The Secretary read the following report, submitted by Mr. NYE on the 22d of March: The ComNavAffrs, to whom was referred the communication of the SecyNavy, of the date ofJanuary 30.1866i, nclosingacopyof the record of the boardof naval officers, 0rganized ursiiant to the resolution of the Senate of March. 1865. report:. That on the 9th day of March, 1865, the Senate ad"optteedanthloeefdTo, hlloawt mthgerSeesoclruettiaorny:of the Navy be requested to organize a board. of not less than 3 competent persons, whoseduty it shall be to inquire into and determinehow much the vessels of warand gteam machinery contracted for by the Dept in the years 1862and 1863cost the contractors over and above the contract price and allowancefor extra worlt, and report the sameto the Senate at its next session. None but those that have given satisfaction to the Deptto beconsidered.” That pursuant thereto the SecyNavy organized the board of naval otheers, composed of Commodore Thomas 0. Selfridge. Chief ngineer Mon omeryFletcber and PaymasterC.H.Eldred o, and tint the board was convened by order of the Navy Dept at the navy yard in the city of NewYork. Jiine 5, gations 1865 and continued their investi until December23.1865w, hen they made their award or finding, and reported the same, with their proceedings, to the SecyNavy. The in veensdteiirzsi, itions of the board related to 15 double wooden hulls: machinery for 22 woodendouble coders; 6 iron double orders; machine for one ironclad; 3 iron tug boats; 2 iron c adpropellers; one iron clad; 6 harbor and rmivoenritomr;onaintodrstheofnoellolwigihntg dirsatfhtemawoanritdor; and one Drones: 23, 1865 1o0clock a.m. The board met pursuantto adjournment: all the members present. The ETOCCCdlDRS of yesterday were read over. The card, after a critical examination of the bills of cost presented by the several contractors for vessels an steammach inicry contracted for in the years 1862and 1861, who have appeared and made sworn statements, has determined to award the excessof costin the several cases, over and abovethe contract price and allowance for extra work, to be as follows: Double Eudora, Wooden Hulls. EHCH ofcost determined Name ofoenel. Gantractor. by boar!. Larrabeo.1: Allen. $11, 70877 Agawam G.W. Lawrence. 8, 61!)77 Pontoosuc. 8, 610 7 Massasoit. 4, 12339 Ose eola. d. 4.1 39 Chico ea. Paul Curtis. 4, 12839 Matta est t A. k G. S. Sampson. 4.01538 Metacomet Thomas Stock to 00. 16, 30136 Chenango. J. Simonson. 16.44181 Lena co 8, 52 Mon ota. Pontoosuc. Matabosett Pawtuxct. Tot l 8614, 9742 Iron Double Endere Hull and Machinery. Suwanee, Reancy, Son&Arohbold. $23, 97418 Watercc. do. 34, 10163 Shamokin Musenots 82, 46095 Winnipec 15 11 113154738.saaosis 92 Mohongo Zouo Secor 5.: Co Total. Iron Clad Machinery. Miantonomoh. Novelty Works. s.8.35, 832 04 Iron Tua Boale Hull and Machinery. Iron Clad Propellers Hull and Machinery. Milwaukee. James B. Ends. 830.4384 Winnebago. do. 29.174:10 Total. IronClml Ilull and iWlichinery. Onondaga. G. W. Quintard 885, 213 91 Harbor and River MoiiilorEHull and Machinery. Tecumseh Z kFSocor 8119.025)7 Mahopac. (10. 110.05]57 Mnnhatta rine 119.0 57 Catawba. Alexnnder Swift & Co. " 114, 00994 Onooto. 11401994 Manayunk. Snowden 8: Mason. 71,56942 Total $65655101 Light Draft Monitor Hull and Machinery. Nauboo. William Perine. $36, 51344 Monitor Hull and Machinery. v Camancho. Donahuc, Ryan & Secor. 9179.99830 In the caseof the Camanchothere is an additional sum of 896, 550new in the courts.which the contract ors consideras a part of the cost of that vessel, but which the board have not embraced in their award. All of which is rospectfullgsubmit ted: THOMAS 0. LELFRIDGE. Cbmmodoreand [fruitful of Board. MONTGOMERY 1 LETCHER. Chief Engineer. CHARLES H. ELDREDGHH.a]! Hon.Giniioit WELLBB, SecyNavy, Washington, D. C. the ann exed table(No.1 shows the contract prices, the cost of each work to t a contractor as shown to the board, the amountspaid to the contractors for extra work. the amount of losse laimed to have beensustained by eachcontractor, and the amounts awarded by the board. It will be observed that the contract price of the wooden double enderswas each 875 and $75, 511 that the cost of 12 of them.incluing additional work, ranged from $5239 08 to 897, 67611; that the lossese laimed to have beensustained thereon ranged from 8401538 to 918, 87041; and that the amounts awarded thereonby the board ranged from $3, 83193 to 818.57652. It will also be observed that the cost of the Lona ee.inc1nding extra work, was claimed to be $152.6937 and the loss$77, 191 37b;ut that the board allowedonly818.57652.which included 95.92348 allowed by the Dept for extra work. but not yet paid, (seepage 13of report of board.) and which leavesbut 812, 65304awarded for loss upon the contract. the loss upon the Mnssasmt an the Ose eola wasbut 88.25678, therehaving beenplaid the contract ors for additional work $7, 34057. he loss claimed and awardedupon theMattabesettwu but.84, 01538: but it Will be observed that no claim was made for the personalservicesof the contractor, for use oftool Pilgrim. 1usey, Jones Jr Go $4.79338 or interest paid on account of delay of payment of Triaua. William Perine 52.47281 billsap rovod. (Se c report of bourdmizgiQ.) the loss Maria. do. 43.58608 claim on thqWynlusing was but 64, 95, but. that vessel was built at Philadelphia. where labor was TnhLl $Z100, 8:5137 cheaperthan atpoints further East, and therewasno charge made for increased eost occasionedbychancin TABLE No. 1. Amounta receive on, Contract Total cost of account of Amount of war 9 Names of contractors and iesse ls. mica ahim almmtiom logaztzoggn the In", and impve bond.ments. Wooden doubleenders. Lanabee & Allen: Gunbont Inst 0. Metacomet. J. Simonson Chgnfingo. u ton: FzLc;na cg.ers on, rin on. siv. M. Cramp: Wyalusing. J. J. Abraham Eutaw. Hillmnn & Pontiac the designorplan of the vessel. (See ageBotreport.) With these exceptions.the claims or lossesdo not vary to a greater extent than mustoccur where vessels are constructed at shops possessingdifferent facilities and located at pointsw ere the cost of labor and material is not the same. The contract for one of these vesselswas signedon the 101h.foranother on the 15th for another on the 18th and for the resi dueon the 9th September, 1862 and r equired themto belaunched in 126 days. A part were ready to helaunchedat the time limited. a part in More. onein June and 2 in July. 1863 and their completion was delayed by the fact that the machinerywasnot make} until the latter part 011863 and the 1st part of 1. The contracts for the machinery for the wooden double enders were at $8000each: tbecost of construction. asshown to the card. excluding the Wy nlnsing and Min 00.rangedfrom8102.51733to $146. 