The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-08-22

be hoped that the expose which this little specula-
ton has given rise to will have the effect of de-
terring others from embarking in similar ente-
rprses, to the prejudice Of the city and its
taxpayers
The Sew Steam sioops OF War-Who Il to
Select the Models!
The act of Congress Of the ID of March last
provided for the construction Of five steamships
of war. OF these the Secretary OF the Navy will
receive proposals, specifications and plans until
the 9th instant for the construction of one steam
propeller sloop of war. The Secretary states that
the object of the Department in inviting propo-
sails is to obtain the very best ship Of war that the
MERCANTILE marine can produce, and that the pro-
noso,s will be received from shipbuilders only.
T6;s Ia =, step in the right direction. One ship
70 tho comm, 'rcial builders is certainly better
than n con6ne II, q entire five to the government
yards But in our Judgment two would be still
better. Nor do we infe." that the issuing Oh pro-
posals for one necessarily confines the remaining
four to the government yards; ,tor we understand
that nothing has been decided hey end the single
propeller In bringing that within Se range OF
the mercantile shipbuilders, it by no means iol-
lows that nothing farther will be done in tEat d.
rection. There is nothing to prevent Secretary
Toucey from giving at least another to the pri-
vate yuds- There are obvious and cogent con-
| siderations in favor Of such disposition of the
| matter.
| For many years-indeed since the Introduction
of steamships Of war; rival or antagonistic feel
ing has existed between the naval and mercantile
marine. To some extent this condition Of things
has not been without its good effects, but in the
upshot it has proved deleterioua While 1t
has sharpcned and brought into full play
| the active intellect and enterprise Of the COM
| mercial builders, and has prompted them to the
exercise Of their utmost skill to produce supe-
| riority In the models and construction of their
| ships. II has prevented the government, through
the rival or narrow feeling in the navy yards, or
among the less liberal and less progressive Of the
naval officers and bureaus from availing itself Of
| the skill and improvements which have won for
| the American mercantile marine the admiration
and imitation of all the maritime nations OF the
world. II may be said with pride that in
the range of marine architecture combining
| beauty. strength and speed, none excel our own;
and that American shipbuilders enjoy every
where high and honorable reputation
Whatever may be the character Of the war
steamships built in the government yards, 1t can
not be denied that the oftener the Navy Depart
ment avails itself Of the skill, experience and
emulation of the mercantile yards the greater
will be the Improvement in our national ships
This ia Q natural result. In the language OF the
Bureau of Construction, ito obtain the very best
shin of war the mercantile marine can produce
will undoubtedly lead, by an asyprocess OF com
petition to the very best ship Of war the naval
marine can produce. The competition between
/, the government and private yards will lead in
ey;tably to higher excellence in this great art
and will confirm the wisdom Of our government
, In not combining the construction Of our steam
, ships Of war exclusively to the navy yards
And this mode Of producing improvement au'
superiority in our national, as well as com
mercial vessels, will be made still more effcctiv
by increasing the number of steamships of war Z
be constructed in the mercantile yards-thu
; keepnC VI healthy and useful competition, no
/, | only between the naval and mercantile marine
but also in the commercial yards between eac
other. which cannot fail to be productive OF praC
ticel results Of the highest value and importanc
10 our national marine. For these reasons W
hope soon to zee our practical shipbuilders IL
/, yited to propose for another Of the very BET
q steamships Of war they can produce
: But in order to obtain the desired result 1t
absolutely necessary that the Secretary Of Ii
4 Navy shall take into mature consideration VIII
! he will appoint to sit in Judgment upon the plat
: that are about 10 be laid before his departmeI
= nv the merchant builders for the new stea
IN sloop of war There are certain principles
a obvious in this question that we would urt
"a them upon the consideration Of the Secretar
. When a merchant seeks plans and specification
70 for chip, il never occurs to him to submit the
!, TO a rival shipbuilder to pronounce judgme
!, upon them but If he has not the requisite pra
teal knowledge himself, he calls around him
q. captaips and experienced navigators, and co
4, ,ults their opinion a. to Vle qualities al
on efficiency Of the proposed models. They are =
men who con give a practical opinion; and IL
r. through their knowlcdge and views, obtained
the handling and observing of many ships up
We the ocean, that cur mercantile marine
cd achieved its present proud position.
bo II the Navy Department should ST
m mi, the models to be presented by
IA merchant builders to the naval CONSTRUCT
.. 8. wssbirp,on end elsewhere the desired