National Republican., 1885-03-13

The hunt OF tho democratic newspaper
correspondents after Crooked" acts of
the late administration is likely to prove
so futile that they will not hesitate to re-
sort to lies instead of facts. Mr.. Teller
has shown the reasons for the proper action
Of the interior department concerning
the Louisiana railroad land-grant patents.
Mr.. Chandler challenges investigation
into all his management Of tho navy de.
partment but it must be an inquiry into
the actual facts, and not the reception for
truth Of Misrepresentation or lies Of ma
licious democrats. The purchase of the
Wilson air-ports and of tho works of the
American Wood-Preserying Company
were made the subject of inquiry by Hon.
S. j. Randall during the recent session Of
congress, and we give below Mr.. Chan
dler's replies:
NAVY DEPARTMENT, WAsHISGToS, March .,
lss5.-Sir: In answer to your inquiry concern
ing the purchase by this department of the
works, machinery, and plant of all kinds of
the American Wood Preserving Company in
the Boston navy yard, | have to state rs iOl.
lows;
on Feb s. 1877, the soUalod Thllmany
process Of preserving wood by drawing the
water from its pores and injecting successive
solutions of blue vitrlol and of barytes was
adopted by the department, and the American
Woodworking Company which owned the
patents, were by contract of that date author
lied to erect the apparatus for impregnatlon
inside the Boston navy yard, in order To apply
the process to wood which might be fur.
nishGd by the department for treatment
the company to be paid for tho impregnation
of such wood IA cents per cubic foot It was
also provided that the government might at
any time, Ii II chose, purchase aud take pos.
session OF the plant at its actual cost to the
company, which was duly ascertalnod to be
SIS, ,s9l.OJ.
Aner the lmpregnation OF wood for the de.
partmcnt had been continued under this con.
tract for several years, the method OF conduct
Ing the business proved TO be unsatisfactory,
aud the department notified tho company that
II elected TO purchase the works, machinery
and plant and do the impregnation itself and
tho transaction was so completed and the
aforementioned amount Of SIS, ,S0l % paid tho
company on the ID day OF February, 1885, from
tho appropriation for the construction and TO.
| pair of vessels
lnc OIlkluhl COuLThct OF feD, ., 1871, WAS
entered into after careful examination and
| recommendation of the process by competent
| experts the results Of the use OF the process
| In the preservation Of wood used upon vessels
| have been highly satisfactory, as proved by
many like examinations by experts, and It il
believed that it is important to continue TO 50
| impregnate all ships timber and all wood
n In the construction OF ships. The ar
rangement for the ownership aud operation
OF tho works within the navy yard by prI.
yate company has beon found TO be highly
Objectionable, leading to many difficulties
which will be obvious 10 any one on refec.
ton aud the only alternative seemed to be for
the government to exercise It's right OF taknl
possession Of tho works and carrying on the
business itself
The works, machinery, and plant which
have been acquired were, upon careful 70.
examination before the purchase, found TO bC
In good order and condition the actual cos
] had been carefully ascegtalned, and all boards