The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-19

must be able to possess this quality in oil
weather and under all conditions at sea. The
law authorizing the construction of the Dolphin
provided for sea speed of fifteen knots per hour.
dispatch boat not having the ability to make
that speed continuously in such weather as she
may reasonably be called upon to e1eounter.
would at this day not answer the purposes of the
service That boat of her size should possess
this requisite OF speed, 1t is absolutely indspen
sable that she should have great strength and
stiffness TO enable her to make the speed re-
quired under the conditions she must be prepared
to meet, admits Of no question in the opinion of
the board
The Doiphin's trials on the sound are then
spoken of as at the rate of Is knots, whereas, to
make that speed at sea, she should have gone II
to III knots. The report adds:
'On the occasions referred to the vibration of
the Dolphin when subjected to only that duty
ana test was very perceptible, and OF charac-
ter TO demonstrate her inadequate strength and
stiffness Under such circumstances the floors
OF the engine-room were observed to spring Sc
verey and this, let it be noted, occurred when
she was subjected to much less severe duty than
she must be expected to encounter when actually
engaged in the service for which she was in
tended"
The board continues that this evidence Of
weakness was corroborated on the occasion of
the second trial. when by the weight of an
additional Ave tons of pig iron, her floor was so
sprung, as to throw her machinery out of form.
The report continues:
Wherefore, the question arises, is this struc-
tural weakness due to a fault of plan or execu-
ton. or does it proceed from both? In justice to
the contractor, it is proper to state that the
plans exhibited to the board, and those furnished
the contractor are very meaere, and by no means
provide for vessel of adequate strength for the
uses for which the Dolphin was intended. While
a1a fhoN
fault, and it carried out In the best
manner, would not produce vessel Of sufficient
strength, yet it seems to the board that the Dol
phin exhibits degree of weakness in excess to
what might be expected under these circum-
stances. Therefore. the board is Of the opinion
that the execution must be faulty in this regard;
but it is impossible to state with exactness the
degree of blame that might properly attach to
the contractor in this precise respect, without
taking out the machinery and opening up Of the
ship
1t is asserted that no attention has been paid
to the provisions for an air pressure in the fire
room.
The question Of horse power is then taken up,
and it is shown that ON the first trial she showed
zoos; on the second, her crank pin heated on
the third. she showed 2, 253, and on the fourth.
with natural draught under the boilers, 1,635
The report continues: with regard TO the gen.
eral workmanship found on board the Dolphin,
the board is of the opinion that it does not coz
form to the terms OF the contract and specifica-
tons in many particulars"
The report then says that the contractor has
been at work from time to time remedying de-
fects pointed out by the board, stlffening the
vessel forward ETC.. etc. The report continues
as follows
'In submitting this report, the board feels
that It can go no further in the discharge
of its duty under the instructions governing it's
action, and has to regret that SO much as to the
vessels strength rests upon opinion. Nothing
short Of a trial at sea for some time, and in
rough weather can satisfactorily determine her
actual strength or weakness, and in the absence
of such trial or test-so much to be desired-this
report -embodies the most that the board has
been able to ascertain. But as the vessel has
been recently on reef in the East river. it is
necessary that she should be locked and her
bottom examined. When this is done the board
will submit the result of such examination"