Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-03-18

mr.. Dean Thinks IL would be Right
TO Have ene OF rhe EnRines Busit
in EnKkaad.

4
mr.. Dean Thinks IL would DO Right
10 Have ene OF rhe EnRines Busit
in zsnsiaad.
Editor Gazstte aud Journal; Tread your
upon the action Of our honor
able representative in Congress, O. B.
Lore, in regard to his action in voting In |
the naval committee for the purchase Of |
one marine engine in Europe. Thought
at the time that was sensible vote and
on the part of the committee step In
tho right direction. You cannot help
admitting that the European nations are
far ahead of our country in regard TO the
matter OF navy. Now, let me ask you
O question: We're you o farmer, and
wanted reaping machine, and you had
a first-class machine shop in your imme-
diate locality, but they have never built
reaper, would you order one at such
shop while you know that Mccormick,
the Champion Company or the Walter A.
Wood Company were turning them out
by the thousand, and that they had been
tried under all difficulties and done their
work to the entire, satisfaction Of all con-
cerned2 Has not our government in the
last quarter of century spent seven or
eight millions of dollars upon our navy2
And have we vessel to day in it that
would for q moment be able to cope with
some of the European naval vessels, and
they not of the first classs
Now we are about TO start out in new
line Of action for the purpose of building
up first class navy, the only known
means of coast defence to-day. Our Con-
gressmen are taken from all ranks in
society without knowledge on all the
matters that are to be brought before
them for their action. In my opinion
when the committee on naval affairs con-
suited together for the best interests of
their country's wants and decided there
were in use at the present time
marine engines suitable for tirst-class
naval vessels, that were no experiments
but had been tried like our hrst-claas
reapers, and found to answer all the pur-
poses for which they were built, there
was no wrong on their part in voting to
| get one of the latest and best as model
after which to build or improve upon.
We must admit that in naval architecture
we are behind the times, not only for war
/ ships, but for merchant service. Who is
the man that will say the Cramps, on the
Delaware, are not good mechanics in
their line of work; yet we have
seen four vessels built by them
and run as an American line, q
thing which was proud of at the time,
to think that we at least were going to
have one line of ships over which would
fioat the stars and stripes. But have they
not been failure and are now some of
them tied up and have been 30 for long
time. Yet the English-built ships on the
same line have been running continually
and are paying such dividends that their
owners are anxious to keep them afloat.
Let me give you an instance where a
private corporation did just what our
committee on naval affairs proposed
to do. The Messrs. Platts of Old
ham, England, built self-acting mules for
the spinning of wooden yarn. Several
attempts had been made to build such
machines here but none gave satisfaction
until the Bridesburg Machinery Company
of Philadelphia bought Plat mule
took it to their shop and made patterns
and built exact duplicates, which were 9
success. Others have in this country trieC
to improve upon them, but the nearel
they get back to the Plat mule the NOR,
satisfactory working machines have beer
turned out. Did we not in the beginning
, have all English locomotives, but to-da.
are not the American-built locomotive
among the best in the worldP w
must have something with which I
defend our coast and harbors, an
it is admitted on all hands that it ca
only be done by the building up of
e first-class navy. Our naval committee,
! think, acted sensibly when they conclude
I to build one. They did an equally sens
t BILE thing when they voted to order
marine engine built by some sho
l. that entirely understands the business
# and it would probably have saved million
j. of dollars that will be spent in exper
r ments before we arrive at the point whei
h European builders of marine engines a
It to. day. Have we not wasted mont
/. enough in experimenting on Of
y navy in the last quarter of ce
tury2 Have we navy to-day? Do Il
Ia American people want such anoth
10 quarter of century's experience in e
as perimenting at the same cost without al
w better results2 No, Mr.. Editor in L
N humble opinion we have had enoug
ne Yet it strikes me that your little shC
IN editorial has driven a man in whom b
an confidence, Representative Lore, fro
M what his cool, deliberate Judgment tC
him was right and caused him to aband
=. | correct decision on SUBJECT OF grt
az az importance to the American people, a
le one which, in my opinion, would ha
u resulted in great good for us all. 1
~ sorry to see that a good, sensible m
ne like have given Mr.. Lore credit
.et being, could be driven by the shadow
~. public opinion from doing wi
la' his cool, deliberate thought b
Vn convinced him was right for b
ID to do. To me it looked as thou
IT. the action of the naval committee
ordering one engine from England \
The right. II SO, then with me all the c
ere torials you could have written wol
his never have driven me from a post
its, which after mature consideration
ose arrived at, In this case it looks as thot
ose our representative had done wrong
r is which he has had to back out of. h,
ed, he may never regret going back on
Re- vote Ito order one engine in Europe
ing the committee on naval affairs.
md WILLIAM dean
ast NEWARK, DEL, March 18th, 1886.
lin To Delaware CIergymen.
l q TlI