Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-08-10
RoAcEs CONTRACT FORFEITED.
Secretary whitney writes to Mr. Roach
Regarding the "Ohicago."

Secretary whitney writes to Mr.. Roach
Regarding the "Chicago."
WASHINGTON, D. c., August 9.-Secretary
Whitney Yesterday sent the following letter
to Mr.. John Roach and his asSgnees and
sureties on the contract for the Chicago;
By the 7th clause of your contract with
the United States, dated July 26, 1888, for
the construction of one steel cruiser of about
45OO tons displacement il was agreed that
the hull, machinery and fittings Of such yes
sci should be completed and ready for in,
spection for the purpose Of delivery on OF
before the expiration Of eighteen month;
from the date Of the contract.
II was further provided, in the eleventh
clause, that in case Of the failure or onis
sion Of the contractor at any stage Of the
work prior to final completion, from any
cause other than the order OF the Secretary OF
the Navy, to 60 forward with the work and
make satisfactory progress toward Its com
pletion, it should be optional with the Sec
retary to declare the contract forfeited.
More than six months have now elapsed
since the expiration OF the limit thus fixed,
and the work upon the vessel has been
stopped, while much remains to be done
before she can be finally completed. AT
the same time, ii is evident that the public
interest requires the vessel in question,
known as the Chicago" to be completed
with oil practicable speed. and 1t has there
fore become necessary for the Department
to take immediate and definite action look
ing to that end.
Under these circumstances and IN conse'
quence OF the failure Of the contractors to
proceed with the work, have to inform you
that the contract above referred to is hereby
declared TO De forfeited on the part of the
contractor, and that the rights of the United
States, under the contract, and especially
under the llth, 18th and 18th clauses there
OF, are now operative.
You are further informed that it is the in
ten6on Of the department after the inyen-
tory and spprsisement shall have been had,
to take steps for the prosecution Of the work
and the completion Of the said vessel, in &C
cordance with the conditions expressed in
he contract; and that in the meantime the
Chiefs OF the bureaus Of Steam Engineering
and Construction and Repair, Of this depart
ment, will take charge of the vessel, mschi-
merry, materials and fittings.
Similar letters were sent in regard to the
Atlanta and Boston, and an order was
issued to the chiefs of certain bureaus to
take charge CT the work In issuing the
order, Secretary Whitney says:
The order issued to-day, with reference
to the Boston, Atlanta and Chicago is made
in pursuance Of my duties under the lltA
clause of the contract; under that section
there is to follow an inventory showing to
what point OF completion the vessels have
come ard what material is on hand in the
contractors yard, which has been provided
for the ships, and how far the work has pro-
gressed, to be followed by a valuation Of
these things. There is then a provision
thai the Department shall decide whether
to complete ships.
As the matter now stands there is no
question OF my duty to go on and do this;
and it works an incidental benefit, ofcourse,
10 the contractor and to his employees. The
Government steps into the gard, takes pos
session Of the ships, the plant, ETC., pays for
the completion, and then has an accounting
with the contractor at the end, and if there
is any profit the contractor has il, and if
there is any loss he pays it. Under these
circumstances, it is entirely fit for the heads
Of the bureaus having the supervision of the
work to use the contractors force and his
plant for the purpose"