The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-08-06
The Roach Failure.

-
The Dubuque Herald says: I'm
view Of the many Observation-Disclosures |
afloat touching the exact condition |
OF the work done by John Roach mp
on the remaining three Of the steel |
cruisers, the Washington Post has I
obtained thoroughly authentic |
statement OF the facts. It may be
relied upon in every particular, and,
as will be seen, it shows that not on
~ has the Dolphin been nearly paid
for, but that the others, the Atlanta,
Boston and Chicago, are in practic-
ally tie same position. OF the
g, 4OO, coo called for by the four con-
tracts ever $2,OOO,OOO has already
been paid Mr.. Roach. The govern
ment, therefore, will be the enly
loser by the failure. There is no end
Of conjecture as to the precise stand
ing OF these contracts and the cruis- |
crs which were being built under
them"
The following is the statement OF
the Washington Post:
"The contract for each OF the yes
sells, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and
Dolphin. stipulates that the total
amount ia to be paid In ten install
ments. As each tenth Of the ship Is
completed it is certified to by the
advisory board, and one-tenth Of the
contract price Is paid less ten per
cent, which is 10 be kept back
(although the work it represents Is
completely and called the reserved
fund.
On authority OF a written opinion
OF the attorney general, Mr.. Brewster,
all Of these reservations have been
paid except five on the Chicago.
Extra bills have been allowed by
the advisory board and the secretary
Of the navy on all these vessels.
They arise from additions to,
changes and improvements in the
original plans and specifications In
the course OF the progress of the
work.
In building merchant vessels the
amount usually varies between 1
and 6 per cent, OF the contract price,
and In these vessels the total amount
will not exceed these limits, except
in the case Of the Dolphin WHICH Is
8 per cent, but which includes cost
Of trial trips and testing Of shafts.
During the last session OF congress
these vessels had progressed so far
that 1t was possible for the board to
make an estimate OF the amount OF
extra bills that would arise in COM
pleting the vessels. This amount
vac 100000. It was presented
through the secretary Of the navy to
congress, which appropriated the
amount asked for
The amount stands approximately
as fOlloWsi
Dolphin. Atlanta. Boston. Chicago.
Contrct price. sSi5,Oo -ei7.ooO $elo 600 so.Doa
tras:. -. $4,000 $4,000 $1,000 1900
Of on e contract. ASSOC ssssoO $500 ssl,5so
OF the authorized extras, only
such have been paid as have been
completed.
The boards estimate for the crui-
sers was $3,214yOO that Of Mr..
Roach was $2,44O,OOO, which was
$315. 900 less than that OF the next
lowest bidder. These great Yaria-
tons were due to the lack OF definite
knowledge Of the price Of the high
grade of mild steel required by the
statute. The ruling price at the
time, and that by which the board
and that Of all the other contractors
was governed, was between seven
and seven and one-half cents per
pound. Mr.. Roach bought q steel
works, and found that he could
make it for about four cents per
pound. This made difference Of
about 100000 on the amount Of
steel required"
The New York Herald says:
"John Roach is hardly q subject
for pity in the rejection ct the DOL
phin, for he has all OF the money but
one payment. On top of this he has
had So, 900 allowed to him Tor extras
Besides all this he has the Dolphin,
and 1t Is very unusual Tor extras to
be paid In advance Of the acceptance
OF vessel. Some times their pay
ment may be delayed a year or two.
Mr.. Roach has received nearly all the
payments upon the two vessels
which are yet to be built by him.
All Of the reserve payments upon
the Dolphin have been paid over.
Nine installments out OF the ten
which were 20 be paid for the Chi
oono md the Atlanta have already
49, =. .;a Nv Mr.. Chandler. He
49, p p c.ro,., look after his
clients interests before a. "cn' ~.
Of the Navy Department. Mr.. Kc.s'n
can afford to laugh ut any attempt
upon the part of the government to
recover from him moneys already
advanced. The history CT such
suits is simply q chapter OF farce and