89. And excluing the two vessels above mentioned. the awards ranged from 819.16287 to 601.752 The cost of the machinery for the wyalusing and Mingoe was below the average, so that the award for both wasbut 811.63475; but it will be observedthat the contractorssustainedno lossby the rise in mate rial. they having purchased the sameat the time of the contract. (boo record of board. page 24.) The cost of the Peoria machinery ismuchabove the aver age and is only accounted for by the fact stated by the contractor.(recordof board. Page 26.) that he was unfortunate in the 1st selection and nrchase of iron. which proved to be defective a n which was not discovereduntil he came to work it and thereby he was delayed. This contractor seems to have been hreisliecvoendtrbaycat fnoarctthoefCcoomngprleestsiofrnoomf the ewreoqrukiaretma sepnetocfi TABLE fied time; but the constantly advancizi costqtlabor and material could not be avoided. xeepting the Wyalusing. the Mingoe and the Peoria. the cost of the machinery for the 22 vessels and the lossesthereon. do not vary to a greater extent than must occur where work so difficult and expensive is constructed at shops POSSE 111d3iflcrcut facilities and located at Oints where the cost of labor and material is not The contract tseforstohmee machinery were made in Au gust.September and Uctober, 1867 the beening in August. 2 in September and 3 in October and required the machinery to be ready in 7 months or Within 2 months after the hulls should be ready to receive the same; but it wasnot placed in the Vesselsin complete condition until the latter art pf1863and 1st of 1864 and in the case of the eerie not until Ma. 1865. The delay in the caseof the machinery for that vessel was in part causedby the iron 1st used proving defective. requiring an abandonment of part of the work. (Seepage23 of record of board.) The irondouble endersSuwanee. Wateree and Sha mokin were constructed at Chester. Pennsylvania. under contracts madeSeptember9.1862Ju. ne 24.1863, and July 27.1803;and the Woterec was to be completed in 180 days and the other twoin 11 months from the contracts respectively. The completion of the wateree was clayed until December.1803b. y the diflieulty in getting material and labor and by the invasion of Pennsylvania and the completion of the Suwanee was delaed until bDycctehmesbe carrcity 1864 cfa.lanbdotrheanSdhamokin until uly. 1865. menat the time of the raidsminatotePreianlnasnydlvtahneiac.all for record of (See board. pages1land 29.) Ttie contract price of the Suwaneewas$203, 170c;ost of licrconstruction, 8p2ri4ce7.33013; and the award.828, 97418. The contract of the Wateree. 0275.000t;he cost of her construction. 8307.65986;and the awardmade.8:34.16613, which the committeethink ought to have been $32. 030013.And the contract pnce of the Shamokin was 8275.000 the cost 1 her construction.$319, 33795, and the award made. 3.09207. The contract for the Muse oota was madeAugust 5. 1863.for the completion in 11 months; but she wasnot completedtill December 1. 1864. Because the contractor had so much otherwork to dofor the governments and 97500 the eottihmeecowsat.sinwclauidviendg.$16 the 13c70o5netrxater at work was 25774; and the losse laimed.584.88056; and the award. $82.46)95. The contract for the Winnipec was made August 21.1863.to be completed in 11 months; but the vesselwas not completedand acceptedtill March 20. 1805. The contract price was 8275.000c:ost of construction. $338,71541: and the award was 363.71541. The lollowing statement of the causes of the delay in the construction is found on page52of the report of the board; “The specifications for the engine were not received until September 7. 1863. 17 days after thodste of contract. The work on the boilers wasdelayed for the want of information written for November 30. 1803 and not received until December27: also writ ten toiFebruary 2. 1864 and not receiveduntil April 10. Other work was delayed because information applied for February 2.1864w. asnot received until September 30. Men and tools were furnished to aid in the construction and completion of the iron clad Chimo. asproposedMay 4. 1864. acceptedMay 12 and authorized by telegramfrom the bureau of Construction of that date. on which account a months extension of time was agreedupon. but which really consumed a much greater amount of time. Alterations were madefrom time to time as the work progressed. some of which were as follows: the plating of the Eilot houses was ordered to be changed from iron to rass November 24 1864; an alteration of the capstan to fit a larger chain was ordered August 25 1864. a yeomans store room. not shown on any lan. was ordered March 4. 1865; 2,000 t irce coal ports were shifted; alterations were made in the ar rangcment of the deck beamsof a sectionof the vessel. in the position of the inn gaunt, hatches and in the steering apparatus. Various other arts of both the hull and machinerywere altered from the original specifications and drawing. allot" which were doubtless the result of the great pressure of business upon those having the direction. but which. nevertheless. caused the delay in the completion of the vessel and enhanced the cost as per annexed statement. over and above the contract price." The contract for the Mohongo was made August 2l. to be completedin 11 months. but was not completed and delivered until March 3. 