The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1898-02-25
CONTRACT SIGNED.
Secretary Long and Wrecking
Company Agree on Terms.

Bonus VIII BE Paid For Raising the
Warship Maine-Work to BE Pushed
Before Yellow Fever Season Sets In.
Washington, Feb. 23.-The Merritt &
Chapman company of New York, as
sisted by the Boston Towboat company
has received the contract for the sal
wage of the Maine. An agreement was
reached Tuesday with the representa-
tives of the two companies after several
conferences. At the last moment Sec
rotary Long insisted that a provision
should be made for sending forward at
once at least one large Wrecking boat,
with divers and equipment. This was
agreed to, and dispatch was sent to the
captain of the sea-Wrecker Right Arm,
now at Key West, to suspend his private
work there and proceed at once to Ha-
vana.
The terms of the contract provide for
the payment to the wrecking companies
of the sum of 1871 per day for their regu-
lar plant and an additional payment of
$500 per day for the use of the Monarch
while the latter is actually employed.
An express provision is made that the
government may terminate the contract
at any moment. 1t is also provided that
the compensation shall not exceed the
sum of money ($200,000) appropriated by
congress for this purpose. Finally it is
provided that if the companies succeed
in raising the Maine and towing her to
New York they shall receive bonus of
800, 900.
In view of the large first cost of the
Maine, about S., 900, 900, and the national
desire that she shall be raised, as evil
denced by the prompt and unanimous
action of congress upon the joint resolu
ton, Secretary Long believes that he is
fully justified in making the above terms
though at first thought the per diem
compensation seems large. It must be
borne in mind, however, he said, that
this will constitute the largest wrecking
expedition ever equipped in this coun-
try. Moreover the Wreckers expressed
a willingness to go to work in the usual
way that they serve underwriters,
namely, to do the wrecking and then
take the award of a board of arbitra-
ton This plan, however, was not open
to the government, which is compelled
by law to fix exact terms in advance.
A clause of the contract requires the
companies to proceed with all dispatch
and in business like manner with the
work of wrecking, and though this haste
adds to the cost of the work it is be-
1ieved to be necessary in view of the
possibility of the early appearance of
yellow fever at Havana harbor with the
approach of the rainy season next
month.
In addition to the emergency work to
be prosecuted by the Right Arm the
main expedition will be made up of
about 100 men, including six skilled
divers; the wrecking steamer Under
writer of Boston, of 900 horse power; the
wrecking steamer John G. Jones of Nor
folk, of similar power; the iron barge
Lone Star of Boston, capable of carrying
5000 tons; the floating derrick Monarch,
capable of lifting 260 tons, the largest
floating derrick in the country, and an
other derrick capable of lifting 80 tons.
In explanation of the order to the Nor
folk navy yard officials to have the
Terror in condition for service, Secretary
Long said this had been given to replace
the Maine, it being deemed desirable
below certain number There was
very little work to be done on the Terror,
and 48 hours should suffice to finish it,
The Terror is our most powerful double
turreted monitor and, although not as eff
fective at sea as a battleship, in the
smooth waters of a harbor she probably
would be able to hold her own against
almost any craft