The record-union., 1898-12-17

kne Tribune" from Washington says:
The Navy Department has not aban-
doned the hope of rescuing the Maine
from Havana harbOr and bringing the
wreck back to this country for rehab
ilitation, nor does it seem likely, from
the interest taken by responsible wreck
ing experts, that the Cristobal Colon
VIII be permitted to pound to pieces
on the shore west of Santiago. The
Board Of Construction has under con-
sideration a formal proposition for the
salvage of both these vessels and their
delivery at New York or such other
port in the United States as the Gov
ernment might select, but no company
will be allowed to begin operations on
the vessels until a comparison can be
made between the offers from several
trustworthy concerns.
The Swedish company, which is said
to be the most capable and experienced
in the world now has experts at work
on the Colon making an investigation
into the difficulties involved in her sal
wage. Divers and engineers have been
brought from Europe, especially for
this purpose, and after satisfying
themselves Of the Colon's condition
and the expense that must be incurred
in floating her. they will go to Havana
and examine the Maine. There is no
doubt in the minds of naval officials
that the report of these experts will
result in a bona fde offer from the
Swedish company. The Navy Depart
ment has, however, made the rigid
rule that no proposition will be consd-
cred involving the Government in any
expense until the vessels are safely
delivered in a naval drydock, on the
'no-cure-no-p pay" principle.
One offer under consideration comes
from some associated engineers in New
York city who have ample capital and
who easily convinced the board Of the
feasibility of their project from an en-
gineering point of view. Their orig
inal terms, which are, however, subject
to modification, contemplated the pay
ment by the Government Of $3.50, 900
cash in the case Of the Maine, and ST.
UM000 in the case of the Colon, on
their delivery at the New York or the
q Norfolk Navy Yard, in addition to one
third Of the appraised value of these
vessels on their arrival, the valuation
20 be made by a board of arbitrators.
The uncertainty as TO the precise
amount Of remuneration involved in
this proposition is not attractive to the
naval officials, who will insist on stipu-
lating the exact sum to be paid by the
Government for salvage before a con-
tract is signed.
The method of raising the vessels to
be used by the engineers who appeared
before the board is extremely simple
Pneumatic caissons attached to chains
passed underneath the vessels through
channels by alternating jets of water
and compressed air, constitute the lift
ing power These channels will be of
sufficient size to enable diver to pass
under the vessel with messenger lines.
AS soon as the chains are hauled
through and made fast to the sides or
deck of the vessel, the excavations will
be filled up by the process by which
they We're made to prevent the vessel
from settling. Experience has shown
that ten or twelve such channels will
not cause a heavily loaded vessel to
sink more than six inches in very soft
material.
To effect the release of a vessel situ-
ated like the Maine, in tenacious har-
Dor deposits, jets of compressed air
will be sent along the keel sinlultane-
ously with the introduction of air into
the caissons. The caissons are uniform
in size, having a buoying or lifting eff
fort of thirty tons each, this constitut
ing the system, the weight of the vessel
and its contents determining the num-
ber required to raise it. Their size and
weight admit of these caissons being
easily handled in the water by the div
ers alone, and their distribution, to-
Eether with the automatic valves with
which they are provided, make it pos
sihle to exert a uniform force on all
parts of the vessel. The danger of
rupture from undue pressure, due to
depth under water or other causes, or
the danger of breaking air hose, is
wholly obviated by the automatic
valves. The caissons are arranged in
series. and greater or less power, as
circunstan noes require, may be exerted
at any point. The system is declared
to afford complete control of the wreck
and when the water is expelled from
the caissons the vessel is lifted to the
surface in single operation. 1t is as
serted that with these caissons the
Cristobal Colon can be raised and
righted even in a seaway.
In the case of the Maine, it is in
tended to cut away the forward portion
Of the hull, which was destroyed by the
explosion, and, after lifting the unin-
1ured portion to build a bulkhead and
false bow to fill the opening.