New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-10
DISAPPOINTING To THE CRITICS.
ANALYzING THE REPORT ON THE MICHIGAN.
NOT LARGE AMOUNT SPENT FOR wAGEs-VlEWs
OF NAVAL OFFICERS.
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

OF NAVAL OFFlCHhS'
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Oct. 9.-The report OF Score
tapy whineys board to investigate the cost OF re-
building the MOhcan at the Mare Island Navy laru
does sustain the charges of fraud and corruption 80
freely made by Democrats Congress and elsewhere
during the last half dozen years For that reason IL WI"
not be regarded satisfactory by Domoerat.
reformers" generally. That the cost OF rebuilding the
Mohean was excessive the report shows 1t also
charges that Of the expenditures were eXtraVa-
CANT The board admits. however, that the e1-
trayagant expenditures were mainly due 10 two
causes first the frequent Interruptions OF the work.
and second the high price Of labor at San Francisco hs
compared with New-York. The report as printed at
the Navy Department does not contain the appendices
referred the body OF the document but states III
general terms that in the Department of Construction
and Repar alone does include the machinery
and boilers rigging sails armament Of the ship "a
necessary expense OF SOL 021 10 was incurred for exr
labor In taking out decayed frames, filling ana replach
tho frames storing up frames. etc Oh course the oid
and rotten materials removed had to be replaced by new
aud the cost OF the latter must have amounted to
"A pretty sum, although the amount Il
not stated in the report of the board.
Another heavy item OF expense was labor the cost oil
which, tho board states, was about 40 cent hiSher
in san Francisco than New-YOrk. Entire cost o ma
terias the hull Of the shp-includng 40 12J CUBIC
feet OF live oak which had to he shipped from he
place that which had rotted while work was suspended
amounted to only S2l3,7l9, while the wages paid
amounted to $3il.010. Ia other words, considerably
more than third OF the the total cost OF the Mohcan
including masts blocks, tackle. boats, machinery, etc.
and the labor thereon well tho materials and labor
ON tho hu-was expended for labor Oh the hull OF tie
vessel.
single observation this question Of wages In the
Mare Island Navy Yard is pertinent here. No session Of
Congress has passed in the last eight years without
speechcs from one or Democrats declaring that
hundreds OF thousands OF dollars had been improperly
expended for III the Mare ISini Yard soey for
the purpose IL aiding Republican candidates IN Prcsl-
DENTAL and Congressional ccctios Now. during all the
per. Oh from 1872 1855 the work OF rebuilding the
MUbican seems To have been about all tdat was III
progress at that place But the report OF Secretary
Mhitney's board shows that considerable amount OF
money has been expended on the M0llran
RI, keel Of the shin was laid IN November Is72 and the
framing began January. 1874 Up Ia September, 1877
Nothimg NOR was done until ISL nfIcr which work
was carried Irrrgnary until the vessel was launched
year abont 100000 was expended ia the Bureau Of
construction. The report OF the board shows also mat
III the other departments work on the Mocn happened
to he prosecuted IN years and months whenno National
TRIniNE Correspondent asked the opinions % several
Naval oil, to-day respecting the report. Tho views
expressed by one 0f the most prominent among them
were approved ~ thc man ny an tue o.HeIr III au,
stance ne said Work douc III the Navy
Yards will always be criticised account 81 It,
cost until Congress makes up its nina Whal IL wants.
and grants money enough to execute its pars without
with economical expenditure. In the Mohcan larg"
part OF the original material had u be taEcn out and
new material put IN and that OF course
added greatly To the cost The board Implies ccuSure
because the MOhican scd at cost Of
~ 200. Now the dct l. that II has heen found not
only profitable hut necessary To change tue rs OF sew
oral other vessels OF the same claSs-the GdleId and
othcra There Il neither sense nor economy
in making ship carry a lot OF Hpdr'
aud rigging aott when sho has to keep her
sails below There was a theory years ago that all
vessels o. every class must he u-rggrd, and II
was while that theory In that the riV OF the
MohicAn WAS pTc-Cried. IL Il absurd that the
expense OF changing II To that 81 b ark was Useless.
that tue BoIrl In gcnrr approves the changes
the design OF the M1hcap and attributes hsr largo
TO the prop lat IL certainly was Illogical
wnen 1t concluded tht h'riuse the estimates OF IN"
constructor turned be incorrect therefore he ex
pended lniudciou-y the unIs allowed that does not
follow. on the rary the board distinctly says that
all the alterations in icious and In the Interest
OF the Government and that tue work OF the Mollcln
Wis done in wOrKman,ikr manner and satisfactorily
ami that the material used all OF the very best
quality ~
Now ~ tho authority for rebuilding the Mohiran.
Our Navy after tue was composed many OF wooden
ships but revolution ~ shlp-biiding was IN progress
aud Ii was question In 1879 whether iron Steel ships
should replace the len vessels There -
fair prospect before the question could he decided
the United would be- left without war ships
at all Secretary Rnbc.on took the bull by the horns 40
speak, and de- ermincd To keep some ships anoat
The Mnniran OF them. she IL a wooden ship aud
will compare favOraby with any wooden ship ~
her class In navy barring the fact that she Il not
provided with modern armament, IcOntcnd That -i'
ships have good deal better than nome aad
by this should have had none II Secretary Robe
81 had not taken the course he DID,