The Somerset reporter., 1898-02-24
CONTRACT SIGNED.
Secretary Long and Wrecking
Company Agree on Terms.
Bonus VIII he Paid For Raising the
warship Maine-Work to BE Pushed
Before Yell2H' Fever Season Sets In.

hSi'-9 RIVER SebHDD SeIB
Washington, Feb. 2S-The Merritt &
Chapman company of New York as
sisted by the Boston Towboat company,
has received the contract for the sal
wage of the Maine. An agreement was
reached Tuesday with the representa-
tives OF the two companies after several
conferences. At the last moment Sec
rotary Long insisted that a provision
should be made for sending forward at
once at least one large Wreckfng boat
with divers and equipment This was
agreed To. AID dispatch vas sent 10 the
captain of the sea -wrecker Right Arm.
now at Key West. 10 suspend his private
work there and proceed at once to Ha-
vana.
The terms of the contract provide for
the payment to the Wrecking companies
of the sum of $S71 per day for their regu-
lar plant and an additional payment Of
$500 per day for the use of the Monarch
while the latter is actually employed
An express provision is made that the
government may terminate the contract
at any moment. 1t is also provided that
the compensation shall not exceed the
sum of money $500, 000) appropriated by
congress for this purpose Finally it is
provided that if the companies succeed
in raising the Maine and towing her to
New York they shall receive a bonus of
S100 600
In view of the large first cost of the
Maine. about S., 600 coo and the national
desire that she shall be raised. as cyl
denced by the prompt and unanimous
action of congress upon the joint reso!u-
ton, Secretary Long believes that he is
fully justified in making the above terms,
though at first thought the per diem
compensation seems large 1t must be
borne in mind. however, he said, that
this will constitute the largest wrecking
expedition ever equipped in this coun-
try Moreover. the wreckers expressed
willingness to go to work in the usual
way that they serve underwriters
namely, to do the wreeking and then
take the award of board of arbitra-
ton. This plan, however, was not open
to the government, which is compelled
by law to fix exact terms in advance
clause of the contract requires tie
companies to proceed with all dispatch
and in business like manner with the
work of wrecking. and though this haste
adds to the cost of the work it is be-
lieved to be necessary in view of the
possibility of the early appearance of
yellow fever at Havana harbor with the
approach of the rainy season next
month.
In addition to the emergency work to
be prosecuted by the Right Arm. the
main expedition will be made up of
about 100 men, including six skilled
divers; the wrecking steamer tfnde.-
writer Of Boston. of 600 horse power: the
wreckng steamer John G. Jones of Nor
folk, of similar power; the iron barge
Lone Star of Boston, capable of carving
5000 tons; the floating derrick Monarch
capable of lifting $50 tons, the largest
floating derrick in the country, and an
other derrick capable of lifting 80 tons
In explanation of the order to the Nor
folk navy yard officials to have the
Terror in condition for service, Secretary
Long said this had been given to replace
the Maine, ii being deemed desirable
that the armored fleet should not fall
below certain number. There was
very little work to be done on the Terror.
and As hours should suffice to finish il
The Terror is our most powerful double
turreted monitor and, although not as eff
fectiYe at sea as battleship, in the
smooth waters of a harbor she probably
would be able to hold her own against
almost any craft.