New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-19
Failure of Pearl HarbOr
Structure Costly to
United States.
STANFORD PRAISES
MARE ISLAND YARD
Rear Admiral AStOniShes Com
mittec by Indorsing Plans
He Had Attacked.
-rtom IN. rrllnnc Rm..ll


Washington, Jan. rs A vain attempt
20 pin down Rear Admiral Stanford.
chief Of the Bureau OF Yards ami
Docks. as TO who was responsible for
the failure OF the drydock at Pearl
HarboT, ~ a result Of which the gov
eminent lost at least $l.000.O00, occu-
pied most OF the time Of the House
Naval Committee to-day.
Representative llensloy, of Missouri,
inquired whether the contractors who
started work on the dock which proved
failure could not have been forced
20 pay tho government ut least $1,000
600 on their bond. Rear Admiral stan
ford explained that the contractors had
not guaranteed the result Of their work,
but had merely bonded themselves to
carry ont the specifications drawn by
the Navy Department.
$50 YOU made bust Of the plans,
AID, having made a bust you could
not hold the contractors responsible
inquired Representative Galloway, Of
Texas.
That's o., exactly" exclaimed Mr.
Hcnslcy.
Rear Admiral stanford said that the
geological conditions at Hawaii were
different from those in the places in
the United States where the depart
mcut previously had designed dry
docks.
so. as a result Of not having made
the necessary investigation before
drawing the plans, you made bust
persisted Mr. Galloway, and the witness
admitted that If the present plans had
been used from the first more than ST.
cocoon would have been saved.
Mistake Costly.
"Whst ] want 10 know is" said Rep
rescntative Butler. haven't we learned
something from this mistake ."
I'VE ought 20 have shouted Repre-
sentatives B~Itten and Hensley in uni
son. The government paid enough for
it."
Despite the length TO which the hear
ing is attaining, there is no lack OF
time TO hear individual Representatives
IN behalf of the navy yards in their
own districts. Representative Curry,
o. the district in which the Mare Island
yard is located, was heard at length
to-day
Mr.. Curry enthused over the possibil-
tiles Of Mare Island yard. lie pointed
=
in the world that AT Glasgow. was on
q river the depth OF which at mean low
water was only twenty-five feet, as
showing that the lack Of depth at Mare
Island yard should not weigh against
development of the yard.
Representative Curry admitted that
annual dredging would be necessary.
but said that even if il cost $50 1000 a
year that would be small percentage
on the investment the government now
had az Mare Island. whore Sl5,000,000
had been spent and where the govern
ment had 400 acres.
But $4,000 Is a large amount 10
spend every year for dredging at one
yard said Chairman Padgett.
"A private concern ! know will keep
the depth Of that channel at thirty feet
for $4,000 year" said Mr.. Curry.
Raps at Goat Island.
Another committeeman asked about
Goat Island. which Rear Admiral Stan
ford had said would be a better site
for yard.
why" said Mr.. Curry, "the wind
blows so hard there during the trade
winds, which last six months year.
that q hammer IN the hands Of a me-
chaaic would be DETECTED as he brought
II down to hit nail"
Then. to the surprise OF the commit
tee, Rear Admiral Stanford. who had
attacked Mare Island strongly. made a
nice little speech in favor Of the yard.
Private armor plate manufacturers
testified before the Senate Nava. Com
mittce to-day on the Tillmsn bill 70
establish Z government armor plate
plant
r. G. Grace. president Of the Beth
lehem Steel Company. declared that
England, Germany. France. Austria and
}apsn paid more for armor plate than
the United States and that the Bethe-
mem company was making armor plate
because the government in 1887 adver-
tsed for some one 10 make armor. and
IN 1902 almost commanded" the com
pany 10 double its armor plate capacity
70 meet the naval policy.
Mr.. Grace testified that the cost Of
making armor in a mill at full capacity
vas about 1913. The cost at one-third
capacity was S499, and 1857 at two
thirds capacity. The government Is
paying S425