1865 and the " causeof the delay was owing to thenon receipt of plans. drawings and specifications from the Dept and also from the alterations and extra work required." (See record. page 32.) The contract price was $55,000. the cost of work. including extra work. $394, 83043 and the award $113, 54378. The contract for the machinery of the iron clad Miaiitonomoh was made September 15.1862a. t $167.000 and the cost of the construction was 6202.84854 and the award was935.83204. The awardon the tug boat Pilgrim is 84.793 The contracts for the iron tug boats Triana and Maria were made December 20.1863.at 8128.000for the lrinna: the cost of her construction was $181. 84245.lcaving a claim for loss of 653.84245 and the award was $5.47281. The contract price of the may ria was 850.000h.er cost of construction $124, 74958. the losse laimed $44, 74598 and the award was 943. 58698. These vessels were not comploteduntil August and November. 1855 and the delayswere occasioned by theorders to press the work upon anothervessel. taking the men from these vessels for that purpose. the grenfditheulty in obtaining men.and. intheease of the Triapa. by the useota vacuum engine ordered by the triifllllMl. The contracts for the donble turreted iron clad the country werenotof snilicient capacity to roll the l 1862;for 5 iron double endersin Junefilnly and gunboatsWinncbIigo and Milwaukeewere madeMay in 27.1862 at 8313.00 each. The Winnebago cost$557, 82256; the losse laimed. after payment of extras and sale of old iron was 529.17420 and the same was awarded. The Milwaukee cost.ase laimed.$35..84621 making the loss ase laimed. e30.48348 and the award was that sum. These vessels were not completedand delivered until the months of May and August. 1864 and the contractor says the delay was occasionedas follow mt page 61 recordof boardz) “ll ofurther states that the Winnebngo was delivered to the U.S. during the month of May. 1804 and the Milwaukee in the monthof August. 1864a.nd that the delay in completing said vease lswas from circumstancesentirely beyond his control. That the work on them was prosecuted with all the energy which was in his power from the time of the signing of the contract until their completion; and that for the 1stsix or 7 months his entire force. numbering about 900 workmen.were employed at the work every day. Ineluding Sundays. an about 200 every night. during each entire night. at an extra expenseot titty%. for their wages each night and eachSunday over the usual wages paid them; and this extra eXpense.he states. was incurred Without expectation or hope of reimburse meat from the Government.but solely to enable him faithfully to perform his obligationsto the Government. although no clause eXisted in his contract reiairing this incessant labor." ho contract for the iron clad Onondaga was made May 26.1882 and was completed February. 1864;the contract rice was 86:1").(X1th0e. cost claimed was 8710.1565 and the award 91. The delay in the completion of the vesse l was oceasioned by "scarcity of labor. difficultyof obtaining materials. strikes, and having to close his shop for 2 months on account of mobsin the summer 011863.”(Seepages18 and 19of record of board.) The contracts for the iron clad monitors Maho gac. Tecumseh and Manhattan were made September 1.1862: the entire cost of the 3 vessels was $236.41? 63; the losse laimedto have been sustained was 5382.39267 and the award madewas 5119.63057 upon each. These vessels were not completed or delivered until the monthsof March. May and Au gust. 1864, and it was claimedthat the dela “ owing to alterations and additions to origina spwecaisfications required by the Dept]: The contractsfor the iron clad monitors Catawba and Oncoto were made in Septemberand October. 1862.at 3920.000for both vessels; the work required by additions and alterations $322, 849;the entire cost was31. "0. 88 and the losse laimed 8228.01985 and the award was 114.00904 upon each. These vessels were not comp cted and delivered iiutil June. 186;) and the contractorse laim that “ this delay wase aused by alterations being made by order of the Dept and the scarcity oflabor. The excessof costis accounted for in being obliged to raise the vessels 18 inches.extensivealterations in. turrets and increased size of boilers over stipulations of conrac. The contract for the monitor Manayunk was made September15.1862.but was not completed till September. 1865 retheuireoodntrbayct rice was 8460.000a.ddi change in specifications. 8160.58224 and the entirecost of the vessel 8700.89066 and the loss claimed 874.31381 and the award $71. 56942. The delay and costsare thus explained. (see record of board. page56:) “ That the causesof delay i n the completion vessel arose from the fact of extensive alteroaft iothnes from time to time ordered by the Government; and also that.owing to the distanceof our establishments from NewYork. wewereunable to procurethenecessary drawings and plans with the promptnessand dispatch that similar works in that city were able to do; and also. owing to the very low state of water in the Ohio rivar. it wasnot.in our power to launch our vesselsin April. 1864 and wewere compelled on that account to defer launching the vesseluntil December 01the sameyear. That. the reasonsfor the execs ofcost over the contract ricowere oWingto the great advancein material a u labor and the alterations ordered from time to time and to the great diflieulty in procuring labor. our mechanics and others om plofed by us havmg goneinto the Army and Navy. an Wewere compelled at great expenseto obtain a portion of the deSiredlabor from Europe. It wasalso at the time a new thing to the mechanics of thatsectionof the country, which was a potent difficulty we had tocontendWith; and fnrther.wewerecompelled. owing to our isolated position to do our work. as it were.Within ourselves there being no Similarpstablishments in that part of the country to which we could apply for any aid or help. That there are no chargesin the bill (anmxed to111641130a0n1d1mlarked NO. 46)1orany condemned material or faulty work manship and that it shows the actual cost of labor and material." The contract for the light draft monitor Naubuc was made April 2. 1863.butshewasnot completedand delivereduntil February. 1865. the contractprice was “1.05567; the additional work required by changes madeduring her construction. 