New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-02
THE MAINE AND THE COLON.
. SWEDISH COMPANY OFFERS TO RAISE
THE AMERICAN BATTLE-SHI

.,rw PROPOSALS FOR WORK on THE srNKEN
SPANISH CRUISER TO Be INVITED. Ry
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT
fpy TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuvEl
washington. Nov THE Navy Department
,,actcally decided to-day to abandon wreckng
nnerations under existing contracts on the
snanish cruisers Cristobal Colon. vizcaya and
aInirante Oquendo, Santiago. which have
become GENEROUSLY expensive to the Government
and 20 approve the recommendations. in part at
least. of Naval Constructor Hobson and other
officers who have been experimenting the work
~ rescuing these vessels. The Department has
coached the conclusion that the Vizcaya and the
Alroirante Oquendo will probably never be
c,ed and that the Crlstobal Colon. If saved ar
ell Will not be brought TO the United States bY
,he Merritt e. Chapman Wrecking Company. ~
New York which has been working on this yes
eel under special contract involving the pay
roent OF $500 % day since July % without
visihly improving the chances OF that vessers
salvage The same company since July y. when
q, executed the first contract for the prosecution
NJ wrecking operations the ships Of Ger
vera's squadron has been receiving a separate
navrnent OF $500 day. with the single result
that the Infanta Maria Teresa is now on her
uav 10 Norfolk where a commission will decide
what additional compensation. not exceeding
500 600 shall be paid to the wreckine company
on her account.
The Board on Construction. TO which the mat
Ter was referred for consideration by Secretary
Long afte- ne had virtually decided that the
n-esant arrangement was becoming intolerable'
to-day assumed the responsibility OF recon-
mending that the contract for the salvage OF the
lad
new proposals for righting and raising that yes
sci be publicly sought by the Navy Department
under restrictions which would involve the Gov
emmett in no additional expense unless the at
tempt was altogether successful
The Department will send a cable dispatch 70
CAPTAIN Colby NJ. Chester. senior naval OFFICER
on the south coast Of Cuba, tomorrow. II the
recommendations OF he Board are approved as
they will be without doubt. directing him to
Concentrate the wrecking work for the present
ALTOGETHER on the Reina Mercedes which is sub
merged in still water and capable Of ready rails
ing and that no further attention for the pres
ent be paio to the Oquendo and the Vizcaya
CAPTAIN Chester will also In all probability be
directed 10 proceed at once 70 destroy the collier
Merrimac utilizing for this purpose the naval
vessels under his command and their explosives
this plan being calculated 70 relieve the Govern
n1ent or aQOltloOdl EXPENSE Wiillc AZ NAe oo.AAS
time giving naval seamen desirable practice in
countermining and the removal OF channel OBJ
structions
Naval officials have not expressed any partic-
ular dissatisfaction with the work OF the Mer-
rift & Chapman Wrecking Company, which has
received over 81 600 day for more than three
months at Santiago, and which saved many
valuables from the Maine in Havana Haroor
until compelled TO desst by the certainty or
impending hostilities. but the experts are thor
oughly agreed that little more can be accom-
plished beyond the raising Of the Mercedes
with the present plant at Santiago. and they
have decided that further expense in other OIL
rections is unwarranted.
This decision has been Influenced 20 some ex-
tent by the arrival in Washington OF repre-
sentatives of a great Swedish wreckng cor
poration which succeeded in rescuing the Brit
ish battle-ship Howe from condition compare
bic only with that Of the Cristobal Colon. and
which points 10 record Of over five hundred
ships which IL has extricated from more or less
serious positions. nearly all of them submerged
AT considerable depths. This company, 1t ap-
pears Is not only confident Of its ability 10
bring the Cristobal Colon and the other Span
ish vessels TO the United States. but is ready
10 guarantee the delivery of the Maine in the
big drvdock at the New-York Navy Yard. The
Swedish wreckers propose TO take all the risks
Of failure without expense TO the Government
and 10 rely. IL they succeed, for compensation
wholly on arbitration.