The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-23
THE CONTRACTS SIGNED.
Nreckiul Companies Will Attempt
to Raise the Maize.
{ EMERGENCY WORK TO BEGIN AT ONCE
Sea wrecl<cr Right Arm nnd Divers
to Precede the Main Outfit Which
VIII Arrive Next Week.

Washington, February 22.-The plans OF
! the wrecking expedition for the relief OF
the Maine was completed today after long
conferences between Secretary Long and
the representatives of Merritt & Chapman
of New York and the Boston Tow Boat
company The companies had expected to
begin work in Havana harbor in about a
week but at the last moment Secretary
Long insisted that a provision should be
made for sending forward ~ once at least
one large wrecldng boat with divers and
equipment. This was agreed TO. and a
dispatch was sent to the captain of tho
sea wreoker Right Arm now at Key West
to suspend his private work there and
proceed at once to Havana. If the Right
Arm has started north a torpedo boat will
be sent after her With orders to proceed
to Havana.
At The same time a dispatch was sent
TO the New York offices to send two OF
the most experienced divers by train to
Key West, whore they will go to Havana
and join the divers and wreckers on the
Right Arm.
'fhe commander OF the Right Arm is
ordered to place himself with his divers
and machinery under the orders OF Cap
tain Sigsbee, who Will be thus free To avail
himself of their services in the recovery OF
the bodies or any particular piece of prop
erty before the regular wreckng opera
tions begin. These are the emergency
steps which precede the Maine wrecking
expedition, which will be QUILTED at Bos-
ton and New York, with a view TO be-
ginning extensive operations within a
week
The terms OF the contract, as concluded
and signed today, provide for the payment
to the wrecking companies 1871 per day
for their regular plant and an additional
$500 per day for the use of the Monarch
while the latter is actually employed. An
express provision is made that the govern
ment may terminate the contract at any
moment II is also provided that the COM
pensation shall not exceed the sum of
money ts20Goo0) appropriated by congress
for this purpose IN the Joint resolution
passed yesterday. Finally it is provided
that If The companies succeed in raising
the Maine and towing her to New YORK.
they shall receive bonGs OF SioO. 900.
In view OF the large cost OF the Maine /
and the National desire that she should
be raised, as evidenced by the prompt ana I
unanimous action OF congress upon the !
JOINT res!uotion, Secretary Long believes |
tnat he is fully justified In making tu,. |
ABOVE terms with the wreckers though ar !
Irst thought the per diem compensation |
seems large. 1t must be borne In nina
however, he said today, that this win cn,-
sutute the largest wrecking expedition
ever equipped In this country Moreover
the wreekers expressed Willingness to 90
20 WORK In the usual way that obey serve
and then take the award of the hoard ~
aroitra'ion. This plan, however was moi
open to the exact terms in advance
conclusive contract requires the commands
10 proceed with all dispatch and IN hnn-
.'' IKE manner at the work OF wrecking.
inu though TINS adds TO the cost OF the
WORK, II Is believed to be necessary IN
view of the possible appearance Of yet,oy
ever at Havana next month.
captain Humphreys and Mr.. Chanm,,
,epresentng the two companies who vii,
10 the work, explained to the Associated
ress me plans they viii adopt in wreck
ng tue Maine. In addition to the emer-
ones WORK 10 be prosecuted by the Right
arm. the Maine expedition win h. NIL ;
p OF about 100 men, including siy sLi,ias
MYERS. the wrecklng steamer undern,rt,.,.
u Boston, OF 500 horse power. the ,vrsns
ng steamer John G. Jones OF Norfnii- y,
i J. power the iron barge Lone Star
I pnson, capable of carrying 5000 TONS.
is,, iioaling derrick Monarch, capable of
ic,, @ep tons the largest floating der
rs,, IN tne country. and another derrick
aphnle OF lifting thirty tons. The for
'hrding OF the boats. drrricks ana -,
~ pFgln al once. kilograms werc sant
u na 70 nesin outftting, taking ON coal
~ assembling men and equipment. Tho
oa,s are ready 10 start at any time but
!, WI .ake a day or two to get together
ar ~ eAuspuohai facilities required for this
arSe undertaking. The wreckers saw =,
~ De impossible 10 assemble this ma,a
M ana get into Havana harbor ready for
ork Tor week. They VIII make ever.
nort, however to expedite the work and j
: leaving Secretary Long at o,elor,s
s % rams for New York and Boston. win
Nc determination OF rushing the work.