The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1894-11-16
BattleshipS, Torpedo Boats and
Rams for Naval Warfare.
OCEAN LINERS THE COMMERCE DE-
STROYBRS OF THE FUTURE.
National Laws Need to Protect and
builders in This Country Not Able
to Compete With European Build
ers, With Material and Labor at the
Present Rates.
Special TO the RECoRD-UNIoN.

Special TO the RECoRD-UNION.
New YORK, Nov. 15.-The second gem
eral meeting of the Society of Naval
Architects and Marine Engineers met to-
day in the rooms of the American Society
of Mechanical Engineers. Clement n.
Griscom was elected President, and
Washington j. Clapp.. U. S. N, Secretary
Treasurer. The following Vice-Presi-
dents were elected: Charles II. Cramp.
Phillip Marchborn, L. S. N; Charles II.
Loring. U. S. \. (retired); r. w. Mead,
L. 5. N; George w. Melville, L. S. NJ;
George Quintard, Irving NJ. Scott. Fran
els A. Walker, William II. Webb and
Theodore ID. Wilson, u. S. n.
y paper on ''Some Suggestions of Pro-
fessional Experience In Connection With
the Naval Construction of the Past Ten
ears was read by Richard N. Mead,
Rear Admiral u. S. n. IF l had my
way" he said, mot a single cruiser
should be added to the navy until at least
twenty battleships, 100 torpedo boats and
a number of rams were ready for service.
The vessels least satisfactory to the
practical men Of our profession are the
Columbi Minneapolis, Detroit and Gin
clnnati. The Majestic and TeutOnic can
laugh ut them for speed. AS to fighting,
L doubt the superiority of the Column bIa
over the American liner New York suit
ably armed. Naval opinion, in the main
body, is that an efficient fleet for modern
warfare should be composed of the fol-
lowing component parts: First, armored
ships TOR coast defense; second, armOred
ships for harbor defense; third, armored
cruisers.
"Of the rapid type of cruisers for COM
merce destroyers, / know of none that
better fulfill my idea than the ocean
liners Luncanla and Campania. These
ships. in my judgment, are the commerce
destroyers OF the tuture.'
In conclusion, Admiral Mead called at
tentlon to the present war between China
and Japan, pointing out the fact that
China, with fine fleet and incompetent
personnel, was defeated by Japan, with
an inferior fleet but a trained personnel.
IF we are TO have a policy, let US have
one, for heavens sake, that will outlast
the brief space of a Presidential term"
In paper on some Obstacles to Ship
building and Owning in This Country"
George w. Dickie OF San Francisco said:
In order that the United States may par
tlclpate in ocean commerce to the extent
that her own imports and exports entitle
her to, there must be- first, patriotic
the products of our industry under our
own flag; second, with national laws to
protect and foster our merchant marine;
third. State and municipal laws for the
seagirt and maritime cities encouraging
ship-building and ship-owning within
their borders.
"The British Government fosters mar
ltime exhibitions, naval maneuvers are
carried on and all the traditions of mer-
camille fleets OF Europe are made part of
the education of the youth. How re-
markable contrast between their in
tense loyalty to the maritime interests of
their country on the part of the British
and the hopeless apathy prevailing
amongst us. even in seaport towns At
the launching of the battle-ship in San
francisco no Government official was
there to represent the navy. Not gun
was heard TO herald the event. The
builders, to make q decent show, had to
go around and beg the English merchant
ships to dress for the occasion.
's"Quite largo number of those inter-
ested in shipping matters claim that as
foreign commerce can only be prosecuted
III direct competition with all The world,
American ships built OF protected mate
rial and with protected labor, represent
an invested capital so far in excess of
their competitors, that, even with all
things equal, the contest is too one-sided
for any hope of success. We are apt to
condemn such presentation of the sub
ject as unpatriotic; but it Is business. We
must either build ships for the owner at
the same price as for a similar ship which
he can buy abroad, or else give us the
privilege of buying his ships. And as,
with material and labor at present rates
1t is impossible to meet the European
price for a merchant ship, and it being
the will of the people that ship building
Gh ha NCjf
building Or bridge building, the free pur-
chase or ships abroad would be as unjust
to the ship builder as the free purchase of
engines would be to the engine builder.
1t follows therefore. that the American
should, from tho public
purse, be put on an equal footing with
his foreign competitors.
The Constitution Of the State Of Cali
fornia provides that all property, real or
personal, found within the State on cer-
tain date OF each year, must be taxed on
its actual value at the time. Thus the
vessel owned and registered i'll San Fran
cisco and valued at S200,0 900 has to pay the
same city, county and State taxes as q
building on Market street valued at the
same amount. The vessel can receive no
benefit whatever from the expenditure of
the taxes that so materially reduce her
money earning power"
Other papers were read as follows
present Status of Face hardened
by w. L. Sampson, Captain and
Chief Of Ordnance, U. S. NJ; "Cellulose,
Its Application to Warships," by NJ. e.
Chemau of Philadelphia; "Experience
Gained Within Our New Steel Ships as
Regards Care and Preservation" by
Phillip Heich bern of the Constructors of
United States Navy; The United States
Triple Screw Steamers Columbian and
Minneapolis" by George w. Melville,
Engineer-in-Chief of United States
Navy.
Commodore Heichbern said: at is
the stitch in time that saves nine," and
he then gave a full account OF how the
necessary stitch in time should be gone
about in plea for larger and moro
numerous drydocks. Mr. Heichbern's
address showed that there were no dry
docks in this country to accommodate
large battleships.
FISTIC ARENA.
a fn nrrt