The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-10-12
NAVY CAN'T GET
 DIRIGlBIE FROM
 CONNECTICUT co.

Washington, Oct. 12-The Navy De- partment is somewhat concerned about the failure of the Connecticut Aircraft Go. of New Haven to deliver the dirigibIe balloon in time for the official trials on October 1.
 As a result of this failure the De- partment will send to New Haven this week an officer, who will 'ascer- tain, if possible, the cause of the de- lay. Lieut. t.-Commander F. R. Me Crary, associated with Capt. Mark L. Bristol in charge of the office of naval aeronautics, has been designated to make the trip to New Haven.
 The contract with the Connecticut company called for delivery of the dir igibIe for trials at the naval aviation station at Pensacola. Fla, within four months after the signing of the con tract. The contract was signed June 1. It is now nearly he middle of October and so far as the Navy De-. partment knows the delivery of the dirigible is not imminent.
 The Navy Department has been un- able to get from the Connecticut com pany the working drawings of the balloon. It is the custom at the Navy Department to attempt no in spection of work being done under contract for the navy until the con tractors furnish corrected working . drawings. These are used by the inspectors as a basis for checking the work actually done to see whether or not it conforms to the specifications
 As the Connecticut company has not furnished these drawings for the dirig- ible the bureaus having supervision of inspection have not attempted to examine the work. Requests that the drawings be submitted to the De- partner have been met with the re- ply that they were nearly ready and fN Hod ann 3/
 With the passing of the date prom ised for delivery of the dirigible it was felt that aside from the usual i'm spections it would be we'll to look into the situation.
 The dirigtble in question is the first ordered for the navy. It is to be a comparatively small one and for ex- perimental purposes only. The policy of the Department at present is to acquire a small dirigib1e by the of which officers of the aviation corps can, become familiar with that type of aircraft, it's design, construction and operation This experience. it is believed, will give the Department the basis of a decision as to whether or not it is desirable to include dirigi- bles in the regular equipment of the naval aviation service.
 Last spring bids were received from a number of concerns and it was con- sidered that on the basis of design and price the Connecticut company submitted the best proposal. Ac- cordingly a contract was signed with that firm. Capt. Thomas Baldwin, one of the leading balloon men of the United States, was understood to be associated with the firm.
 Meantime the Navy DepartmentJ has been building a hangar for the ] dirigible at Pensacola, Fla This i hangar is not quite finished.
 It is said that should it appear that | the delays in the delivery of the dir tgible only arise out of the fact that such construction is relatively new in the United States and that within a time the balloon will be ready the Department will grant such extensions of time to the Connecticut company as may be necessary.