143.67035: the costot 152 entire work $559, 87272. he loss claimed was.81398 and the award was. 53344. The delay in the completion of the work seemsto have been occasioned by repeated alterations in the work by the different inspectors and a part of the losse aused by resaing the work on Sundays and nights. the contract for the monitor Comanche was made June 20.1862a.nd the vesselwas not completedand delivered until January. 1865. "The causesof delaywerethat the controctors were obliged to give portions of the material of the (la manehe to aid in the constructionof other iron cladi on building in NewYork.imd required by the government for immediate use. as the rolling mills of kinds of iron required for that class of vesselsas fast asit was wanted. When the Canianchewasreadyfor shipment to SanFrancise p. the Government took the I principal parts of her on me to replacesimilar parts of the an inn of the Wee awken. which had broken l down at 0". Royal. The delay in replacing these partsof the macliiucrycaused the Comanche to arrive in SanFrancise o in the winter inshtead of in the spring of the year. The ship Attiilla. With the iuaterialsior constructin tho Caniauc c on board was sunk during a violent acin the harbor of SanFrancise o. causing a furtherdelay in completing the vesel."lfecord of Board. p.34. The contract price of the Vessel was $565000; additienal work required by alterations as the Work progressed was 348,16198;the entire paymentsmadeby the Government were 861316198; and the entire cost of the vesselwas $802, 31479; the loss claimed was, $189.148!)1 and the awardwas$17989380. l l The aggregate of contract priceswas $9,893.226:7; i of the cost ol the vessels and uiachinery.$13.581.55321; y of the lossese laimed before the board. $2335.52”2). q and of the awards.$2, 267, 62778. It will be observedthat the Deptmadecon tracts for the 15 double enders the machinery for 20 ftwo double enders.for the 6 harbor and river monitors. with their machiner for one iron double ender, and for the iron clad hiiantonomoh. in the months of August. September and October. August. 1863;for 3 iron tug boats oceiuber. 1863;for the iron clad Onondaga.the iron clad propellers Milwaukee and Winnebago. in May. an the monitor Comanche.in Junc, 1562a.nd for themonitor Naubuc. in April. 1863. During the period appointed 1 for the construction of this work. the Dept had many other heavy jobs in its own yards. in the shopsofsome of these contractors and of other parties so that themachinery.material, and skilled labor 01the country were taxed beyondtheir capacity; and the committee are satisfied that with the means at. theircommaud. it wasnot possible for these contractors to complete these vessels and this machine Within the periods fixed in the contracts.even he there beenno delay occasioned by excriments and modifications of the plans and specications. The committee are also of opinion that could the work have been completed Within the times fixed in the oontrects.andhad there beenno advancein the price of labor and material. the contractors would have sustained but little if any loss. though they would not probably have realized any profit; but that a delay in the completionof the wor madelosses inevitable. The vigorousprosecutionof the war rendered it necessary for the Governmentto increaseto a very large extent. the currency and.asaccusequencet.he knees of material aud labor rapidly advanced. Table 0. 2.?annexed. furnished the committee by George L. Quintard. of the Morgan Iron Works. in the city TABLE No. 2.:l. “t M. 7, 1862. 0 14c Articles. Pig iron American Metals ingot coon sheetcoppe. GEORGE A. UINTARD. 7e. orami Iron Worh. Nil Yeti. of NewYork, shows the rate of prices during each month, fromJanuary, 1862t, o December, 1864 ot labor, and of the materialsused by these contractors in their work, from which it appears that the average of increase during that period was over 100%. The effect upon the contractors is seen by considering a fewcases. The contracts for 15 double enders, wooden bulls, were made about the 10thof September, 1862, and they were completed during the utter part of 1863 and 1st part of 1851. In September, 1862, best flange iron was6 cents per pound in May, 1563, it was8, and in January, 1864, it was 10. At the same periods common iron was $65, $90, and 8115 perton. Finishers were 18, 21 and 24centsperhour. Laborers were 11, 13, and 16cents plehrehfaocutrs. haMvoeldlickres f1o7rc, e2i4n, arengdar 2d5tcoetnhtesmpaecrhhionuerr.y for the 22 wooden double endeis, the work being commenced about September, 1862, and comfleted the latter part of 1863 and 1st 011864. The oss claimed to have been sustained, and the award made, in the caseof the iron double ender Mohongo, bmlt by Zeno Secor 8: 00., appear as high as in any other case. That vessel, With her machinery, was contracted for August 5.1863, and was to have been completed in 11 months, but was not completed and delivered till about March, 1665.owmg, as claimed, to the non-receipt of plans, drawings, and specifications from the Dept, and to the alterations and additional work: and as the committee is informed, owing also to the fact that other heavy work for the Government was pressingupon the shop, beyond the capacity of its machinery and force. But during the 11 months allowed by the contract for the completionof the vessel, table. shows the follownig facts: from August 1863, till July, 1864, a period of 11 months, best flange iron rosefrom in to 10"perpound; common iron from 880 to 820 perton; American iron from $31to $75)perton; copper, in sheet, from 38 to 70; laborers from 14 to 22cents perhour: smiths from 23 to 31 perhour: molders from 25to 31perhour; turners fromZZito 3operhour; carpenters from 24to 27; and beiler men from Z! to 32cents perhour. The contract for the harbor and river monitors Tecumseh. Mahopae, and Manhattan, with their machinery, constructed by Messrs. Z. lit 1“.Secor and Perinc Set or & (30., was madeSeptember1, 1862, and the vessels were finished in March, May rid August, 11334th. e delay being caused, as is cluim, by alterations and additions to the original specifications, which the committee believe was the case, as the Dept allowed and paid for additional work on the vessels, amounting to $516, 21841. (See page32 of record of board.) From the commencement of