The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-25
The DOLPHIN.
rh. Reasons for Its Rejection by the Ell
perts.

The Reasons for Its Rejection by the Ef
perts.
WAsurSGroH, June 1s.-The report OF
Che advisory board to Secretary Whitney /
upop its finding in connection With u!e !
trials of the Dolphin covers much the same |
grounds as that traverSed in the Secretary's |
letter to the Attorney General though treat
ing the subject more fully. The points OF |
Interest in it aside from those given from |
the letter are subjOined: The board s'a'ts
that the ground covered 20 be, fITSt-has
the Dolphin been constructed IN accordance
with the terms of the contract between
John Roach and the Government?
Second-what defects, IL any, Vhetl-
CT of plan or execution are apPar
ent in the Dolphin from such
an examination as can now be made IN her
nresent completed state? Third-what
matters can be determined and what mat
ters are incapable Of determination III
ronuleted shin? The Board states the dif-
fru.tv. in fact the impossib lity, of making
q fuII examination Of completed ship In
which large share of the wcck is covered
IN. without the expenditure or consider
able sum of mercy in opening up the WORK,
and proceeds: The Dolphin is intended
for diSpa'ci, boat. She has and was m
tended TO have little offensive power; rella-
be speed IS therefore her first and greatest
requisite for usefulness. She
MUST POSSESS THIS QUALITY
i'm all weather and under all conditions ~
sea. TIE law authorizing the construction
of the DOLPHIN provided for sel speed "t
fifteen knots an hour A dispatch boat Rot
having tie ability to make that speed oerl-
tinUallv ia such weather as she HAY
reasonably be called upon to encounter
would al this day not answer the purposes
of the service That boat of her size
should possess this requisite speed 1t i ao-
solutely indispensable that she should
have great strength and stiffness 10
enable her To make the speed re-
Uuirad under the conditions she must
be- prepared to meet, admits OF u" eoEhi IN
the enininn of the board" The Dolphin
trials on the sound are then spoken 0f as
al the rite of Il knots, whereas, to make
thI1 speed at sea she should have gore II
IN ~ knots The report adds: 'On the
OCCASION referred to the vibration of the
DOLPHIN. when subjected 10 only chat duty
and test was very perceptoIe and OF
character to demonstrate inadequate
strength and stiffness. Under such cir
caIrrstances the floors Of the engine room
were observed to spring severely and thIs,
let it be noted occurred when she was sub
iected to much less severe duty than she
must be expected to encounter when
ACTUALLY engaged in the service for which
she was intended The board continues
that this evidence of weakness was corroh-
GRATED on the occasion of the second urial,
when. nv the weight of an additional I've
ions of piy-lron the vessel was 50 sprung as
10 throw her
MACHINERY OUT OF LINE
and cause her after crank pm TO become
hot even before the trial had actually begun.
The report continues: Wherefore the
question arises. Is this structural weakness
due to a fault of plan or execution, or does
il proceed from both? In Justice 10 the
contractor it is proper to state that the plans
exhibited TO the board and those furnished
20 the contractor are meager, and by no
means provide for 4 vessel OF adequate
strength for the uses for which the Dnp"in
WAS intended While it is clear that the
pIans SIRE at fault and If carried out in ;he
best manner would not produce vessel
of sufficient strength. yet il seems To the
board that the Dolphin exhibits degree ot
weakness in excess OF what cin be properly
attributed to the defective plans. Nhcre-
fore the board is of the opinion that the
execution must be faulty in this regard.
But it i impossible to state with eNactn->S
the degree of blame that might properly
attach to the contractor III tins precise
respect without taking out the machinery
and openng up the ship" IL is asserted
that no attention has been paid to the
provision for an air pressure in the fire
room The question of horse power IS
then taken mp and ii is shown that on the
first trial she showed zoos: on the second
her crank pin heated: OH the third she
showed :. 353: and on the fourth with nat
IIral draft under the boilers LG4S, whereas
the contract calls for 300. These trials
also We're made
WITH MOST FAVORABLE CONDITIONS
as to water, coal and management. Tie
report continues: with regard to the
general workmanship found on board the
Dolphin the board is of the opinion that II
does not conform To the terms 81 the con
tract and specifications in many partlcu-
lars The report closes as follows: IN
submitting this their report, the board feels
that il can go no further in the Discharge
of It's duty under the instructions govern
Ing its action, and has to regret that sc
much as to the vessels strength rests upon
opinion Nothing short of Il trial n sea for
some time and in rough water can salts
factorily determine her actual strength ol
weakness, and in the absence of such tra
or test-so much to he deSired-this report
embodies the most that the board has beer
able to ascertain, but as the vessel has
been On reef in the East River. II Is
necessary that she should be docked ant
her bottom examined. When this IL done
the board will submit the result OF sue!
examination