The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-06-25
EATON. OHIO. THURSDAY. JUNE %, lss
THE DISPATCH BOAT DOLPHIN.
The Secretary of the Navy Sends Attorney
General Garland a Report of the Board
Appointed to Examine the Newly Con-
structed Dispatch Boat Dolphin.

WASHINGTON, June 19.-The Secretary
If the Navy sent to Attorney General Gar
and yesterday a copy of the report of the
board appointed in April last to examine
md report upon the dispatch boat Dolphin,
and requested an opinion by the Department
Of Justice as to the responsibility of the
Navy Department for certain defects in the
gessel which the report of the board details,
those of structural weakness, a
acf of requisite stiffness and deficiency of |
speed. Following is the Secretary's letter:
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, D. c., June Is, 1885.
SIR: Herewith transmit a copy of the |
III Of April last, to examine and report upon
the dispatch boat Dolphin. i desire you to |
examine this report and to advise me what, |
dtlty in the premises. The facts and circum- |
stances connected with the examination and |
the matters with reference to which I
Immediately after my accession to this
ONCE, papers were presented 10 me for my
accepting the poipnn eena St
ton of the papers, made for the purpose of
determining to what extent had RESPONSE
tracted 20 the singular looseness of the con-
tract. There was noticeable absence of
effective stipulations, as it seemed to me.
ment contained in the ninth section of the
contract intended to insure certain mini
mum pc wer, which provides that upon her
trial trip 1.-The collective indicated horse
power developed by said engines under the
prescribed conditions, shall be two thousand
three hundred, and maintained successfully
case of the failure of the development of
this power, the vessel shall be accepted If
can pc to the ths 6r t9e
the Navy that this failure was due neither to
defective workmanship nor Materials"
This trial having been had in Long Island
Gr,1v1 nd conditions favnrQhla
main, she had yet failed of meeting this re-
quirement, having developed but two thou
for the six hours. The Naval Advisory
Board in referring to this had stated that
they were of the opinion that this deficiency
"was not due to defective workmanship nor
materials; but that with better coal and q
be exceeded
tivn and to satisfy myself. as appeared to be
my duty, wrote upon the goth of March,
to the psd heeo 4ed n
Long Island Sound by the persons author
lied under the contract to prescribe the con-
not more severe than those exacted by
other nations, l expected an immediate
favorable report. 1t was acceded to on the
9Th of May, over six weeks having elapsed.
In the meantime an examination of the
dealings of the Department with the con-
tractor, and especially the manner in which
the reserved payments had been surrendered
to the contractor, induced me to select three
competent persons to make thorough exam
nation for purpose of my advisement as to-:
First-Whether the contract had been prop
erly performed.
second--As to defects in the vessel.
Third-As to the responsibility for the de-
fects observed, if any.
The result of that examination, made with
great patience and intelligence, is herewith
submitted for your consideration. ! now
desire an examination of the contract and
law by you, that may be advised whether,
representing the Government, have on my
dc atU1r.r a<,f had
or broken contract. The report demon
strates that the Government has not got in
the Dolphin what Congress stipulated for
and what should have been obtained. There
are three general subjects considered by the
board First, the speed; second, the strength
third, the general workmanship.
under which the Dolphin was built provided
for an appropriation for one dispatch boat
as 3 ne 6y the Naval 6 s
By referring to that report it will be found
that the Recommendation was for construc
have sea speed of fifteen Knots" K refer,
ence to the report of the Advisory Board,
then before Congress, and the testimony
upon the subject of the new cruisers shows
that for a sea speed of fifteen knots smooth
water speed over measured distance OF
seventeen and one-half or eighteen knots is
required. Similar vessels able to show 6
speed of eighteen and even nineteen knots
were referred to before the Congressional
tion by other nations. 1t may, therefore, be
said to have been the just expectation OF
6oIphin eonsidering the state ene Of the % art art
| that she would be able to show at least sew
| enteen-and a-half knots speed upon hel
trial. Her highest speed for six hours was
| fifteen knots, as you will observe by exam
| lining the report of the board, and she has
| not at any time developed and maintained
| by the contract. Instead of being dispatch
| boat of fifteen knots sea speed the result
of these various trials indicates something
| between twelve and thirteen knots as hel
| probable sea speed in service. In view o.
The purpose for which she was built-a dis
patch boat-and the state. of the art witt
reference of speed of such vessels, it is ap
parent that this contract has not produced
the result intended by Congress.
| second-As tc her strength From the re
dence on this subject is somewhat meagrt
and rest considerably upon opinion in the
absence of sufficient sea trial. The Englisf
rules in similar cases, as am informed, gen
| orally provide for a run of two or thret
days at sea. The opinion is expressed by thu
This opinion is based on the vibration of thu
| ship when under way and the yielding OBJ
served in her floors and the effect of an un
| equal load as seen when small quantity o.
| pig iron was loaded on her forward, causing
her machinery to get out of line and he
Journals to neat Her last two trials, accord
| ing to the report, were accomplished onl!
| with streams of water pouring upon he
| Journals during the trips, These facts seen
to the board to Indicate great struetura
| weakness to what extent only sufficient
sea trial will demonstrate.
Third, as to general character of he
workmanship, the contract provides specifi
| cally third section the mater ais ant
workmanship used andsappl'ed in the cor
| struction of the hull and machinery and fit
be first class and of the very best quality:
The character of the material is substant
ally beyond inspection now. The genera
workmanship and finish is criticised by tn
| hoard. the contractor been SteaQll
at work at this, and expresses willingness t
| make details satisfactory SO far as he is able
with that matter without legal advice. Tn
| whole matter comes in the end to this: TIL
Government is not receiving what it expect
ed. and had right to expect, from the con
| struction of this vessel.
The question which l desire answered j
| whetherth the Department has in the matter
| bad bargain simply, which, as between col
tracing parties it must stand to, or has it
broken contract emitting it to insist upo
question desire to be advised what is tn
effect of the circumstances that the COZ
struction has been supervised by Govern
ment officials, material passed as suficier
and the workmanship similarly approve
from time to time. during the construction
call your attention to the fourteenth SCI
tion of the contract, which provides: 'Ths
it shall not. under any circumstances, be oil
ligatory upon the party of the second pal
to accept the vessel, or any part thereof, t
be constructed under this contract, uules
! the same shall have been completed in strit
! conformity with this contract under supe
vision of the Naval Advisory Board and i
accordance with the provisions of the act {
August 5. 1882" etc. If the supervision an
inspection that has been had is bar, so ths
the Department cannot go back and eXamin
work passed and approved by its inspector
and by the Naval Advisory Board, that enc
the consideration of the matter. If it is NJ
a bar, how far is the contractor responsible
for the speed, strength and general worl
manship of the vessel, and what are tn
remedies of the Department under the ci
cumstances? the more willingly avail m
self of the privilege of referring this ma
| ter to your jud ;cial Judgment and advio
lest that in spirit of resentment of result
should be unjust. l have the honor to
very respectfully yours.
W. c. wH1TNEY. Secretary of Navy.