New-York tribune., 1895-09-06
MIST GO OHALIFAXTODOCK
THE BATTLE SHIP INDIANA CANNOT BE
ACCOMMODATED AT HOME.
HUMILIATION INFLICTED BY THE HEADS OF THT
NAyY-IMPERrEcT WORK PERMITTED IN
THE NAVY YARDS
Tpy TEL EGRApH TO TIL,

TBY TEL EGRApH TO THE TRIBUNE.
Washington, Sept, 5.-Ow,ng to misnanagement
.,a political dickering the part OF the present
secretary and Assistant Secretary OF the Navy.
tAs country is forced to the humiaton of having
,s first big battleship docked In foreign country.
rhe situation distressing a who are interested
IN the building up OF the Navy. and the fact should
he known that Mr. Herbert and Mr.. McAdoo are to
,Iame for the conditions" Thus spoke naval
oa,cer OF high rank to-day. who manifested a dis
cosltion TO say more. but checked himself.
The speakers remarks We're apropos OF nforma-
t,on received this afternoon about the docking OF
he Indiana. Mr. Cramp the builder announced
That there being Government private dock
IN this country which will accommodate the ship.
che will be taken Halifax In order that her bot
tom may be scraped and painted for her coming
trial In October TO determine whether she comes
I'D 10 contract requirements II had been hoped
that the Port Royal dock would be found suitable
for the big vessel. but as recent developments
havs shown that that dock is defective. there is
nothing 10 do but to send the Indiana 10 an Eng
lsh port Halifax is the nearest place where there
Is a sufficiently large dock to take a battle-ship.
As the naval officer quoted said the spectacle OF
an American vessel going TO an English port to
he docked because there are no facilities OF the
,,rd NJ home is indeed humiating. The conditions
are such as no other country of any size and I'M
nortance has TO face. The facts In the case snow
clearly either that Secretary Herbert ana MT. NC
Adoo have been gravey negligent. or that they nave
The completion at OF the Navy Yards OF dock
,,o enough and strong enough to hold the Indiana
rbe port ROYAL dock is defective in many partcu-
lars and many well-informed persons DOUBT II IL
can be used by heavy vessels until a new ca'ssoi
s built and other necessary repairs are Nhaue. ee
erogatng in cost $1,000 This dock should nave
heen ready for use months ago 1t VIII propaDiy
take six more months properly TO fit 1t for service
The contractor Mr.. Mccarthy. of this CITY, Is 10
be called upon TO better his work In many respects
II is not known why the labor was not taken from
his hands and given TO more competent peis
but he is said 10 have pull
The dock at the New-York station should nave
heen completed more than year ago. and nooody'
no, even the Naval authorities themselves. seems 70
know when it Will be ready Not even & a guess ,p the 10
work under the former contractors Is a aarK paS1e 1
in the record Of the present AdmnsbaiiGn until
finally Mr. Herbert had TO heed popular ciamoT aK anu
take the contrast 2m beI Ine wa reason to suppose in
view Of the Nayys requirements Ina' sxner,enced
%old ne sr"e ba, secretary Herbert disappointed
the public and selected New Ork nr,n' @ -hs r
WWihes are not odck builders They have. so far
as known never constructed drydoeK LOT VESSEL VESSEL
They have performed work under the Dock RePars r.
ment Of New-York. but the work is unlike tha' re'
ou,red at Navy Yard - ,,..o,., -
Only few days ago Civil Engineer Menoea: OF
.be Tew-York Station, lodged serious eompianint pnr
against the contractors He reported rnas o,ereS se
Were t, aeT aTwng al phs the time Mr. Menoca said this
E,nd Of work was unsatisfactory. 1et MI McAuvo,
Acting Secretary at the time, did not can ,i rhe
Washes 10 account revoke their contraS,, Inc Inc
Waishes are strong Tammany men, Mr.. McAdoo
Is also a member OF the Wigwam ,,, ~.
The belief is general that the Washes VIII no.
>o,nIete the dock-that they will be allowed 70
withdraw from their agreemsnt.anSd San Ina, 'r,u drV
company will undertake the JOB OF nuoinS np a ion 1S
6ock such as the Navy needs. Thus the coinpleuon
OF the dock is a matter Of the dim future ano "nen ,,
a. is necessary TO clean the patue-s"iPs '"e' wa
have 10 go 10 English ports -, ..,,o.,o, ~
II is practically certain that the consruSon, U
Navv drydocks under the present ADMINISTRATOR
viii he the subject of Congressional inquiry ths ms
winter Mr. Boutelle and other members or the
Uouse interested in the Navy will. 1t Is SAID want
10 know why II is that. with ample iunds ior els
nurpose available. and with competent experience
Companies In the country TO perform the work there
Is not drydock on the Atlantic Coast OF sunclent
sIzs and strength to accommodate ships nearing
comnietion They will. according 10 report, nave
Something pertinent and emphatic to say dpeil apou,
.Sa.s conSons and will ask the cause OF the deIays
in necessary public work which could have been com
pleted more Than year ago u }uu'eoos i"a"'ee
Inent not politics, had controlled.