New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-09

,,u,, performed" task is not yet known anu
Constructor Bowles has reached that s'aee
vhera he is not surprised at anythihs' HaN'"e
.attled into the belief that all that can Dc "o''
Is to go ahead on the original plan OF repa"'
and meet each days emergencies as theS aii'e
And they are arising fast erough TO heep o"e
man busy.
A prominent engineer in speaking of the uou-
bIes AT the dock yesterday said: ne ""o'e
affair IS a monument to the folly or the law
connelling the Government to accept the D'u VI
the lowest bidder for a job OF WORK p'oNiueu
he can find sureties, and without resaru ~ ITO
qualification and knowledge or inc WORN VI '"1
extent OF his plans for carrying II 10 SUI
cessful completion. Take the case OF John ,'lI,
lies who was the first contractor who attempted
10 build the dock. 1t was known 70 eheInera 80
that the dock OF the size demanded couiu no
he built on that site for the amount p ,,. ar.
tho story OF the failure Is piece OF his-oI!
which Departrnent officials would nov De SOFT
~ FORGET Then came the second firm The
Waisbos were wharf and pier builders, and mao
An envIable reputation in that me no WIZ
being breathed against them, either 1or P I W
work But when they tackled the uiS I,, In
lion thev were of their regular line. Inc same
plant which will handle pier Will not ounu
drydock and II is only human nature ioa a
man when he sees hlnsei1 peihe oea'Vi =. va
tob ~ that sort which offers so many chances
Tor saving in out of sight places, 10 make the
saving II he can. 1t may save MN. put s sne
Government has TO pay large piiis anu sur
National humiliation for pursuing Poh'y
s,oh takes no cognizance OF fitness when
highly important contract Is under cohsldtla
ton II Is bitter lesson, anu one ''o' o"'"N
be needed In the future
DELAY IN REPAIRING THE SHIPS.
DELAYS In the repairing OF the SHIPS OF 'he
.ouadron have again set back the date Tor the
assembling OF the feet The Texas IS s'i" III
tho s,mpson dock but the work on her injector
heep a ii
the hull wh.re there will be no more danger OF
the,r taking in mud is almost completed 1t Is
pou announced that the ship will be hoated on
Tuesday, and her departure Will be matter OF
only a few days. The Iowa. it was announced
on Monday, was practically ready TOT sea anu
she sailed on Thursday for Hampton hoauS'
The Massachusetts is also READY TOT sea' ~ a"
ship with good. healthy marine gI9" ~ Sr
ing to her iron plates can be caeu ISn s h nor
ses Al any rate the repairs scheduled Tor her
have been completed and 30 far she IS NJ 49,
60 ukeIv 10 be some further delay on the Brook
i1r a. orders we're received yesterday to make
,be changes In her hawse- holes noted soine
time ago and decided to be necessary ny a.
tnrd nr survey The new pieces needed nave
not vet started from Bethlehem. where they are
being manufactured. and after they ai'Ne a.
tho ward II viii take about three weeks ~ Pu'
~. ~ IN Mace The present arrangement IS
snurce of much annoyance and not niue uah-
ger. as the holes through when 'he n"aNy
anchor chain passes are so shaped anu sllua'cI
1hat there IL danger OF the chain ioulhS uHu
tearing out portion Of the bow 81 me vesse''
T., g. e gra,ifvne 10 note that the installation or
tho ne1 boilers and engines OF the Chicago mas
hcgun and is being pushed as fast as possiDl'
The engines and boilers Of the Dolphin when
"a nou' In the stone dock are being removed ana
he wall OF the dock Is a litter Of worn out rusty
machinery The new OUTFIT is ready 10 De pun
in place as soon as the ship Is ready 70 re-
ceive II. .,.,oa ,,,hioh
1t IL expected that the gunboat Machias' which
was heightened at The yard, VIII come 10 heI
old quarters on her return NOME a"" W p'"
out Of commission.
CHANGES OF THE WEEK.
Amone the changes In assignments Of the week
are the following affecting the ships Of the
squadron and this station
Lieutenant J. d; Mcdonald detached from ne
Ensign A. Althouse, detached from duty AT