The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-08-08
Who viii Take Possession of
the Yards and Material and
Complete the ships.
His Reasons for Doing 50 Clear
~ stated in IA Letter TO
Mr.. Roach.
Russin and Afghan ON The
Ragged Edge of u Fight
HIitish News.
WHITNEY AND ROACH
Tho Secretary Takcs Possession OF the
ssplant.'

.Plant"
Washington, August T. Secretary
Whitney yesterday sent the following
letter TO Mr.. Roach and his assignees,
and his suretics on the contract for
the Chicago:
by the seventh clause of your con-
tract with the United States, dated
July 20, 1888, for the construction of
one steel cruiser of about 1900 tons
displacement, il was agreed that the
hull, machinery aud fittings of such
vessel should he completed and ready
for inspection, for the purpose of de-
livery, on or before the expiration of
eighteen months from the date of the
contract
at was further provided in the
eleventh clause that in the case of the
failure or omission of any stage of the
work prior TO the final completion,
from any cause other than the order
of the secretary of the navy TO 20 for
ward with the work and make salts
factory progress towards its compile
ton, II should be optional with the
secretary to declare the contract for
icited More than six months have
now elapsed since the contract cx-
PRED and work upon the vessel has
been stopped while much remains to
he done before she can be finally COM
pletcd. At the same time, il is evil
dent that the public interest requires
that the vessel in question, known
as the Chicago be completed
with all practicable speed and IL has,
therefore, become necessary for the
department TO take immediate and
definite action looking to that end.
"Under the circumstances, and in
consequence of the failure of the con-
tractors to proceed with the work, |
have TO inform you that the contract
above referred TO. is hereby declared
TO be forfeited on the part of the con-
tractors; and that the right of the
United States under the contract, aud
especially uIder the eleventh, twelfth
and thirteenth clauses thereof, are now
operative.
"You are further informed that il is
the intention of the department, after
the inventory and appraiscment shall
have been had, to take steps for the
prosecution OF the work and the conf
pletiou of the said vessel in accord
aucc with the conditions expressed in
the contract, and that in the meantime
the chiefs of the bureaus of engineer
ing. construction and repairs of this
department will take charge of the
vessel, machinery, materials and fit
tings.'
Similar letters also were sent in re-
gard to the Atlanta aud the Boston,
and "a nr.1nr "A Nnni IN ihn nhintS "A
certain bureaus to take charge OF the
work.
In issuing the order Secretary Whit
nuy says: "rhc order, issued to-day
with reference to the Boston
Atlanta and Chicago, is made in
pursuance OF my duties under the
eleventh clause ofthe contract. Under
that section there is TO follow al
inventory showing to what point Oi
completion the vessels have come anC
what material is on hard in the con
tractors yard, which has been pro
vided for ships, and how far the wori
has progressed; this to be followed by
a valuation of these things. Their
has been provision that the depart
ment shall decide whether to keep tn
ships. AS the matter now stand
there is no question of my duty to e
on and do this and it works au Incl
dental benefit to the contractor an
his employees. The government step
Into the yard, takes possession of tn
ships, plant, etc, and pays for tn
completion aud then has an account
ing with the contractor at the enc
If there is any profit, the contracto
has it and ifthere Is any loss, he pay
ii. Under those circumstances it
entirely fit for the heads of bureau
having the supervision of the worl
to use the contractors force aud hi
! plant for the purpose"