Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-16

sIDERINo THE DELAY IN BUILDING NEW WAR
sHIps-pIscUssIoN AT THE FIRST SESSION.
One Of the most important events that ever
occurred in tho history Of American naval
progress took place today at the Navy Depart
ment in the form Of q conference between rep
resentatives Of tho government and the lead
ing ship builders and steel manufacturers
Of the country in regard to
the ways and means to be adopted in the future
Tor the better and quicker advancement of thc
work now in hand and the improvement of
general methods OF work. 1t has been appar-
ent for some time that there has not been
much progress made in the building of the new
navy as there should have been, delays of
months frequently occurring that had no APP
parent necessity, and in various ways 1t was
indicated that what was needed was
more thorough understanding be-
tween the three factors interested-the gov
ernment, the builders, the material men-a
more generally homogeneous union OF these
elements 80 as to produce the best results
possible.
This condition of affairs was brought to the
attention OF the Secretary during tho summer,
and after several consultations with the
officers on duty in the department
he decided to call representatives Of
the ship builders and the steel
makers to q deliberative and advisory confer
erce in order to detect the difficulty and to
provide a remedy. The 7th instant was orlgi-
nally set for the conference, but this was
changed to the 10th (today) on account OF the
absence OF the Secretary.
THE OPENING SESSION.
The meeting was held in the room occupied
by the board on construction near the Secre-
tary's Office, being called to order a short time
before IL O'Clock. 1t was presided over by
an official representative of the Secre-
w att daI hy tiaaf fol
men: representing the government-Chief
Constructor Wilson, with Naval Constructors
Hichborn, Mintonye, Bowles, Nixon and lay
lor, Engineer in Chief Melville and
Capt. Sicard and Lieut.. Curtis
Palmer, jr., d Company, New York. Repre-
senting the steel firms-Messrs. davenport l.
jacques, the Bethlehem Iron Works; +. Bethle-
hem OF the steel board. Representing the ship
builders-Chas. Cramp, Philadelphia: Irving
II Scott, Union Iron Works, San Francisco;
7: L. Dubosquo, Saml L. Moore Company
Elizabethport, NJ; Gen. Hyde, Bath Iron
Works; W. I. Malster, Columbian Iron Works,
Baltimore; Harrison Loring of Boston and Mr.
Palmer OF the ME-. Pennsylvania; Mr.. Weth-
Grill, Standard Steel Casting Co., Pittsburg;
Mr.. Sergeant Of Oliver Bros. Il Co..
Pittsburg; Messrs. Bales and Rubie of
the Otis Iron and Steel Company, Cleveland;
Mr.. Paige of Park Bros. & Co.. Pittsburg; Mr.
Taylor of Linden Steel Company, Pittsburg;
Col Porter, Spang Steel and Iron Company,
Pittsburg; Frank II. Robinson and II. w. Lash,
Carbon Iron Works, Pittsburg; A. W. Mllligan
OF New York, for Denham, Carrigan and Hay
den Company, San Francisco, and Mr.. Hill of
Continental Iron Works, New York.
AN EXPERIENCE MEETING.
As the discussion progressed it became evil
dent that there was to be an experience meet
ing," and that the government would be called
upon to sit in judgment between the ship
builders and the steel men, the former
complaining of the delay caused by the latter
Speeches were made at the morning session by
Messrs. Scott Palmer, Malster, Cramp, Du-
bosque and Hyde. Each gave instances Of the
slow delivery of steel and some suggested rem
edies that will be considered later. Mr. Palmer
said that forged steel should be substituted for
cast steel, as being less liable to faults. Al
1870 a recess of an hour was taken.
The proceedings were taken down in short
hand by Mcssrs. Austin and Shea of the Office
OF the Secretary for future reference.