New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-22
CONCERNING SPEED TRIALS.

The cruiser Montgomery will probably earn
100000 in premiums for the contractors. Her
trial trip was Il most successful one. ana her
speed although not yet officially announced.
will probably exceed that of either the Detroit
or the Marblehead. Designed Ostensibly Tor tie
yeloping a speed Of II knots. she has made Il
record Of 10 knots with tidal corrections. the
result Is hcraldod as another triumph for Amcri-
can shipbuilding. and the Navy Department Is
congratulated upon having faster vessel than
the contract called for. 1t ought also 10 ne
added that the Government will pay heavily
for the two additional knots. The contract
price Of the Montgomery Is $6l2.5Oo. Whcn the
premiums are paid the cost Of the ship Will be
increased about ODethird.
When Secretary Whitney introduced this sys-
TEN Of speed premiums 1t was undoubtedly
necessary American shipbuildcrs and marine
engineers had much to learn. and they needed
the stimulus Of financial rewards in order TO
rival the fastest cruisers built in England.
France and Italy. The system was good one
and served It's purpose. The American Navy
now has the fastest war vessels aiioaf. There
has been remarkable progress In the art OF de-
signing marine engines and an extraordinary
development OF the mechanical resources OF
shipbuilding The time has nOw come when
speed premiums are no longer required ana
only serve to increase the cost Of vessels OF war
The Government II il wants Il 19knOt snip
should invite proposals for ii. 1t Is n most
wasteful and senseless policy. when naval III
dustries are established and perfected and con-
tractors know precisely what they can do, Tor
the Government to make a contract Tor IL
knot ship and then 10 pay for 10-knot snip,
increasing largely the cost OF construction
In taking this ground repeatedly during the
last four years The Tribune has been charged
with hostility to shipbuilders That accusation
Is easily repealed by journal which has been
the chief defender of the shipyards, the most
earnest advocate Of the restoration or III"
American commercial marine, and the earliest
and most consistent champion of the new Navy.
1t Is because we have absolute confidence In
the skill and resources OF American designers
and shipbuilderS that we have condemned
system of premiums which dlscreditS their In
telgence and ability. 1t IS because the Gov
ernmcnt after paying S1.J0OOOO In premiums
for fast ships. ought now 10 be under obligation
TO employ economical policies Of naval constr,ic-
ton that we have recommended the abandon
ment Of Secretary Whitncy's method. useful
as 1t was when 1t was introduced. We looked
| for support Of these propositions from Demo
| cratic Administration and Congress with their
| loud professions as economists but have re-
| ceived no encoura cement. Secretary Herbert
| enthusiastically defended the premium system
| in his annual report. and the House Committee
on Naval Affairs. after n superficial examna-
| ton OF the subject, has rejected Mr.. liolmans
| resolutions.
Let us present this matter In the plainest pos
| sible way The contract price Of the Montgom-
| cry as a 17-knot ship was about SGOOOo0 1t
| IS constructed as n 19knot ship and costs about
| $500 900 One Of two differences Is 10 be drawn:
| either that the designs and specifications made
this increase OF . knots practicable. or else that
| the contractors have sacrificed everything TO
| speed In one case the work Of the department
experts Is 10 he condemned as uDscientiiic. and
| in the other dangerous tendencies OF naval con
struction are developed. 1t Is prepostcrous To
| ASSUME that the Government. after twelve years
| Of construction for the new Navy. during which
| the genius and efficiency Of American designers
and shipbuildcrs have been triumphanily vim
| dicatcd cannot contract directly for a ship OF
49, 20 or u knots and get precisely what IL asks
| for 1t Is wholly unnecessary. and now well
| nigh scandalous. to invite proposals for IL
| knot ship and then to pay 100000. in addition
| TO the contract price, for the artificial record Of
| n 19knot ship. We say the artificial record,
for II must not be forgotten that the trials occur
| under conditions which will never be repro
| duccd, and that the machinery is subjected TO
| n tremendous strain for the sake Of forcing
| speed which can never he made again In actual
sea service That reconl is not worth what it
| costs The system IS unbusincsslike, wastcful
| and radically wrong.