The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-08-02
Secretary Whitney and the
Dispatch Boat.
STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS.
The Question of speed-The Board Of
Examination vs. The Advis-
DRY Board
] The DOLPHIN.

i w HlIlley, Inlss AFTERNOON, made publ,
the criticisms of the naval advisor,
board upon the report of the Dolphi,
board of examiners, together with {
reply of the latter. In regard to tn,
delay in giving out the criticisms, the
Secretary remarked, to-day, that the
naval advisory board declined to unite
with him in asking for the trials
that he appointed The examining board
and Initiated the examination; that the
Naval customs and propriety required
T, him to send the criticisms to him for
their reply before making them public
that the reply was received only yester-
day, and that he. thereupon Yesterday
ordered both the documents to be
given to the press to-day. He
also Yesterday addressed t. Admiral
Simpson a letter, saying: II can
but express my surprise that YOUR
board should have certified the vessel
to me for acceptance with so many ad-
mitted defects, as are shown " your
report, to have existed" The state
ment submitted by the naval advisory
board makes 40 printed pages, equal to
about ten ordinary newspaper
columns, and the rejoinder of
the board of examiners is about
one fourth as long. The advisory
board began their statement by quoting
In extenso the criticisms of the exami-
ners on the structural strength of the
Dolphin. They say the above state
ment clearly bring against the Dolphin
the most serious charge of structural
weakness, due to the faulty design and
aggregated by the defective workman
ship. This alleged evidence in support
of this charge, consists of: ~ Vibra-
tons OF the structure while under full
speed. (2) Heating two crank pins on
two successive occasions.
This evidence is presented and dis
tinctly attributable TO Il lack of struc-
tural strength, yet III closing their re-
port they state that they regret that the
matter rests upon an opinion, and that
nothing short of a trial at sea for some
time in rough water can satisfactorily
determine her strength or weakness.
The advisory board then maintain, in
great detail, that the Dolphin is strong,
staunch vessel, and the examining
boards opinion was formed in the utter
absence of positive evidence, and could
not be derived from an examination of
facts The advisory board concludes
by stating that a searching examina-
ton of the hull of the vessel,
while in dry dock to repair some slight
injuries incurred while aground on some
rocks in East River, whiie under con-
tractors charge, has not developed the
slightest " eakness In any parts or fast
enings, the alignment of the engineers
remains perfect and none of the
signs by which experienced
persons detect straining can be
have shown, so far as it can be pos
sible to show, that, compared with
other vessels, the Dolphin is exception
not reasonable to accep the fact of the
heating of crank pins, to which all en-
gines, aid particularly new ones, are at
tunes liable, as evidence of weakness of
any character; that the vibrations are
very moderate and unavoidable, easily
explained, and cannot be regarded as
evidence for or against the strength of
the ship.
The question of speed is then treated
at length. The board say that the YES
sei's speed depends on its design, and
that when fifteen knots sea-speed Was
mentioned by the board as what the
Dolphin should show, it is meant fifteen
knots on a. calm sea, and
for an ordinary days run.
Ine board asserts this is the only proper
way to measure sea-speed. 1t rejects
Secretary Whitney's suggestion of
seventeen or seventeen and one half
knots on a calm sea as the equivalent
of fifteen knots sea-speed. The board
goes on to say that the Long Island
Sound trials were not considered by 1t
as intended to be conclusive: that the
accepted method is to put the vessel,
properly loaded, over q m lsured mile
3 Ger ain number of times, but from the
Long Island Sound trial it is convinced
the vessel Is capable of fifteen to fifteen
and half knots at the indicated 1900
horse power. The board deny the
statement of the examiners that every
effort was made to show the utmost
power of the engines. They consider
the result attained one for congratula-
ton and not condemnation.
The reply of the board of examination
to the advisory boards criticism is
dated yesterday. 1t says: GAS stated
in its report Of examination, this board
is satisfied that the strength of the
vessel can be shown only in one of two
ways-tear her to pieces or send her to
sea In heavy weather. When the Dolphin
was docked after her so-called sea trial.
she showed unfair lines on some parts
of her bottom, and, several plates being
removed to be Strengthened, a very
curious condition was disclosed and
well worth the serious attention of those
responsible for her INSPECTION. Some of
her frames were found to be covered
to a very considerable thickness with
q congIomerate ma 's. formed of chips
ashes and dirt Of various description,
and on the top of this indescribab'e
coating for steel plates, cement VS.
laid. After the plates were removed. It
took some time to dig out this dirt.
which was in places moist and mucky.
in order to break through the cement;
whether the bottom is in$his condition on
tsk;ng nm the cement and making
thorough ths examination. The criticisms Of
this board generally aoauEe tne TACT
that she weak stT 0SgSt Ba without bout
re bsr dasion. and state she showed
. ~ tnass hevond what would properly