September 1, 1913.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



613 



Navy Specifications. 



liy E. S. Land, Naval Construclor, U. S. N. 

 A PAPER READ AT THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL RUBBER CONFERENCE. HELD IN NEW YORK, 1912. 



IN purcliasing material of all kinds it is necessary, particularly 

 where competitive bids are invited, to prepare certain data to 

 enable the manufacturers to submit an intelligent bid. Such 

 data are usually termed specifications. To prepare satisfactory 

 specifications is an art in itself — one that is the subject of keen 

 discussion, wide divergence of opinion and considerable abuse. 



In order to cover the ground properly, great' care and infinite 

 pains as to details are required, yet the limits must be' broad 

 enough to admit of the widest competition available. Consider- 

 able care must be exercised not to incorporate clauses which 

 would, exclude certain manufacturers or prejudice them against 

 competing; yet at the. same time it is essential to incorporate cer- 

 tain clauses which indicate in sufficient detail the quality of the 

 material or the design of the apparatus being purchased. 



To avoid the incorporation of proprietary clauses, and clauses 

 calling for patented articles, needs a nicety of judgment difficult 

 to find. 



One is apt to hear the statement that "specifications arc all rot," 

 that they increase the cost unnecessarily, that they are made only 

 to be "skinned," that one should buy an article because one knows 

 by experience tliat it is satisfactory for the purpose intended, 

 without going to the infinitesimal and useless detail of specifica- 

 tions. It is freely, acknowledged that there is some truth in eacli 

 of the stateinents, but that tfiey are basically erroneous as far as 

 Government business is concerned is stoutly maintained.. 



A private concern can, and a great many of them do, purchase 

 material without specifications of any kind, but they are at liberty 

 to choose the manufacturer who furnishes such material, and if 

 the material furnished proves defective they are at liberty to cease 

 dealing with said tnanufacturer ; not so the Government, which is 

 required by law to purchase material of the lowest bidder offering 

 satisfactory material ; and in case the material proves defective 

 there is a certain amount of redress in attempting to eliminate 

 the manufacturer of inferior material when future bids are being 

 considered. Theoretically the Government is on the same plane 

 in this respect as the private concern ; practically this is far from 

 being true. It is exceedingly difficult to eliminate unsatisfactory 

 dealers from competition for Government business ; only after 

 the most fiagrant abuse of the Government's confidence is it 

 practicable to eliminate such dealers, and even if once eliminated 

 the elimination only obtains for a short period of time. 



Government business is more or less successfully hedged in by 

 politics, and by the great .\merican spread-eagle spirit sometimes 

 embodied in the expression "the Government owes me a living" ; 

 and more often by the underlying statement, "Well, I'm a tax- 

 payer and support the Government ; therefore I've such and such 

 rights." When you run across such statements as these there is 

 no answer. 



If it were possililc to deal only with reputable, reliable concerns 

 most of the difficulties would be solved, but it is a recognized fact 

 that one is up against all gradations of dealers, from the man 

 whose material is I'ar excellence to the man who wishes to fur- 

 nish you with something "just as good"; from the man whn.se 

 trade name is a guarantee of quality to the jobber who intends to 

 give you the very poorest material he thinks there is any chance 

 of having accepted ; from the man whose establishment represents 

 years of business skill, sagacity and experience, to the man who 

 "carries his office in his hat." 



In dealing with all kinds of people it is alisolutely essential to 

 safeguard the interests of the Government 1)y covering material 

 desired with detailed specifications carefully prepared and as 

 adequate as practicable. 



To prepare the'se specifications it is frequently necessary to 

 consult a number of manufacturers whose life-long experience 

 enables tHem to adequately cover the ground; it is manifestly im- 

 possible for any person to have an intimate knowledge of the 

 manufacture of all material used by the Department. 



Department officials have always received the greatest con- 

 sideration and assistance from manufacturers in the preparation 

 of suitable specifications for naval purposes. With this infor- 

 mation and with a knowledge of naval requirements, the problem 

 then becomes a matter of digesting the information available and 

 producing therefrom a broad statement of. the material desired 

 for the specific purpose, together with sufficierit details to enable 

 the manufacturer to obtain a reasonable understanding of what 

 is desired. 



It frequently happens that the limits at first evolved are too 

 narrow for adequate competition; revision is then necessary, as it 

 is the Department's desire to approach commercial standards as 

 closely as possible.- . 



ESSENTIAL FEATURES. 



1. The title should State in general terms the type of the 

 article and purpose for which it is intended, viz. : "Specifications 

 for cast iron porcelain lined lavatories for ships' use." "Specifica- 

 tions for metal uniform case locks." "Specifications for ship's 

 electric ranges." 



2. If a revised specification, the title should state the specifica- 

 tions which it supersedes, viz. : Superseding specifications 3-C-l," 

 issued August 8, 1901. 



3. The first paragraph of specifications should state in general 

 terms the type, character and number of parts. 



4. The second paragraph should give general dimensions and 

 capacities. 



5. The following paragraph should give detailed description 

 of parts. If an article is composed of several complete units 

 which when combined make a complete whole, the separate units 

 should be sub-headed and each described in detail. For examples 

 see "Specifications 57S2, Combination Sterilizing Outfits for Op- 

 erating Rooms; sub-heads: Water Sterilizers, Bowl and Utensil 

 Sterilizer, Instrument Sterilizer, Dressing Sterilizer, Valves and 

 Fittings," etc. ; also "Specifications 26-C-l, Chairs for the United 

 States Xavy." 



6. Requirements for tests, if any are necessary. 



7. Tolerances allo-wed, and terms for acceptance if material 

 does not meet the specifications in certain respects. 



8. Instructions as to packing or shipment, where applicable. 



9. A statement to the effect that questions as to interpretation 

 of the specifications should be referred to the Yard, station, or 

 place where the inspecting officer for the material in question is 

 located. 



10. Paragraph stating where specifications can be obtained. 



11. References — In this connection abbreviate, i. e. ; 



"Con. Off. New York, 2119 UX Apr. 15, 1911," signifies Con- 

 struction Officer, Navy Yard, New York, letter number 2119 UX, 

 dated April 15, 1911. 



12. When illustrations are considered necessary the tracings 

 for reproduction should be made on sheets 5 inches x 8 inches, so 

 that they may be reproduced that size without reducing. If the 

 article to be shown is too complicated or on account of the ar- 

 rangements to be shown could not be drawn clearly on the above 

 size sheet, it should be drawn so that it can be reduced to that 

 size for printing and yet have all lines and figures readily read- 

 able. Tabulations, titles and other information which can be 



