National Republican., 1883-01-03
THE MONITOR MONSTERS.
Report Of the Naval Advisory Board Advising
Their Completion.
Some Pertinent Remarks by Secretary
Chandler.

Chandler.
The report of the naval advisory board,
created by the act of congress Of August 8,
1882, as to tho wisdom and eXpediency Of
completing the iron-cad steamers Monadnock,
Puritan, Amphitrite and Terror, was laid be-
fore congress yesterday. In a letter trans
mitting the report, Secretary Chandler APP
proves the conclusions of the board, and
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 con-
| gress, November 30, 1882, the secretary says
If the nation is TO regain its position as a
maritime and naval power, reasonable pro-
vision should be made, not only for offensive
| cruising vessels, but also for harbOr defense by
means of ironclads Such defense can be ac-
| complished more effectively and economically
| by double-turreted monitors than by any
other form of armored vessels The
new hulls of these four monitors are
In perfect condition. 1t is possible TO
| complete them for q reasonable amount of
money, economically expended, and any re-
sponsibility for further delay am not willing
| to shar @. The department, however is not in
| favor of completing these monitors under the
| the permissory contracts directed by the
| secretary OF tnc navy, HON. deOfge NJ. hODc-
| son, March 2, 1S77, under the advice of the
attorney general, the Hon. Alphonso Taft.
| No investigation has shown that the
prices for the work to be done un-
der these contracts were not fair
hand reasonable, but the contrary has APP
peared. The order for the contracts, how
| ever, contained provision as follows; =" 1t
being expressly understood, however, that the
government is not to be involved in liability
by reason of such action, and that the several
| contractors are to do their work, if they do
1t, accepting for their pay such appropria-
tions as may be made by congress therefor"
These limitations expressly negative tho
idea of liability of the government
under contracts, unless they shall
be followed by subsequent appropriations
by congress, which for various reasons, not
necessary TO be now discussed, have been
withheld, and no work was done under them
before they were suspended by order Of Secre-
tary Thompson March 10, 1877. In the mean
time conditions have changed, and some
changes should be made in the plans for COM
pleting the vessels; and prices for work and
materials have altered. The department,
therefore, should be authorized to settle
fairly with the contractors for the use and
occupation of their yards since 1877 by
these vessels, and for their care and preserya-
tion, and new contracts should be made for
the construction of their machinery. The
difficulty in contracting for the machinery is
Mt once apparent. There can be practically
no competition among engine builders for the
contract. There are but few establishments
competent for the performance of the
work, and these will not be likely to bid
against each other. The only practical
method therefore for constructing such
machinery will be to authorize the depart
ment to make contracts at such prices as may
be fair and reasonable. In conclusion, the
secretary says; "The advisory board has not
yet been able to make its report in detail or
to determine the cost of the completion of
the monitors which it recommends but is en-
gagged in preparing such full report,
which will be transmitted to Congress
Immediately upon its reception by the depart
ment. The report says: ave have made
personal examinations of the hulls of the Pu-
ritan, Terror, and Amphitrite. The Monad-
I, mock was examined by the president of the
board. We have also examined thoroughly
, all the reports that have been made by previous
boards, by the admiral Of the navy, and by the
, other authorities, and we have also
examined, as far as possible, all the literature
pertaining to foreign armored vessels of cor
, responding size. 1t is our opinion that it
! would be wise and expedient to finish these
vessels at once, for the following reasons
First. The hulls as they are at present, are OF
! excellent workmanship, fully up to the pres
! ent standard of iron ship construction, while
: the flotation Of the Puritan, and the behavior
! of the Miantonomoh at sea, confirm the COR
, rectness of the calculations Of the designs.
! Second. 1t is easily possible to complete the
vessels by taking advantage of the recent de.
a Velopments in armor, guns and machinery
p without making any radical changes in the
, design, SO that their speed, endurance, bat.
terry, power, protection, and seagoing quail
ties shall be fully equal to those of any foreign
n ironclad of similar dimensions designed pre-.
\ YiOus to 1879.
a Third. The vessels may be finished SO as t.
develop all the aforementioned advantage:
without making their total cost when com
pleted in any way eXorbtant compared witt
the results obtained; again, the interests o
q our sea coast defense require q force at leas
equal to that which would be represented
by those vessels. We take the liberty
i of calling your attention to certain erron
" eous impression which now exists, with regart
to these vessels In one of the official report
upon these hulls doubt was thrown upoI
10 the correctness of the calculations of tn
Q Puritan. This doubt has spread in the publ
y mind until it included all the ships. The actua
% fotation of the Puritan and the Miantonomol
70 proves beyond question not only the entir
N reliability of the calculations, but also tina
u the hulls Of these vessels are lighter in pro
: portion to the total displacement than that o
70 any iron clad low freeboard hulls afloat, will
IS but two exceptions 1t has been the unfortun
ate custom in arguments as to the value of tn
DO results to be obtained to compare them witt
. such foreign ships as the Inilexible and Dinlio
Il to the evident disadvantage of the monitors
. no account whatever being taken of the fac
"a that these vessels are double the size of tn
" monitors. If these hulls be compared wit
q foreign ones of similar dimensions, n
. such disparity will appear. The boar
81 has the honor to report that it will
- be prepared before the end of Januar
!. to submit complete and detailed plans, ia
. gether with the estimates of cost, for the com
81 pletion of the Puritan. With regard to tn
60 other vessels, their interior dimensions will
- require more time and more careful examina
ss tion to prepare detailed designs that shall Civ
them the highest possible efficiency"
% The board is composed Of II. w. ShufeldI
IS commodore United States navy and presiden
90 Of the bonrd; Henry Steers, Miers Coryell
m Alexander Henderson, ohiefengineer U. s. n.
81 j. A. Howell, commander U. s. NJ; Edwar
- w. Very, lieutenant, u S. NJ; f. L. Fernold
" naval construction, U. s. N, all of whom
sign the report
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