the work in September, 1862, till the completion of the 2nd vesselin May. 1864, bestflangciron advanced from ti to 19; common iron from to$145perton; American iron from $26to $60; copperin sheet from QUi to 70; laborersfrom 11to21centsperhour; smiths from 19 to 30; molders from 19 to 29; tumors from Z) to 29; carpentersfrom 18to 21: boilermen from 18 to 30; and finishersfrom 18to 28. The contractors for the monitor Comanche were perhaps the most unfortunate in the prosecutionof their work. Their contract was made June 20, 1862, but the vesselwas not completed until January, 1865. As has beenstated, the delay was causedby the fact that a portion of the material was taken for other Government vessels which were required for immediate use, by the fact that agortion of her machinery was required to supply the roken machinery of the Weehawken at Port Royal and by the fact thatthese delays caused the ship Aquilla, with the parts of the vessel and her armamenton board. to arrive at SanFrancise o in a boisterous season, and on the night after she was moored a violent gale causedher to sink at the wharf. It was a tedious and difficult work to raise her, but shcwasfinally delivered to the Government authorities, avery complete and superior vessel. on the 19 tloi f January, 1865. From the date of the contract till the timeof her delivery, materials and labor advanced as follows: common iron from $511to $165perton; American from 1521to $621;cop perin sheet fromjfll to 65 laborers from 10to 22 cents perhour: smiths from 7 to 32; carpenters from 17 to 27; and finishers from 17to 30 cents perhour. The committee believe that in manyother crises the comibletion of the work wasdelayed by the action of the Dept, because it is the concurrent testimony of many1of the contractors that such was the case, and also becauseit could not be otherwise, inns much as "the part of buildingiron clnd ships of war was not then perfect; it was yet in excriment so much so that constant modifications of the plans e camo necessaryas the useof completed vessels discovered defectsor suggested improvements.” and it would have been a tuiln reof duty on the part of the Dept had it failed to introduce any improvement at any time during the progressof the and to the fact that diligence and care were observed in that regard isin part to be attributed the productiqn of a navyso perfectand so formidable. In reportingupon thissubliect, the committeeat the last session of Congress sai: " At the time the contracts for these vessels were made and the general plans and specifications prepared. the part of building iron clud ships of war was not perfected it was yet in experiment; so much so that constant modifications of the plans became necessary as the use of completed vesselsdise overed defects or suggested improvements. So late as the 31st of August, 1863 General Inspector Stimerswrote to Messrs. Secor 8: Co. that “the building of iron clad steamers is a novelty in this country, ” in any other: it is, therefore, impossibleto makea complete general plan, and write complete specifications at one date, Wh10h Willsatisfy all the requirements subsequent experience and studypoint out, the more espe $311168 the flectul rcady in serviceisaotually engaged with the enemy and rapidly develoing all themk points of the original structures.” iiring the prog ress of the work many and material modifications of the plans were adopted, in some cases requiring greater depth in the vessels and the contractors were required to suspendwork until the new plans and specificationse ouldbeprepared. As uninstance, the following letters from the general inspector to Messrs.Secor 8: Co. are given: Gasman. Issrse rons Orrics, nos Gian STliANERSv 413 BROADWAY, NEW 1 ORR, December 22.1862. Gssrurxas: You are probably aware that the iron clad steamers Mahopac. Tecumseh, and an hattan, now in process of construction by you, are, in their general plan simplya modification of the Possaic class: that the original design einanated from Captain Ericsson, the inventor of this system, and that this office was established by the Government for the purpose of making and issuing to the various builders of the vessels the detailed working drawings. The designof Quptain Ericssoncontem pirloante; d the deek coveredwdh one inch thickness of the deck planking and much of the side armor of pine wood, and all armor plates to be of 15 16thsinch thick each. After this plan left the hand of the designer.there was added another inch to the thickness of the deck plating; the pine wood in the deck lanks and side armor wase hanged to oak; the full t icknessof one inch each was deiniinded for all armor plates; the weight of the boilers was increased 15 %., and in some mine rrespects weightwasadded to was originally intended, until, what after having in vain protestedagainst these additions. Captain Ericsson gavenotice that he would no longer be responsible for the flotative power of these vessels. have, therefore, caused the displacement and the weights to becarefully calculated and to avoid theneccssity of carrying any ballast to balance the vessels, the calculations extended to balancing the weights equally with the displacement. As the result of theseinvestigations. it has been determined to make the following alterations: 1. The depthof the vessei willbeincreased 18 incbes. This will bedone by adding a stroke or plating betweenstrakesK and L. forward of the after over hang, and between strokesH and N aroundthestern body. Inclosed I sendyouase hedule of this platin; at then peredge of the plating upon the outsi e there wi i be an angle iron GIXSQXfinchcsin lieu of the oneof 4h4X i inches specified originally. In lieu of the short shelves Orderedfor the endsof the beams to rest upon, there will now be a continuous angle iron 6X3iXt inches runiiingcompletely around the vessel upon the inside. The trainee will not extend any higher than the original intention except in cases where they are not yet out; it would be advisable to permit them to come up to the lower edge of the beam, shelf angle iron and lower framesoi stern body. which are to belengthenedin accordancewnh the sched uleof framing herein inclosed. The armor shelf and all the armature Will be raised 16 inches, so that the same structure is retained in all this art except in the peculiar manner in which the s ear stroke is fastened, for which see drawing soon to be sent you. The same knee plates or asset pieces will beretained asoriginally specified. but they Will require to be cut out at their upperoutboard corner, as perdrawing. 