Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-10-15
The Report of the Naval Board
Has Been Furnished
for Publication.
Sergeant McCauran viii Not
be COurtmartialed for
DisObedience.
Washington Gossip.

THE REPORT OF THE NAVAL BOARD.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1O.-The report
of tie naval board appointed to in
vest1gate the cost Of construction OF
the u. S. steamer Mohican and the
organization of the Mare Island navy
yard of California, has been furnish
ed for publication. Regarding the
work of construction the board finds
that the original Mohican was placed
out of commission at the Mare Island
yard ia June 1872 A survey was
made of the vessel and the sum of
$160 900 estimated as necessary TO res
pair her. The board find that by
authority of a letter signed by Naval
Constructor Hanscon, chief of the
bureau CT construction and repairs,
dated Sept. IA, 1872, the new vessel
called In this and all subsequent order
and references 10 the Mohican was
laid down from plans and Specifications
entlrel y new and differing IN almost
every respect from those of The old
Mohican. The order by Which the
present MOhican was commenced was
without any authority of law or legal
appropriation, t at the board could
discover, and was simply an order
from the chief of the bureau of con-
struction and repair to the commands
ant of. the Mare Island yard. This
order directed the rebuilding of the
Mohican and thereafter the vessel was
alluded to la the official correspond
ence as the New Mohican.
The new vessel was launched in
December 1883, at which time there
had been expended upon her under
the jurisdiction Of the bureau of con>
struction, and repair the SUM of
$598, 900. It is the opinion of the
board that tie work on the Mohican
was done 10 3, satisfactory manner,
and that the material used was of the
best quality. The board is of the
opinion that the extravaganza methods
pursued by the bureau of constrac~
ton prior to 1888 were mainly caused
by excessive expenditures up to that
time.
In the opinion of the board the ex-
travagant cost of the Mohican in the
department of construction and re-
pair is to be attributed to the Following
causes:
First.-The high price of labor, which
nearly ~ per cent. greater Cna0 was paid Tor the
same class of labor in the New York navy yard.
Second The high price of material which en-
tered into the construction of the vessel.
Third.-To the alterations made in obedience
to orders from the proper authorities.
Fourth.-To the intermittant manner in which
the work was conducted.
These causes were beyond the con-
troll Of any of the naval yard authors
tiles
M'GAURAN WILL NOT BE COURT MAR
TAILED.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10.-The Star
says: Sergeant McGauran, of the sig
nal service, who got into trouble by
refusing to receive co1ored man as
his assistant in the Office at Pensacola,
Fla, is not to be court martialed for
disopedienCe Of orders, as was first
intended. He brought q strong
influence to bear and succeeded
in having his punishment limited
to a reduction to the rank of private
colored observer. who has been in
charge of the Pensacola office ever
since he was assigned to duty there,
and will shortly be relieved, as his
presence IN an official capacity is dis
tasteful to the citizens of Pensacola,
and il is thought unnecessary to insist
upon hIs remaining there. He would
rot have received that assignment in
the first place, it is now stated, had
the fact Of his being colored occurred
10 the officer making the selection.