The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-10-10
THE NEW "MIHICAN."
History of the Manner in
which She Was Built.
TERRIBLE
A Ship that Cost Nearly a Million
Dollars---California Cannot Com
pete with the East.

Observation-Disclosures Cannot Com
pete with the East.
WASHINGTON, October S.-The report OF
the Naval board appointed to investigate
the cost of the construction of the United
States steamer ''Mehican" and the organi-
zation OF the Mare Island navy yard, in
California, has been furnished for publica-
ton. Regarding the work of construction,
the Board finds that the original "Mohican''
was placed out of commission at the Mare
Island navy yard on the 25th Of June,
1872. A survey was made OF the vessel
and S1S5,59O estimated as necessary to
repair her. No action was taken upon the
reports and the estimates. The Board
finds that by authority of an order signed
by Naval Constructor T. Hanscom, chief OF
the Bureau Of Construction and Repairs,
dated September Ia, '72, IA new vessel was
called the "Mohican' in this and all sub
sequent orders and references to the "Mo-
hican.'' 1t vas laid downfrom plans and spec
iications eEtirelynew and differing in al
IuOSV CScly AVopCSO ~ euooC vi UHC oNi
"Mohican.' The order by which the pres
emit "Mohican' was commenced was
WITHOUT ANY AUTHORITY
OF law or any legal appropriation that
the board could discover, and was simply
an order from the chief OF the bureau Of
construction and repairs, to the command
ant of the Mare Island navy yard. This
ordered the rebuilding of the Mohican, while
%lo v1aro md S,>o.sEO, %;1,v f,rn,ol,aJ evD.,
the Bureau at the same time designed a,
vessel differing from the original Mohican to
the extent of being 16 feet longer, 5 feet
more beam, 4 feet deeper and OF different
form, to be furnished with compound en-
gines and cylindrical boilers. This vessel
was alluded to in official correspondence
as the new Mohican. The keel of the Mo-
hican was laid November, ~. and the
framing commenced in January 1874. The
funds expended on the Mohican previousto
February, 1885, were charged to the appro-
and that from 1872 up to 1880 were
charged against
THE OLD n L "MoHICAN"
and were carried forward and added to-
gether up to 1877. The total amount
charged in the construction department
against the "Mohican'' was $172, 691.
During an interval OF nearly four years
ensuing nothing appears to have been Ion
by the construction department towards
completing the "Mohican." By an order
from J. W. Easily, chief of the bureau OF
construction and repairs, dated April p,
1881, work was resulned in May, 1881. In
reply to this order, Naval Constructor
Murch's report OF June 2, 1881, to the
bureau says. that upon resuming work it
was discovered that the white oak filings.
were rotten and requested authority to
use live oak to replace the same which was
granted. Live oak timber was used in ac-
cOrdance with this order and was charged
at $2.43 per cubic foot. Work in the o n
struction department was carried on irregu-
larry as to expenditure, from this time
until the completion Of the "Mohican" in
1885. The vessel wos launched on Deem
Der ~, 1888, at which time there had been
expended in her construction SAT-, 635.
The total amount expended under the
Jurisdiction of the bureau OF construction
and repairs was s597 ,591. In regard to
he alterations in the "Mohican, the board
the substitution OF a new ship,
OF NEW PROPORTIONS,
new engines and boilers of different type,
and that after work on the ''Mohican" as
a new ship had commenced, the following
were made: One set of boilers,
constructed, were practically on
demned and an entirely new set con-
The propeller well was closed, a
new deck frame made in place OF the orig
inal set, the keel was renewed once and
renewed a second time.
In regard to the necessity OF the altera-
ions in the ''Mohican," the board is of the
that while the new ship was under
construction all alterations were judicious
and in the interest OF the Government. II
is the opinion Of the board that the work
the "Mohican' was lone in a workman
like manner and satisfactorily, and that
the material used was all of the very best
The board finds that of the total |
amount expended under the cognizance of
The bureau Of construction and repairs
SCI ,O21 was
FOL XTR WORK
N taking out decayed timbers and in build
rom long exposure in the stocks. The
Board is Of opinion that the e~xtravagant
methods pursued by tile bureau Of
construction and repairs in reference to the
work prior to 1888 were mainly the cause
If the excessive expenditures up to that
lime.
The repairs made necessary by the
OF the design, involving additional
taking out OF the material al
'eady placed and substituting new, and
after nearly all the bad results
rom exposure had been incurred it was de-
to cover the vessel with d roof
CAUSE OF THE COST.
In the opinion of the board the extrava-
ant cost of the Mohicanin the department
II construction and repairs, is to be
Lttributed to the following causes:
1.-The high price OF labor, which was
learly 40 per cent. greater than paid to
same class OF labor in the New York
Lavy yards, amounting to more than
10000.
1.-The high price OF material, which
inferred into the construction of the
essel.
3-To the alterations made in obedience
0 orders from the proper authority.
ITO the intermittent manner IN which
he work was conducted.
These enumerated causes were beyond
he control OF II OF the navy yard
uthorities, and what were the influences
hitch prompted the vacillating action OF
he department in suspending and resuming
he work from time to time, as shown by
beyond the fact that there was ,
NO LEGITIMATE APPROPRIATION :
draw on to prosecute the work until the
congress ~ppfOpf1aCe sou I
90 for the completion OF the "Mohican." g
here was no law authorizing the construc- !
OF a, new vessel of that name. The {
oard is of the opinion that the fact that
avail Constructor George W. Murch, under \
hose administration the "Mohican" was
most entirely built, was unable to esti- |
ate to within II reasonable margin the e
mount needed Tor the work in anticipa-
on, is sufficient evidence that the funds Il
applied were injudiciously expended by {
m. The records show the total cost OF s
e "Mohican" in the various departments
be S9O7, 79S. The board calls attention
the fact that the rigging intended for the
1ohican' was altogether too large for a II
ssel of that class. The board is of the
Union that
THE EXCESSIVE COST.
The equipment is due to the v%acillating d
ton Of the Department. The board is =,
rther OF the opinion that it was not Il
Sc to fit the new ship with second hand Il
re rigging, known to be at least fifteen
ars old and originally intended for a o;
tn. g.