2. The 4 feet floors Will be increased to 5 feet 6 inches in depth. Thesewill now occur upon frames Nos. 76.80, $5, 103, 107.111, 115, 119. 3. The turret bulkheadsWill nowoeeurupon frames Nos. 89and Q9. 4. There will now be 2 coal bunker bulkheads; thesewill occur upon frames Nos. 62and 74. 5. The top of boiler shells will be raised 18inches. 6. The up or end of stem and stern posts Will be lengthened Binches. 7. There will be a modification of the lengths of vertical shafts under the turret, on account of the increaseddepth. The domeover the Eropeller Will not be required. The 1016801la1r5e the important changes, of all of which correct rawingsWill besent assoon as they can be mad. You will please make out a showing the expense to yoursestlvaetesm, wehnitcihn detail. will be added to the cost of the vessel, and thelength oftime which must be added on account of the foregoing enumeratedehanges. You will please give the local inspector an opportunity to judge of the correctnessof your estimate. that youmay 0th estimatefrom thesamebasis. You will understand, of course, that the GovernmentWill pay you all expenses incurred on account Ol these changes, in addition to the price agreed upon in the contract, and to allow you i e extriitime required on account of them to completethe vemels. I, Ll. am my mp” uuyamass c. STIMERS, General Inspector. Messrs.Sacon in 00. 68 Wm street, NewYork city. Approved: F. H. GREGORY. Rear Admiral, Superintendina. [No. 3.] Gssunu. INSPECTORS OFFICE, Icon Gun STEAHERS, 256 CANALS rassr, NewYorkur. June 18, 1863. Grsrtniiss: In consequenceof defectsdeveloped in the monitor vessels now afloat in actual service at sea and in battle, it has been decided to make the followin chan csiii the ironclad steamers Mahopac, Teeumse, an Manhattan, new building by you, namely: The system of bolting together the plates forming the turret, pilot house, and smoke pipe, will be changed to a system of riveting with the rivets put throughfrom the inside and riveted on the outside, as iigiown by the drawing sent you this day by Adamss xpress. An examination of these drawings will show you that the 6 inner courses are riveted through and through, instead of the 2 inner courses as before, and that Where rivets 055 entirely through all the thicknessesof the thir course from the outside, the holes are punched one and a half inch diameter, instead of one and a quarter inch. so that when the riveting is performed the rivet will expand into this larger hole, and thus renderit impossible for it to fly either outward or inward when struck by shot. L here will be a band of wroughtiron, 15 inches wide by 5 inches thick, secured to the baseof the turret, with 42 inch bolts, asshown. This band will be composedof 4 pieces, butt, iointed. The iron must beof the very best quality, especial pains being taken to make it soft. so that when it shot strikes it it may imbed itself into it without breaking it up. The inspector will. at his discretion, orderany piece of this iron to be tested by bending it under a heavy steamhammer 3 feetin 12 eflength; that is, if the supports are 12 feet apart it must be bent down 3 feet in the middle. the Gun slides Willhave oucirich clearancebetween their ends and theinside of the turret: the bandsup porting them will be made 3}inches thick, as shown where theslides rest upon it. There will be1/2 inch clearance on one side of the gunslide in the notch cut in the band, as shown: but this clearance Will be filled in solid with the liver pieces shown. that they may be readiusted if thrown out of auge by shot. The platesfor lifting the turret, place over the gun slides, will be changed to forged pieces, as shown by the drawing. The gutter around the turret will now be made 7} inches Wide. It will be filled with platted hemp gaskets, on the top of which will he a plate ring 2 inch thiek by 6 inches wide, butt jointed, with strap! on lower side spiked down to the deck, with i inch round spikes, 7 incheslong, pliieedabout 2feet apart. In the gutter within the turret there will be several se uppersofiit least 3 inchcs diameter each, fromwhich pipes will lend to the bilge in such a mannerthat the water which may come through under the bottom of the turret will be freely carried 011w ithout wetting blower belts or other parts which it isdesirable should be kept dry. The roofof the turret will now have, instead of the railway bars, forged rectangular bars, 3 inches deep vertically, by 4 inches wide, spaced one bar every 6 inches the same as the railway barswere. The bars will be kept at the proper distance apart by rectangular blocks ofcast iron placedat the ends of the burs and over the rafters, and kept in their places by flush headedtap bolts, i inch Indiameter. se rewedinto them through the plating, as shown in the drawing. These barsmust be of the bestquality of iron and from the bars intendedfor eachturretroof there must be tested at least 2 in the presenceof the local in spector, the barsto be tested to be pointed out by him. The test to consistin bending down the bar laid flat Wiseunder a heavy hammer a distance of 2 feet when the supports are 6 feet apart. If there are any cracks in the bar, the lot to which it belongsmust. becondemned., The pilot house will be ten instead of 8 inches thick, as beforerequired, andin addition to this there will be a cylinder one halfinch thick not shown on the drawing slipped into the inside from the top. This will havevertical joints only; there will bebut and strap with straps on the inside 4}inches wide, single riveted with 3/4th rivets spaced 4 cinyclinedsearpwariltl cboeunotuetrsouuntkwohner beo the sitdweos. in Tchhisth thick plates occur over the ends of the crossbeam which carries the pilntli0iise, and the lower cornerswill be secured with 4 princii tap bolts se rewedinto the plating, The peep holes will