The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-16
TO RESCUE THE MAINE
The Navy Department Has Not Yet
Given It Up.


Given 1t Up.
New York, Dec. 16-A dispatch to the
Tribune from Washington says:
The navy department has no1 aban-
doned the hope of rescuiug 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
Wrecktng experts, that the Cristobal
Colon VIII 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 delivery 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 Oper-
atoms on the vessel 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 investigation
into the difficulties involved in her sal
wage. Divers and engineers have been
brought from Europe especially for this
purpose, and after satisfying them
selves Of the COlon's condition and the
expense that must be incurred in float
ing her. they viii go to Havana and ex-
anime the Maine. There is no doubt in
the minds of naval officials that the re
port of these experts will result in
bona fide offer from the Swedish COM
pany, but a disposition is to give prefer
ence to American wreckers if all other
things are equal The navy department
has, however, made the rigid rule that
no proposition will be considered in
NOlVlng the government in any expense
until the vessels are safely delivered in
a naval dry dock, on the mo cure, no
pay principle.
The offer under consideration comes
from some associated engineers in New
York city who have ample capitaLand
who easily convinced the board of the
feasibility of their project from an en-
cheering point of view. Their original
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 81 000. 900
in the case of the Colon, on their de-
livery at the New York or the Norfolk
navy yard, in addition to Oue-third of
the appraised value Of these vessels on
their arrival the valuation to be made
By board Of arbitratOrs- The uncer-
tainty as to the precise amount of re-
Enumeration involved in this proposition
is not attractive to the naval officials,
who will insist on STIMULATING the exact
sum to be paid by the government for
salvage before contract is signed.
1lsed nv the e1oi1eers vvI1o e797sa1-ei -
fore the board is extremely simple. Pneu-
matte caiSsOns attached to chains. passed
underneath the vessel through channels
made by alternating jets of water and COM
These channels will be of sufficient size to
enable a 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 ex-
cavations Will be filled up by the same
process by which they were made. to pre-
vent. the vessel from settling. Experience
has shown that ten twelve such chan
nels will not cause a heavily loaded vessel
TO sink more than six inches in very soft
material.
To effect the release of a vessel situated
ike the Maine, in tenacious harbOr de
posts, Jets OF compressed air will be sent
along the keel simultaneously with the in
PRODUCTION of air into the caissOns. The
cafssons are uniform in size having a
buoytng or lifting effort of 30 tons each,
this constituting the unit of the SYST TEN.
the weight OF the vessel and its contents
determining the number required to raise
calSSons being easily handled in the water
by the divers alone, and their distribution
together with the automatic valves with
Wnich they are provided, make it possible
TO exert a uniform force on all parts of
the vessel The danger Of rupture from
or other causes or the danger of breaking
air nose IS wholly Obviated by the auto
ma tic. valves. The caiSsOns are arranged
IN series, and greater or less power as cir
cuInstances require may be exerted at any
point: The system is declared to afford
the water is expelled from the caissons the
vessels are lifted to the surface in a single I
operation It is asserted that with these ]
calSsOnS the CrlstObal Colon be raised !
and r1ghted even in seaway.
IN the case OF the Maine, it is intended !
to cut away the forward portion of the /
hull, which was DESTROYED by the ex- /
plosion. and, after lifting the uninjured !
portion of the vessel. to build a bulkhead /
and a false bow to fill the opening.