The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-19
CAN THE NAME BE RA1sEDs
Mr.. Cranp Says nc Dspends on the Conditiou
or the Hull ana the Harbor Bottom.

"' ~Eo"p UoSb H UsDonoD On tno COm0htl0A
or the Hull ana the HarboF Bottom.
WASHINGTON. Feb 1s.-Chnrles II. Cramp of
Philadelphia, the head Of the firm that built tho
greater number Of the ships in the new navy,
was ct the Navy Department this morning. Mr..
Cramp said to o reporter Of Il SUN that he
could not say whether any effort to raise tho
Maine would prove feasible.
~ depends altogether on two things" he
said, =" the condition of the hull and the charac-
ter of the harbor bottom under tho reported six
fathoms of water. I hear that the harbor bottom
Is covered with many feet Of silt, which would
make the raising of any largo ship difficult or
impossible. Then, too, il the hull of the battle
ship has boon 80 badly shattered that the frame
work Will not hold together 1t would be impos.
sible to do much in the way of recovering the
ship"
Mr.. Cramp had o conference with Secretary
Long and other officials to talk of appropriations
py which his company may rebuild the Maine
In case 1t is found impossible to raise the vessel.
He believes that IL the hull oan be raised to. the
surface, even in an extensively damaged condi-
ton. he can rebuild the ship. making her rs
valuable rs she VIC before.
The Navy Department Is preparing for the
dismantling of tho Maine by a wreckine force
in order to save as much property as possible
and to determine the extent of damage to the
hull. Representatives of tho Boston Towboat
Company and of the American Chapman Der.
rick and Wrocking Company conferred with Of
fcials of the Bureau of Construction and Re.
pair and the Bureau Of Ordnance this morning,
Later in the day they consulted with Secretary
Long. Tho proposition is to pay one of the
wrecking companies a per diem rate and to be-
gin operations Immediately. 1t is not consid-
cred necessary to await the decision az to
whether the Maine shall be raised before allow
ing the wreckers to begin work. It is necessary
to dismantle the vessel in order to tighten hcr
before any successful effort can be made to
raise the hull.
The efforts Of Secretary Long to secure speedy
authorization by Congress to proceed with the
work of recovering from the wreck of the Maine
the armament. ammunition. and fittings of the
vessel did not moot full success to-day. Copies
OF the joint resolution making the necessary
appropriation were sent to tho residences of
Chairman Boutelle Of the House Committee on
Naval Affairs and to Chairman Allison of the
Senate on Appropriations at O late
hour last night, with a request that
the committees take prompt action this
morning. Accordingly tho committees were
called together and tho resolution or.
dered to BIO favorably reported. In the |
House it went through as prepared by the Navy |
Department without division or debate; but In
the Senate Mr.. Mason secured an amendment
sNSs 49, ootASo VI thO oChoV IN DC |
brought to the United States for burial. This
suggestion was made In the House, but Capt.
Sigsbee's statement that It was impossible to |
carry out that policy Satisfied the members. In
view Of the Captains statement embers of the |
Naval Committee of the House say the Senate |
amendment should not be adopted and they |
will oppose It.
The resolution as passed by the House, as soon
as 1t could be engrossed. was sent over to the
Ganaf = III nAktnn H-N aLAN I-l- |
in the delivery OF ~eulogies upon q deceased mem-
Der. its proceedings could not. under the force of
precedent, DO interrupted to receive the message:
SO the Senate adjourned until Monday without
official knowledge Of the action OF the House,
A conference was held In the office OF Secretary
Long this afternoon. between Mr.. Long, Judge
Advocated General Lemly. and representative
OF the Merritt & Chapman Derrick and Wreck.
ing Company of New York and the Boston Tow
Boat Company. to devise means for raising tho
hull of the Maine or removing tho obstruction
from tho harbor of Havana. None of the repro
was willing to say positively that
the Maine could be brought TO the sur
face and taken to q United States port
until no had seen the photograph of the wreck
which has been forwarded from Key West by
Admiral Sicard. Secretary Long requested the
two companies to make some arrangement for
undertaking the work Jointly. He thinks this
VIII give Dotter results, as one OF the firms |
has a very fine wrecKing steamer and tho
other has superior hoisting apparatus. As
both companies have done some remarkable
work in raising sunken ships there is no doubt
they will be able to get the Maine to the
surface IL she has not been too badly injured.
Chief Constructor Hichborn is confident that
the Maine can be raieed and rebuilt. He says
that he will make another hne battleship out Of
the hull of tho vessel II 1t can DO towed to Nor
folk or some other port.
Maine Disaster Causes IsB Vacancies In the
List OF ssamen.
WAsHINGToN, Feb. 1s.-When the Maine dis
aster occurred the enlisted force of the navy
was within oighty'seven of the limit prescribed
by law. At no time in its history. except during
. war. has the service boon SO full. The loss of
life on tho Maine caused about IT'S vacancies in
tho list of seamen. Steps have already been
taken 10 Ill these. and In = few days the enlist
ID force will DO again nearly uD TO the legal
luota.
Lltest News OF Maine Disaster.
To-nights ErcntRD !OSt will contain complete and
reports OF the latest developments In the
inquiry as TO the cause Of the Maine disaster.