Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-04-07
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DOL.
PHIN.
Secretary Whitney Appoints q Board
OF Examiners to Look into it

Secretary Whitney to-day issued the follow
ing: "For the purpose of informing myself as
far as possible of the facts necessary to the
determination of the matter involved in the
acceptance of the Dolphin I hereby designate
Captain George E. Belknap and Commander
Robley d. Evans to act with Mr. Henry Win
ter, of New York, as board Of examination to
Investigate and report to me: Whether she has
been constructed in accordance with the terms
of the contract; in view of the necessary limi-
tations upon any investigation of a completed
ship to report specifically what matters they
are aole 70 determine and how they determine
them; and what matters are impossible Of de-
termination except as the work is going on"
In this connection the following letter has
been sent by Secretary Whitney to Rear
advisory board! After pta eaaminiDg the he contract
and laws relating to the construction Of the
Dolphin am of the opinion that the act per-
ment and plans is not q formal act, but one
with reference to which seem to have respon-
siblilty. have neither the time nor the expert
knowledge with which to possess myself OF the
necessary Information upon which to base q
Judgment, and while if had been present in
vessel, should doubtless be possessed of a
maturedopinion and ndjudgmentupOn the subject;
under the present circumstances that Is quite
impossible. In view of the fact that my formal
actis required in addition to the act of the advis
ory board, tits quite evidentit was not intended
that should rely solely upon the action of the
tiOn of the Secretary would not be required.
have consequently decided to designate three
persons who have not been connected with the
construction, for the purpose Of assisting me in
the discharge of the duty which, without such
aid, 1T is quite impossible for me to perform. l
desire to notify your board of my action, that 1t
may not be construed to arise from any dnten-
tiOn to reflect upon the correctness of the con.
clusions to which the advisory board has come"
The Secretary has also addressed the follow
ing communication to Mr. John Roach:
81 have your letter of April 4th, stating that
the insurance of $2S5 900 on the Dolphin ex-
pires on the 9th instant, and cannot be renewed
for less than thirty days, as the companies will
not issue policies for shorter period. Do you
wish me to renew 1t I? In answer to which
would say that have no request to make with
reference to it, except that until the steamship
is accepted the contract provides that you shall
keep her insured, which would seem to deter
mine the matter. have no answer from you
to my communication of March Goth, in which
suggest that another trial trip of the Dol
phin be held for the purpose of assisting in the
determination of certain matters referred to-
Capt. Belknap, who is the president of the
board appointed to examine the Dolphin, is
the highest in rank of the captains. Com
mander Evans was member of the advisory
board which considered the subject of new
ships in 1881. His relief orders from light
house duty were recently revoked by Secretary
Whitney and he was reinstated In that duty.
Mr., Winter is prominent civil engineer.