbor
defence by OF irOnclads Such deence can p nc
complshed effectively and economically by uonDe
rreed monitors than by any other form OF armed YES
sells The hus of these four monitors are IN perfect
condition IL possible TO complete them for reasona-
bile amount OF money economically expended and any
responsibility for further delay am not Wliing 10 sne
The Department however, ia not in favor OF completing
the permissory by
the Secretary of the Navy the Hon George NJ hoOeso,
era the Hon Alphonso TAFT investigation has shown
prices the work 10 be done under hese CON
%n'" bnt the "''S Contrary nys has appeared.
In the meantime conditions have changed, ana some
changes made the plans for completing the
vessels And prices for wood and materials have al
tered The department therefore should be authorized
TO sote airy with the Tor the use anu o
cupaton OF their yards since 1877 by these vesse ana
for their care and preservs ou and new contracts shouu
be made for the construction of their machinery
The report says:
We have made personal examinations OF the hulls ot
the Puritan, Terror and Amphtrite The Monadnock
examined thoroughly all the reports tnat have been
made by previous Boards by Admiral OF the navy
The other auLhOrdes and have also examined
far possible all the literature pertaining TO foreign
arOrcd OF pOndiDg II Is our opinion
that IL would be wise ana eXpsdent 70 finish these yes
sells for the following First, the hus as
they at present are OF excellent workmanship
fully up TO the present standard OF ironshlp
construction, whilst the otation Of the Puritan and the
behavior OF the MiantOnomah at sea confirm the
correctness OF the calculations OF designs;
second, It is easily possible TO complete the vessels by
taking advantage OF the recent developments In arnor
guns machinery Wi hOut making any radical changes
In the design that their speed, endurance battery
power protection and seagOng qualities snsll be iuy
equal those any foreign Toncad OF similar dnen-
sOus designed previous to 1875 third the vessels may
be finished 10 develop all the aforementioned
advantages without making their total cost when
Completed In any way eIOTbltant compared
with the results obtained; again, the interests
OF seacOasi defence require force at least equal 10
that which would be represented by those vessels
In OF the official reports upon these hnis DOUBT
thrown upon the correctness OF the calcuiluons OF
the Puritan Tnis doubt spread In the puOnc mlnd
until 10 Included AL the ships. Ine actla Notation OF
Puritan and the MantOnOmln prOycs beyond ques-
ton not only entire reliability OF the calculations.
but that the huls OF these vessels lighter In pro
portion displacement thdu those or any IRON
clad low fTeebOard nulls ahoat Win Two EXCEPTIONS