New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-22
WHAT 1T COST TO REPAIR THE MICHIGAN.
SPENDING 100000 on HER-sECRETARY WHIT


WASHINGTON, May 21.-rhe Secretary of
the Navy has sent the following letter to Commodore
John II. RUSSELL COmmandant of the Mare Island Navy
Yard with regard to the expenditure of 100000 for
the reconstruction the Mohcan, wooden vessel OF
the Navy:
Ihave made such Investigations as my limited time
would permit into the expenditures made at inc Mare
Island Navy Yard Of late years aud taking certain lines
OF inquiry tests an compelled 10 express the toat
asonishmsnt at the results mdcaed me sIt s11
ship Mohican taken out OF commission III lo1Z;
Since that time she has remained IN the Mare island
ward undergoing reconstruction. including the suDsttu
fion of new machinery for the old she Is now
TALLY ready for sea- aud within the next sixty DAYS VIII
nent il appears that there spent on her III the
Mare island yard $S450O which, with further amounts
hereafter likely come H. Will raise her tOal eApchd
tures TO about 5000 0O0 ana this upon wooden Vesset
of about 800 tens displacement More than twOhlrs
OF this spent within the last three years fo
The fact that of class obsolete as an effective
weapon of war; ana substantially worthless the yara
this has cost the Government al es
three times what new ship OF the same enaraclor anu
bdilt for. docs certainly Indicate
the extraordinary msmanagement ana "asteiui a.,
ness Similar indications appear 10 me III the case Vi
partial repairs and requirements made uto other NeS-
sells not necessary to comment upon IN detail -
n NAV be- said that the economy or lack OF economy
with which repairs are conducted is, in general DIM
cult thing TO prove. But circumstances IKE moss VH
hlbited in the case OF the Mexican entirely ncapa is
OF explanation except upon the ground that ellher
through fault of system or Tor some other reason o
public money spent III the Mare lslahu yaIo is III 'o
have decided to constitute board of investigation
for the purpose OF conducting an inquiry upon e sPo
into the system aud methods prevalent IN the yafu anu
the orders constituting the board and covering It's
authority will accompany this communication
In accordance with the statement made in the letter.
the Secretary appointed the following board which was
ordered to convene ut Mare Island on Wednesday Cap
tain John Irwin senior member; Chief Engineer IT, f.
Rutz, Commander +. Rodgers, Commander G. Kempi
md Assistant Naval Constructor j. Feasler Second
Lieutenant G. McWhorter OF the Marine Corps mas
been appointed recorder.
Mr. whitney also intends to investigate the expsndi-
lures for the repair OF the Omaha which has been under
going reconstruction since 1881 at the Portsmouth
Navy Yard The bills appears from the DOCKS OF the
depaI tnent, amount TO $54j,2OS. The Omaha is a
wooden vessel She left the Portsmouth Navy iard 10
be Newport Tuesday, and is now ready
for sea- The Secretary has ordered her 10 proceed 10
NewYork He has also ordered the naval constructor
who charge OF the repairs OF the hull ana the engineer
who had charge repairs OF the machinery 10 20 10
The place 10 his purpose to ascertain on satur
day what repairs and reconstruction OF the Omaha cost
$545,20S