Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-17

INVESTIGATION OF THE CCLCNS
COINIDITIONATHE GOVERNMENT
WILL PAY FOR THE WORK ONLY
AFTER THE VESSELS ARE IN A
HOME DOCK.
New York, December ia dispatch
to the 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 re-
Mobilization, nor does it seem likely,
from the interest taken by responsible
wrecking experts, that the Cristobal
Colon will be permitted to pound to
pieces on the shore west of Santiago.
The Board of Construction has under
consideration a formal proposition for
the salvage of both these vessels and
their devilery at New York or such
other port in the United States as the
government might select, but no COM
pany will be allowed to begin opera
tions on the vessels until COMPARE
son 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
salvage Divers and engineers have
been brought from Europe and especi-
ally for this purpose, and after salts
| fything themselves Of the Colon's con-
| dition and the expense that must be
| incurred in floating her, they will go
to Havana and examine the Maine.
There is is no doubt in the minds of
naval officials that the report OF these
experts will result in a bona fide offer
| from the Swedish company, but dis
position is manifested to give prefer
ence to American wreckers If all other
things are equal. The Navy Depart
ment has. however, made the rigid
| rule that no proposition will be con-
| sidered involving the government in
any expense until the vessels are safely
delivered in a naval dry cock.
The 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. The original
terms, which are, however. subject to
modification, contemplate the payment
by the government Of $3.50, 900 cash in
the case of the Maine, and $1,000 in
the case of the Colon, on their delivery
at the New York or Norfolk navy yard,
in addition to one-third Of the ap-
praised value of these vessels on their
arrival, the valuation to be made by
the Board of Arbitrators. The uncer-
tainty as to the precise amount of re-
n~n+ir., i,>.+|>lSed ~ vhbi ndys11-onf-
Gals, who will insist upon stipulating
the exact sum to be paid by the gov
eminent for salvage before a contract
is signed.
The method of raising the vessels to
be used by the engineers who appeared
| before the board is extremely simple.
pneumatic canssons attached to chains
passed beneath the vessel through
channels made by alternating Jets of
water and compressed air, constitute
the lifting power These channels will
be of sufficient size to enable a diver
to pass under the vessel with messen-
| hauled through and made fast to the
| sides Or deck of the vessel, the exca-
rations will be filled up by the same
process by which they were made, to
prevent the vessel from settling. Ex-
! perienee 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 sit
| Cated like the Maine, in tenacious har-
Dor deposits, jets of compressed air
Will be sent along the keel simultane-
ously with the introduction of air into
the caissons. The caissons are uni
form in size, having buoying or lift
irg effort of thirty tons each, this con-
shutting the unit of the system, the
weight of the vessel and its contents
determining the number required to
raise.
Their size and weight admit of these
caissons being easily handled in the
water by the divers alone, and their
distribution. together with the auto
Iuatic valves with which they are pro-
yided. make it possible to exert a uni
form force on all parts Of the vessel.
The danger Of rupture from undue pres
sure due TO depth under water or other
causes. or the danger of breaking air
hose, is wholly obviated by the auto
matte valves. The caissons are ar
ranged in series, and greater or less