Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-28
OLD IRONSIDE'S FATE
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN

Last Spring the Naval Board of
Inspection and Survey looked the old
Constitution over and reported that
she is in decidedly bad shape. The
main tppmast Is twisted, the mizzen-
top is slued and the mizzen topmast
is badly checked, TO mention only
few of the disabilities from which
the aged frigate is suffering The
general diagnosis was that Old Iron
sides is unseaworthy, the rigging is
unsafe and the spars not secure
Temporary repairs would save the
ship only for. brief time.
Can BE Saved for Many Years.
In It's report the board said: "The
Old Constitution can be placed in a
dry dock and can be rebuilt, part by
part, in way still to be the Old
Constitution. That object will not
be attained if the present vessel is
allowed to go to ruin, and IL, at a
later date, a replica is built from
plans and data taken from the pres
ent vessel. By rebuilding, II proper
material is used, the Old Constitu-
ton can be saved for an indefinite
number of years, 80 to so, withou,
further extensive overhaul"
The board further suggested that
part of the lower deck could well
be used for exhibition of naval relics
from the early days.
In 1916 the Navy Department asked
for and received $50, 900 for the pur-
pose of restoring the old ship. Now
s475,000 is needed to recondition and
maintain the vessel for time
Whether an economically inclined
Congress will consent to dig into
the national Golfers for nearly hall
a million dollars for an unseaworthy
ship is questionable. A bill for the
purpose would be very likely to get
pushed aside, as was the bill intro
duced by Senator Lodge at the las,
session. Undoubtedly Congress ap-
proved the idea of preserving the
| famous ship, but the matter is apt tc
be postponed to what Legislators like
to call more seasonable time.
The Constitution, however, con-
tinues to leak and to get in worse
condition from dry rot, and IL any.
thing Is to be done it must be done
shortly. Secretary Of the Navy VIII.
bur Is now considering ways anc
means of raising the S475,00O. The
Massachusetts branch Of the Daugh.
ters of 1912 has offered to conduct
a campaign among the school chill.
dren in order to make up the fund
secretary Wilbur likes this plan, and
he may ask Congress to authorize
the acceptance of the fund If the
Daughters of 1912 will raise it.
An objection to the plan, If II 1.
carried out as a nation wide cam.
paign, Is that in some States and
cities the public school regulations
do not permit the children to brine
contributions for any purpose t.
| school. Still, throughout her career
the luck of Old Ironsides has beer
proverbial, and probably she will be
| taken care of somehow.
Even when she was built, this shin
| which was one Of six frigates, had
special appeal for the people. A
published account Of the launching
| of the Constitution said: THE bes1
judges have pronounced the Constt.
| tuition, like her archetype (the Fed.
eral Constitution to be a perfect
model of elegance and strength. an6
every individual employed in he,
construction appears to pride him.
| self in having assisted at the pro.
duction of this chef d'oeuvre of nava
! architecture"