be carefully made, as shIot wisnfionutnhdetd hraatwtihnigs is a point of great importance and many plans have recently been experimented with beforethe exact form and eharacter wasdecided upon. The coverwillnow be 3 instead of 2 inches thick, and it will be riveted down around the pe riphery, as indicated by the drawing. t will be observedthis cover now rests upon the 2 inner courses of the plating, which are made shorter than the other for that purpose, thus (115 pensing with the ring formerly designedfor it to rest upon. Around the base of the pilo the useupon the turret proof there will be a ring of COIDPOSltlOIoi, r of wrought: iron, it you can make it of the latter metal With less cost. This ring forms a glacis for the protection of the compositionring which confines the ilot house. You will observe that, according to the drawing sent you, the comsosition ring, already ordered and perhapse omplete, must be put in place before the ast 2 coursesare added. If you have notiet madethis ring I would prefer you to make it an the glacis ring enough largerin diameter to enable it to be passedover the increased thickness of pilot house. I The grating in the smoke pipe wrll now be placed below the line of the deck, as shown in the drawing. Then to retain the samearea as beforethroughthe bars the Kips must be made larger. To accomplish this another breadth of plating is added, asshownin the drawing. It will be observed that all the armor plates are now of one height. namely, 6 feet above the deck. The thickness is to be increased from 6 to 8 inches, asshown by the drawing. There will be placed on deck in the center of the vessel, between frames 7flve and sweat 7, a pipe of 24 inches diameter at O base, citrter n inchesdiameter at ten feet from the base and upward, and 25 feet high; pipeto be 1/2 inch thick to ten feet high; from ten to 20 feet high, one 4th inch thick; above that, one 8th inch thick. Vertical seams to be butt joined with single riveted straps inside. Rivets conntersunk on the outsnde. Horizontal soams butt jointed, with bandson the outside, asshown in the drawing. From the band 15 feet from the deckwill extend 3 braces of one inch round iron to an eye bolt in the deck placed 15 feet from the pipe. In each brace W lllbe a turn buckle for tightening them up. Into this pipe will enter the galley pipe, and a ipe from the upperpart of the menswaterclosets;t ese pipes Will rise hve feet above the deck. The space around them is to beleft open for the free egressof air from the berth deck, to assist in the ventilation. A plutc, however. of 2 inches thicknessis to be fitted, as shown in the drawing; sothat in caseashot perforates the ripe near the deck the twosmallpipes may be taken own, and this filled in to prevent theingressof water when the vesselisin ase a way under the enemysfire, before the pi O could berepaired. There will be placed over the iron plating of the deck a planking of white pine wood, l l inch thick, in strips of 4 inches Wide each. This woodendeck Will besecuredto the iron with a marine glue which will be furnished you by the Government. The glue is to be heatedto a temperature of 400oFahrenheit when applied, and to becoated on the deck plating and the ed esof the planks to a thickness of 1, of an inch, and the planks pressedfirmly into it. Around all ventilating and coal shute holes in the deck there will be a rin of wood 1.Linch thick, 3 inches wide, neatly turnc, having the inner diameter the same as that of the hole in the deck plating. The top surfaceof the cculshnte plates to be cov ered with wood in the same manner as the deck, so that when they are in place the surface of the deck will beplain and smooth. The total thickness of deckplatingwill now be made ll inch, insteadoth inch, aserdered in a letter from this officeApril 11, 1863. To accomplishthis you maymakethe uppercourse one inch thick, and the lower 1/2 inch, or you may make them each 3 quarters of an inch thick. The latter is the preferablemodeif the state ofyour iron on hand is such that it can be done without increasing the expense of the change. You will greatly oblige me if you will examine at once into the expenseof making the changesdirected in this letter, and send me the bill with each item in detail. Please confine it to the changes herein ordered, and if you are not prepared to send the accountsof former changes, it Will not be necessary for you to keep this until you send them. I am particularly desirousof getting this as soon as possible. After having calculated the difference in cost between the original and amendedplans. asdirectedin the fore oing, you will please return sheetsNos. 3, 4, 6, and 2, lirst sent you. It is proper to inform you that in authority for issuing theseorders is a letter from the chief of the Bureau of Construction to the general superintendent, Rear Admiral Gregory, datedJu] nell, 1563w, hich letIter has beenreferred to mefor action. am, very respectfully, ALBAN C. STIMERS. Generallmpeclor. Messrs. Sse os 5: Co., 78 Wat ltrcet, NewYork city. “The delays occasioned in the work by the changes of the plans causedlarge losses to the contractors; 1st, by leaving their labor unemployedfor the time upon their hands; 2nd, byrequiring them to carry insurance and interest; 3rd by the constant and rapid increaseof the cost of labor and materials, and the depreciation of the currency, for which the Dept could not give adequate and completere ef. The delaysworked a special hardship upon the builders of the 9 vessels1stmentioned, asit was provided in their contracts that they should each receive $50operday for everyday their vesselswere completedbeforethe time limited for their completion. From Mr. Wood, the presentgeneralinspector, the committeelearned that thise lassof contractors, to overcome the delay occasionedby the changes in the plans, and waiting for the specifications and to meet the earnest requirement of the Dept for an early completion of the vessels, prosecuted the work at night and on Sundays, and that for such work they were compelled to pay double prices, for which the Dept did not, and could not, make them an“y compensation. From Messrs. Lenthall and Isherwood, of the Navy Dept, and Mr. Wood, the