The herald., 1894-11-16
MEN WHO BUILD SHIPS.
Naval Architects and Marine
Engineers.
They Meet for Interchange Of
Views.
Opinions of Distinguished Naval
Contractors.
The Need OF Eficisns Fleets for Modern
Warfare -,Obstaclos to Ship
Building In the United
statos.

By the Associated Press.
New York, Nov. 15.-The second gen.
eral meeting of the Society Of Naval
| Architects and Marine Engineers met
today in the rooms of the American So
ciety of Mechanical Engineers. Clement
A. Griscomb was elected president and
Washington L. Clapp, U.S.N., scores
tary-treasurer. The following vice.
presidents were elected Charles Cramp,
Philip Heichbern, U.S.N., Charles Lor-
ing, U.S.N., (retired). R. M. Meade,
U.S.N., George w. Melville. U.S.N..
George Quintard, Irving NJ. Scott. Fran
cis A. Walker, William H. Webb and
Theodore d. Wilson, U.S.N.
A paper on "Some suggestions OF pro-
fessional experience in connection with
the naval construction of the past 10
years." was read by Richard M. Meade,
rear admiral. U.S.N.
"If l had my way" be said, mot
single cruiser should be added to the
navy until at least 20 battle ships, 100
torpedo boats and q number Of rams
were ready for service.
The Vessels least satisfactory to the
pract cal men of our profession are the
Columbia, Minneapolis. Detroit and
Cincinnati. The Majestic and Teutonic
can laugh at thom for speed. AS to
fighting. doubt the superiority OF the
Columbia over the American liner New
York, suitably armed.
Naval opinion in the main today is
that an efficient feet for modern warfare
ohon h.a af ho folln ui,
component parts:
"1-Armored ships for coast defense.
"2-Armored ships for har Dor defense.
"3-Armored cruisers.
"The battery and torpedo outfits be-
ing the heaviest, vessels built to ram
them are necessary.
"Of the rapid type OF cruisers for
commerce destroyers, know none that
better fulfill my idea than the ocean
liners Lucania and Campania. These
chips, in my judgment, are the COM
merce destroyers OF the future"
In conclusion Admiral Meade called
attention to the present war between
Japan and China, pointing out the fact
that China, with q fine feet and in
competent personnel. was defeated by
Japan with an inferior feet but trained
personnel.
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
participate in ocean commerce to the
extent that her own imports and ex-
ports entitle her to, there must be first
patriotic ambition throughout the
county to carry the products of our
industry under our own flag.
'Second-Nationsl laws to protect and
foster our merchant marine.
"Third.-Sta,e and municipal laws on
the part of the sea-girt states and mari.
time cities, encouraging shipbuilding
and shipowning within their borders.
"The British government fosters mar.
itime exhibitions and naval maneuvers
and all the traditions of the naval mer-
camille fleets Of England and are made
part OF the education OF the youth.
"How remarkable . contrast between
the intense loyalty to the maritime in
tereHts of their country on the part of
the British and the hopeless apathy pre-.
vailing amongst us even in seaport
towns.
''At the launching of the battleship
Oregon in San Francisco, DO government
ship was there to represent the navy,
Not gun was heard to herald the event.
The builders, to make q decent show.
had to 60 around and beg the English
merchant ships to dreHs up for the oc>
casion.
Quite large number of those inter.
ested in shipping matters claim that as
foreign commerce can only be prosecut.
ed in direct competition with all the
world, American ships, built Of protect.
ed material and by protected labor, rep.
resent an invested capital go far in ex.
cess OF their competitors that, even with
other things equal, the contest is too
one.sided for any hope OF success. We
are apt to condemn such presentation
OF the subject as unpatriotic. but it is
business. We must either build ships
for the shipowner at tine same as is paid
for similar ships with which he con.
petes, or else give him the privilege of
buying his ships where his competitor
buys his, to make the struggle an equal
one. and as, with material and labor
at the present rates, it is impos sible to
meet the European price for merchant
ship. and it being the will of the people
that shipbuilding should have protec.
ton with engine building or bridge
building, the free purchase of ships
abroad would be as unjust TO the ships
builder as the free purchase of engines
would be to the engine builder. 1t fol.
lows. therefore. that the American ship
builder should. from the public purse,
be placed on an equal footing with for
eign competitors.
The constitution OF the state OF Cali
.fornia provides that all property. real or
personal, found within the state on a
certain date of each year must be taxed
on its actual value at the time. Thus
the vessel owned and registered in San
Francisco and valued at $780, 900, has
to pay the same city. county and state
taxes as q building on Market etreet
valued at the same amount. The vessel
can receive no benefit whatever from the
expenditure of the taken that so mate
rally reduce her money earning power"
Other papers were real 80 follows:
Present Status OF Face Hardened Ar
NOR. by w. L. Sampson. captsin and
chief of ordnance, U. s. NJ; Cellulose,
Its Application to Wsrships. by NJ. E.