New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-07-30
FOUR NEW CRUISERS.
PLANS OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
WHAT MR. WHITNEY INTENDS TO DO WITH REFER
rNcE TO THEIR CONSTRUCTION.

WASHINGTON, July 29.-The special board
Amounted by the Secretary OF tho Navy to examine al
repor upon the plans specifications for the proposed
new cruisers In session at the navy Department tno
greater part to-day There present CommodorcS
walker and wilson, Comman iers sampson and Goodrich
Naval Constructors Bowles and Herman winters Com
modore Walker being the senior member OF the board
oaBciated "a president Secretary whitney was also
present for short time. and In an informal unk On
nlaIned why the Board called and what was eA-
peoed He read the Appropriation act' Showing .n"'
Tongress put upon him the responsibility oil Duuihe
foor shps of the best and modern design having the
highest attainabe speed" and upon plans determined
upon after consideration OF all designs heretofore
adopted by the Department. He said: The law I'M
poses the obligation to construct these snfs upon '"o
Secretary does not suppose that the secretary can
perform It except through other people TIC preimi-
nary question which has 20 be decided always L. III inc
first Mace what the type OF the ship shall be- that H.
what her characteristics In the construction OF the snip
vou have simply her displacement to use MP between
hull machinery, armor armament, COAL equipment ETC..
that Is your problem
The Secretary called attention the fact that the De-
partment largely inexperienced as compared Win anJ
sci Of men undertaking similar work In other coun-
try The construction OF modern ships up to the present
state of the art was almost thing for the Depart
ment IL has really occupied In repairing the old
wooden ships Tor number OF years ana mas not III" INC
means or the auth pry to build new ones up 70 t,e
nroceed with great Auon In this matter ana To lakc no
stem without ii being absolutely sure one, ana IN oner
To do this necessary that the department. shOu ~
possessed of all the information possible 10 De gathered
I'm regard what other people have done Tnceiore,
IL should appear desirable that fnrther anu oe
detailed formaton should be had or the dollg OF otheI
countries consider that the department hs the power
10 eXpend money Therefore and consider IL very wise
and licisus PEND IT, think II possible Tor me 10
say these things without rejecting Mt all upon the DC
parment II II only with the CREATES; eiOrt that an!
Nation il able keep UP with tile improvements IN snip
building Therefore II s desirable that we should pro
coed modestly and deliberately taking all necessary tine
to inform ourselves that the thing which we adopt II Tue
wisest and best after have examined thoroughly ana
with knowledge what others nave done uHtil bal tnc
comes do not propose to take any step 80,
The Secretary expressed the ho that TIE Board WOu
harnoniosy toward working out mat when
he con sderod most important problem That the DC
parmeut ha, 10 encounter and on the successful accom-
nshnent OF which would not only reflect credit on hc
naval service but he great benefit to the entire III
dustry of shipbuiling in this country ,
About seventy 1--WE plans for vessels ana parts u
vessels have been submitted Only nine oi these luciudc
both the hull aud machinery. Many are for part, oi e
machinery or for parts OF tie wooden work OF tue
plans for an entire vessel only one Is from private
shpbuding firm and this Il plan for single vessel Oi
about 5000 tons, sent from san Francisco. . 49,
The greater part OF the day was passed hg me i"n IN
preliminary work. The plans were classified thai tue
examinations might he conducted more rapidly. fTo-
posals from cranks. Of which there l. hummer nave
been cast aside Tie complete plans OF vessels VIII DC
examined at the meeting Of the Board Tomorrow