general in spector, the committee learned that the petitioners enteredinto theircontrnctsupon public competition. alter general notice; that the lowest bid in a class was taken as a standard, which those bidding higher had to adopt, and that prices were: barely fair at the then current rates; that the petitioners dealt fairly and honestly by the Government in procuring the very best material which they could command, and doing the best quality of work, and that they were diligent in adopting all, measuresin their power to completethe work within thestipulated time. From the same gentlemen the committeelearned that after the making of the contracts in the fall of 1862, the prices of labor and such materials as the contractors were compelledto obtain, constant] advanceduntil within the last 2 or 3 men s, and that the advance in the price of labor skilled in iron, and of the materials required by the petitioners, was, to a large extent, owing to the great demandof the government for the somein her shops, navy yards, and shops for repair establishedat many mints iu the neighborhood of the operationsof the 1 my as well as to the depreciation of the currency. "The committee are satisfied that the petitioners have sustained, and are sustaining, heavy losses, which it wasnot in their power to avoid after making their contracts. Their contractswere generally for large amounts, and required a long time for their completion. It was impossible for themto makepro Vision tor all the material required, or to foreseeand Fronds against the great a vance in the price of abor. The demand for iron of peculiar and large sizes and fine quality was great, the supply small, and the meansof producing it in the country limited. New machineryforpreparing and rolling itwas necessary under such circumstuiiccsb, uildersofiren ships an heavy machinery could not contract in advance for such quantities aswould be required, even could they advancethe money, sothat they were compelled to abidethe fortunesof the market. during the reg ressof the work. by many of the petitioners, abor and materials have advanced, perhags, 100 or cent. This was not foreseencit or by the rock cssor the mostprudent. Thoinercased cost of labor and materials outrun the calculations of every one. Ought the lossesresulting from such a state of facts to fall entirely nEon the petitioners? The committee think not. irst, for the reason that the government, by her own competition for skilled labor and material. contributed materially to the losses. 2nd, the Government, by the mode and manner in which she imposed her taxes, contributed to the result. 3rd, for the reason (in the casesto which it applies) that the Dept delayed the work that improremonts might beadopted, or the drawings and specificationsprepared, and the delays involved not only the cost of the alterations themselves, but, by increasing the time required to complete the ves speelrsi, otdhsrewmuch of the materialand labor up the of enhanced prices and thus material y increased the cost and 4th, if the Government had contributed to it in no way whatever, under the circumstances, she ought not to allow the petitioners to“bear the whole loss. During the 1st periodof the war, almost without a navy, she undertook the work of hlockading 1,000s of miles of coast. To meetthe exigencies of the timesshetaxed to their utmost the talent, skill, and energies of the country. Not only were ships to be produced that could lie at the mouths of and blockadethe harbors, but the experimentwss under taken of building ships and boats that could safely pass forts and batteries and ase end the rivers and cooperatewith the Army. lron clads becamea necessity, but their production was an experiment. The navy yards and their machinery were wholly inadequate to the work. The ship builders of the country were appealedto. They responded and the result of the ireffortsin the Greatoxperimenthas been the production of a navy mostformidable in attack and unequaled in deiense. The ships and their engines, being of great size and power, required for their production now machinery of extraordinary weight and power. In advanceit could not betold what time would be reqluiredfor building the vessels or the enginesrcspecialy as the Dept must constantly modify the plans. If. then, enterprising citizens cameforward to aid the Governmentin her experiment by the useof their shops, machiner, and money, in a work the cost of which they could not closely estimate, nor know the time that would be required for its completion, and then the currency is depreciated by its great.increase, and pnce s go up beyondealculation, is itJust, is itconsistent with the peoples conse ience, to allow the whole loss to fell upon them? ” The committeesupposethatit wasin this spirit that the jtResolution ofJunc 25, 1864.inrelation to the contract with Eriesson for the construction of the Dictator and the Puritan, was adopted. It will be observed that the letter of General In spector Stimersto Messrs.Secor & Co., making very material modifications of the plan of the Maho a c, Tecumseh, and Manhattan, was written more than 3 months after the work was under way: and his letter to the same arties, making further changes, was written more t on 2 months after the vessels should have beencompleted. The additional work required by thesetwo letters amountedto $516, 21481. (Seepug 32of record of board.) A portion of the contractorsfor the machinery for the double enders seem to have been misled in regard to the weight supposingthat it was to he of the size of the Paul Jones class; but when they received the working plans and specifications it appearedthat it was much heavier. From Junc till December last the board organized by the SecyNavy. under the Senate resolutiou, coi i:iposed oefminent officerspf the Navy, wns engaged in hearing evidence and investigating the claims of theseparties. That investigation seemsto have been fairly, carefully and thoroughly made. It was by officers of the Dept selected by the Dept, and the award, which the committee believe to be substantially right, should be adopted as the basis of relicf to the parties; and thereforethe committeereport the accompanying bill.