The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1885-06-27

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~ siafe thst shr iiasH Vat fiit me nHi
ssefettu Whtast's niiemms ~ sab
faifs iha Question ~ ths uatsfumsnti.
HesnnnfllHlltf ~ ths AfiafneF usnsfat
wtsniyufry, - a.. lane 10 The
seafaiafy n ihe Ntyy yesterday trans
mltlef 10 thr Attorney gononl q oong NJ
the fspoft n M llltfi whleh fcConly
ssamlaei The new dispatch steamer Dol.
p1ln, wltha request that The Attorney
General alylse bin what upon tho law
sppiicabla 10 the case, Is his duty IN the
premises The BOARD, 10 their report,
sohsidor three general subjects speed,
strength and general workmanship
First, a' 70 speed Board says ths
law authorizing the construction Of the
Dolphin called for 'sea speed OF fitcen
knots per hour" and addsi "rhat
boat OF hor slle should possess this
requisite speed, II Ia absolutely lndls.
ponsabe that she shout have great
strength and stiffness. That the Dolphin
has not the requisite strength
aud Stiffness 10 enable her TO
make the speed required
under the conditions she must be pre-.
pared TO meet, admits Of no doubt In
the opinion OF the bonrdn rhoy say
that during her trial trips, under most
favorable conditions in smooth water
the speed attained was not In excess
OF llleen knots per hour, result very
Tar from promising Ike speed ON tho
sca under conditions she must always be
ready to meet Ia actual service.
As to strength II seems from the re.
port that the evidence upon this subject
is somewhat Hcagor, aud rests consider.
ably upon opinion In the absence of
sufficient sea trial. The opinion is that
the Dolphin has not the requisite stif
ness. This Is based on observation OF
vibration Of the ship when under way,
and the yielding observed In her floors,
and the effect Of an unequal load as seen
when n small quantity OF pig iron was
loaded on her forward, causing her ma.
chincry 10 get ont Of line and her Journal
10 heat. Tho last two trials, according
TO the report, were accomplished only
with streams Of water pouring upon her
journals during the trip. These facts
seem 10 Indicate TO the Board great
structural weakness, 10 what extent only
d sufficient sea trial will demonstrate.
The general workmanship and finish OF
the Dolphin is criticised by the Board,
but the contractor has been steadily at
work at this, and has made the Dolphin a
much better ship than the Board found
her On their first inspection.
Secretary whitney, In submitting this
matter to the Attorney. General, observed
that the Government Ii not securing
what II expected and had a right TO ex.
poet IRON the construction OF this vessel,
aud asks whether the Department has In
the matter bad bargain, simply, which,
as between contracting parties, II must
stand TO, or has II broken contract en-.
titllng II TO Insist upon something betteri
In this connection he inquiries what Is
the effect OF the circumstances that tho
construction Of the Dolphin has
been supervised by Government
officials, who from time to time
have approved the materials
used as well az tho workmanship. II
this Government supervision and lnspec.
tiou Is q bar so that the Department can
not 90 back and examine work passed
upon and approved by the Naval Advisory
Board, that" the Secretary adds, tends
the consideration Of the matter" II II
IL not a bar, then ho asks, how far Ia tho
contractor responsible for speed, strength
and general workmanship, and what arc
the remedies Of the Department under
| the clrcums'4nras