The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-03

bnnd myself alone with Mr.. Tracy. The
rom was simply furnished and round the
walls were coloIed portraits of our new
cruisers and line-of-battle ships.
Mr.. Tracy Is a massive, powerful man of
ibont 8 with close cut white hair and
heard, strong nose, gray eyes and a chin
as arm as the Prov OF one OF his own iron
eads. Nithal, his aspect is kindly and
genial, and ! felt Immediately assured of
astrong, resolute, wise character, fully
adequate 10 any duty that might be inn
posea upon him. His forehead is high
and clear and his eyebrows are somewhat
Inclined to oyerhang his eyes. could
easily have taken him for an admiral who
hsaweathered a thousand gales and a
hundred lights.
About the first thing ne said, howev yer.
showed how much ] would have been mis-
taken in my surmise. Il didn't know a
thing about the duties of the office when |
first came here" said he. I've made
them study. My profession has accus-
toned me To get my subjects. and to amass
and systematic information. One is
obliged to learn how TO do that in the law.
It was not long before got knowledge
enough Of the nature of my duties To be
able TO attend to them"
The principle subject of your study was
ships, suppose ?"
The designing and building of ships,
'her armament and management, are the
sahstance of what | have to look after.
Matters of minor detail are LETT IN 4
Measure to my Subordinates. but the
erection of everything belongs to me,
and the greater their importance, the
business. Cruiser Ne. r., FIR instance,
was built according to my ideas. don t
mean that drew the plans"
THE work al building these ships seems
aow to an outsider. Is there no means
ohurryns lt--!or instance, by dlstribut-
ing the work - i number Of arns, instead
@glving 1t al! TO one9'
No, said the secretary, shaking his
aead. at would not be possible for Us 10
.u'a them ont faster than we are now do
ing. The works at Bethlehem. after de-
Ay OF four years, are now working at a rate
more rapid than is the case at foreign
'a'pyards. Their plant is now perfected,
AMER many difficulties and disappoint-
arms IN the country can afford 10 pat so
Iaeh capital into 4 plant and let il re-
nam unproductive so long. There
/ you'd be no gain in cheapness
promptness We're the work done
the government $3.50 and the
4 sV,eFnment, OF course, has not the plant.
a aFm which gets contract can suhlet
S.S OF Its oD,ra"t u other firms. at its
-" FSN ana eNpaVs-. The delay has
VA, not III the construction of the YES
- put III getting The armor. The Beth
~ en company has just begun TO deliver
-e sfmor At the rate of 90 tons per
S1oalA. We also have contract with
YSaaa egle Y Co. 10 deliver 5Ol tons month.
abroad. "
= ~ the quality of our armor as good as
~. IN England or ej~ew here"
!, IL Is better--it = the best up 10 date.
g.. ~ an Lloy OF nickel and steel which
.sN So hot crack. Il receives the shot, and
AS 10 become homogeneous with IT,
| 4 snowfall thrown into = snow bank.
ro;a. recent invention. aud from that
So 1a' vi view, Il IS fortunate that We were
/, b!s1 SO long IN getting our armor. If
s,n~1 oeen delivered ;wo years ago, as We
a. II would have been now out of
IsS as Il -, our armored cruisers and
k s5 ships Will be the best OF their
Ia, .aa IN the world"
, ~. until they are compiete-?"
esny -" Hl they ara complete We are practi-
rts,t ueiense.ess against any nation that
Then If Chile"
soa ~ gu may say this, =" said the secretary
A. y, emphasizing his words: III you
yor gong 10 write about the matter
tma ~ say this; -Four months from the
ta,siss" nose sailors were killed at Val
sonlS chile, If We had declared war,
nave had our Paei1c coas. entirely