Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-10-17
IMPORTANT CONFERENCE.
An Effort Being Made for Better Ad-
yancement in ip-Buildlpg.

WAsHIHGToN, October 16th.-0ne of the most
important events that ever occurred IL the his
tory of American naval progress took place to-
day at the Navy Department IN the Iorm OF a
conference between representatives OF the Gov
eminent and leading ship builders and steel
manufacturers of the country. In regard to the
ways and means to be adopted in the future for
the better and quicker advancement OF work
now on hand and the improvement of the gen.
eral methods of the work.
II has been apparent for some time that there
has not been as much progress made OF the
building of the new navy as there should have
been, delays of months frequently occurring
thst had no apparent necessity. In various
ways it was indicated that what was needed
was more thorough understanding between
the three factors ilterested-the Government,
builders and material men more generally
homogeneous u1ion of these elements so FAR as
to produce the best results possible.
This condition of affairs was brought to the
attention of the Secretary during the summer,
and after several consultations with the officers
on duty in the Department, he decided to call
representatives OF the ship builders and steel
makers TO deliberative and advisory confer-
ence, in order to detect the difficulty and pro-
vide the remedy.
The conference was presided over by an Off
cial representative of the Secretary, and was at
tended by the following gentlemen: Represent
ing the Government, Chief Constructor Wilson,
with Naval Constructors Hickborn, Mintenye,
Boxles, Nixon and Taylor Engineer-in-Chief
Melville and Captain Sicard and Lieutenant
Curtis; Palmer, Jr. & Co. of New York, repre-
SeQtlDg the steel QrIHS OF MeSSrS. davenport u
Jacques and the Bethlehem Iron Works OF Beth
lehem; of the Steel Board representing the ship
builders, Charles Cramp Of Philadelphia; Irving
NJ. Scott of the Union Iron Works, san Fran
cisco; T. 4. Duboisque OF the Samuel L. Moore
Company, Elzabethport, n. j.; General Hyde of
the Bath iron Works; W. 7. Malster of the Co
lumbian Iron Works, Baltimore; Harrison Lor-
ing of Boston and Mr. Palmer of Pennsylvania;
Mr.. Wetheril of the Standard Steel Castings
Company of Pittsburg; Mr.. Sargent of Oliver
Bros. & Co., Pittsburg; Messrs. Bales ana Ruolc
of the Otis iron and steel Company, Gle Gland;
Mr. Paige of Park Bros & o., Plttsburg MI
Taylor of the Linden Steel Co., Pittsburg; Col
Porter Spang oi the Steel and Iron Company
Pittsburg; Frank r, Robinson and Il. W. Lash
of the Carbon Iron WORKS, PittSburg; A. w.
Milligan of New York for the Durham Carrigan-
HAYDEN Company of San Francisco, and Mr..
Hill of the Continental Iron Works. New YORK.
As the discussion progressed it became evil
dent that there was TO be an experience meet
ing" and that the Government would be called
up to sit in judgment between the ship builders
and steel men, the former complaining of delay
caused by the latter.
Speeches were made at the morning session
by Messrs. Scott, Palmer, Malster, Cramp Du-
tosque 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.
The Conference meets again tomorrow.