New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-05
THE DRYDOCK CONTRACT.
MIR. CILLIEs TO SHOW CAUSE WHY 1T
SHOULD NOT BE CANCELLED.
SECRETARY HERBERT SUMMONS HIM TO APPEAR
on MONDAY-THE BIG DOCK NEEDED
FOR THE HATTI. ESHIPS

SECRETARY uFrpERT SUMMONS HIM TO APPEAR
on MoNDAY-rIIE BIG DOCK NEEDED
FOR THE BATTLEsHIPs
Washington. April 4.-Secretary Herbert mas gwen
formal notice TO John Ges, contractor ior the
drydock at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. 70 appear De
fore him on Monday next. to show cause why ms
contract should not be abroga.ed. This Is the
third time Nj GlNles has had similar summons
the first occurring about year ago. and the second
last fal. The contract. which was made on no
vember Il. 1892, called tor the completion OF ,he
work within thrty-two months. the naval IN
spcctors have frequently reported that little prac-
tca progress was being made on the work ara there
was little prospect of its being completed in twice
1he contract time
As it is important to have the dock for the use
Of the battleships. Secretary Herbert has given
every facility for pressing the work to the con-
tractor. but lately Mr.. Ges has been embarrassed
by a strike among his workmen and one OF MI
Glles's bondsmen has informed the Navy Depart
lnent Iha: he desires to withdraw from resPon,Si-
contract il is understood, has been referred 20
the At;orney-General for his opinion the ie en!
cludcd that amendments to the contract had VI
tated their liability
The opinion that the Government would have to
complete the big drydock begun by Mr. GilleS or
place the contract in other hands has been eN,
pressed in The Tribune repeatedly, ana was pasen
on personal observations Of the work ana 'he
manner Of carrying II on, together with converse
lions with officers Of the Bureau of civil Engineer
ing in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. 1t has been UNDER
stood for some time that Secretary Herbert mas oe-
lavcl annuling the contract because. under Uhe
peculiar conditions of the contract brought ABOUT
nv the alterations and extension Of the work, the
cor,octo,'s bondslnen could not be held response
bic and it has been matter of much regret that
while tire big battlcships for which the dock was
intended were nearing completion the finishing OF
the dock wss apparently as far off as ever
rorh i,'ld
land in TIE Government reservation in BrooklyE
was awarded TO John Gillies on November H. i''-'
md the consideration was $4,000 The tine limit
for Ii completion was twenty-seven moh'hS' "oih
TO begin twenty days after tho site was 'ulle'
over TO the contractor ON January l. 1895 the Gov
eronent ulaced Nj Glnies In possession of the Site
and on Iuna i. 1896 for an additional payment OF
sc55G he agreed to lensthen the work to t"V fee|
three months additional time being allowed Later
tnere was a change OF siXt; feet IN the lSHoIe
else of the site. which. although involving ohF
Sigh; outlay on the contractors par, carried an
suowarco of two months more tlUc ana over
5000 extra compensation. making the toaI lline
allowance thirty-two months from January IH'@
aud the total contract price over Si'+V'
More than a yelr after WORK on TIE dock WAS "e
cun the Department becomire anxious over 'He SO"
nropress made b. the contractor. sent ColhhldH'c'
Purrel r Harrington TO investigate the matter Hr
spent a month at tire yari. and &itar '"o''"9
examination of the whole business reported ''d &c
interests of the GOVernmcN; nclhdi'do'' a. 49,
,nent OF the contract, This report was I4IoWe; y;
n Recommendation from Commoi or" l-i'I Ii,t ~
Matthews head Of the Bureau q Yards am IoOin'i
fh9i lie contract be annulled. Nj. GA..es HuCCc''
e. retaining his hold the contract hoWeAe az
in Inc fal of 1894 Civil Engineer Moriecai f1.
cott was sent on from Washington by ttiett aAA
IIe~bert to make another INVESTIGATION OF N"4S IL
nv ina, tins. developed into n!S mole IN ne sr'ii'
Win rows OF piles around its inner s!oie ~
t,njico:t's report was OF sucn nature WAY AZ,
Gi!lcs vas sent for. and he made an eNpia"auo" u
The Secretary after conSl'aii9n win c ms PG
reau chiefs decided 70 allow Mr.. Gi!EeS 10 C9!t,.'"o
.bn work and the next deiaT was cauSei u!
str,ke among the woriI.cu Tais. IL Wa sdu, va,
cemseJ nv The Government withholding pa! ile.'Sr
a. on work completed. which lett the c.; . 49,.
sSor Of funds Tais matter settled more pies w.
Srven ana more mud dug away, untlI inc OK sto' -
~ Fnbrllary last caused co1p!ete ccssd'4o. -
Iob1- on tha dock Since that time operations M az
- carried on in d dcsuli0ry fashion, only IL"
workmen being employed. . ,o.. ~. NJ
As there arr less than seven months lcIL 81 W.
S.ili,es's contract OF tGir;y-two months aLI
sU,ount OF work finished Is hardly over - pc. go
~ ma necessary finish the iocA II i
- trnnoss'he for the contractor 20 keep ms aRIte
,3Son- ami Secretary HerDerts acton III mn.
;ng Mr. Giilies Washington for maj Set' III, 81
~ the matter meets the hearty approval oI &ii
Gavt Ysr1 officials hat also OF thosc VINO oei'c y
- nc ou'.ker existing plans for increasing ,ly5
E.,,v ana IMPROVING Navy ldri pIaf'S ar CH''''
mn. the better it VIII be TO- the Nauoh'