The morning call., 1893-12-06
A GREAT OVATION.
The Olympia's Builders
:: to Be Honored.
The Mechanics Institute to SNOW
Its Appreciation of the Ship
Building Industry.

The Mechanics Institute proposes TO
give a grand reception in either the Pavil-
ion or the Art Gallery st some date In the
near future to the people of the Union
Iron Works.
. Fyeryhodv connected with the big ship
bnildmq institution from Irving NJ. Scott
Ia. tbe sweeper is TO be guest of the in
stitute on that occasion.
::+I'he nurpose of the intended ovation Is
: to show the world at large that the ship
bnIIdins industry is appreciated In San
Francisco. particularly by the Mechanics
institute and like associations, and all the
more so since the cruiser Olympia graces
the deep as a finished product of San
Francisco skill and enterprise.
Such reception was given by the Me-
chanics' Institute to the Boston SHIP
builder, William 81. Webb, score Of years
: ago. Webb was the man who started the
fTst, line OF steamers TO Australia from
this port.
AarSde1 Manson sprang the idea on the
board of trustees of the in institute at its meet
ing. last night. He had already talked the
matter over with President Pond and
Vice President Taylor of the Chamber of
Commerce and they thought il was just
the thing to do. Mr.. Manson therefore
moved the appointment of a committee to
confer with other bodies and to make all
the proper arrangements as to time and
place. Other shipbuilders and mechanics
are 10 be invited to Cooperate with the
Institute in the matter.
Oscar Lewis heartily seconded the
proposition, and nearly every one of the
q, trustees had something to say in its favor.
Frank j. Symmes had gone out on Gov
eminent cruiser in 1870 and could tell how
: ashamed the United States officers felt
=; over the kind OF craft that then composed
the United States navy. The fiagships of
both the North Pacific and South Pacific
stations were Slde-wheelers, in wretched
contrast with the naves of Europe and
even some of the South American repub-
lies.
But 1t was not particularly because the
Union Iron Works had produced the
Olympia that George Cumming was in
favor OF the thing. 1t was the ship
building industry he looked at, and be
hoped the time would come when war
. would be almost obsolete. and commerce
. would branch out on every hand making
this city able TO compete with his native
land, Scott and, in the great art of peace
:. the building of the merchant marine. He
also felt kindly interest In the Union
- Iron Works because in the long ago he had
. worked there alongside men, many Of
whom are now dead. As a machnlst he
could heartily indOrse the idea.
10 James Leggett the Olympia was a
: demonstration of what could be accom-
: plished in the arts of peace. and Z. a.
Mcdonald. Grove P. Ayers, r. p. Doolan
and George E. Dow all gave their reasons
for faVorng the rece ption.
: Ine motion, therefore, was unanimously
carried, and President Hallidie chose
'Messrs. Manson, Dow and Cumming, as the
committee.
When that question was DISPOSED of the
board went into a short executive session
10 discuss the proposed improvements to
the building, and to consider Contractor c.
b. Green's bid.
Mr.. Green had originally bid SIC, 847, but
subsequently, cut II down to about Sl2, ,OOO
It omlItsts. however, some essential things.
Ihe F-zqle matter was re-referred to the
REi Gingi committee. which is to receive
:. on the 5000 basis to W hich Archi-
-; Patten hao reduced the orig in al plans.
sra. rom the quarterly reports of Treasurer
IA. Malm, Librarian Horace Wilson
and the several committees, it appeared
that the receipts for the quarter had been
SIS, ,518N and the disbursements, SILL ,995
.The accesslons to the library were 1851
volumes. The net increase of member
ship was 38. the total mem bership now
being 4501.