The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-05-04
A Striking Object lesson.

1t Is little over ten years since the
building OF the new navy began. At
that time the United States had not o
single modern war ship. and what was
more. had no means of building one.
From the Atlantic TO the Pacific there
was no plant capable of turning out
the armor plates, boilers and arma-
ment necessary to the equipment OF n
modern man-of-war. Congressman
Boutelle of Maine, who was on the
Congressional committee having in
charge the building of tho new navy
has given a graphic description Of the
battle waged IN the committee no IN
between those who wished to adop,
protection principles In the matter OF
building the new ships and those who
desired to purchase the material for
them abroad.
The proteotionists members OF the
committee, under the leadership OF
Congressman Boutelle, fought perss.
tently TO have every part OF the ships
which were to defend the honor of thu
Stars and Stripes built on American
soil. To the statement of ex.Mayor
Hewitt OF New York that 1t would
take ten years before oiIer suitable
for modern war ship could be turn
cd out in this country, Mr.. Boutellt
returned this answer: We'll then. lei
MS walt ten years. "But long before thu
decade had expired Hewitt's predie
ton had been .falsiiied. The bes. ar.
NOR plates and boilers in the world
were turned out by the plants which
would have had no existence II tn
principles of protection had not beer
adopted In the building OF our new
navy.
And now. at the end OF len years
the time Hewitt stated 1t would tai,
to turn out in the United States boil
ers for our war ships. We have OIL.
American shipbuilding firm, th,
Cramps of Philadelphia, sending cir
oular to the British Admiralty Offering
to bid for the construction OF the new
British war ships about to be built. In
their circular the Cramps point to
what they have already accomplished
as reason for favorable hearing oil
their application.
1.-THE SUCCESS, they say, (which has
attended our work for the American
Navy and the remarkable performance
of the propelling machinery which we
have made speak for themselves. Our
development OF the latest and most
approved appliances and devices In
hulls and machinery has been &C
marked as to attract the attention OF
naval architects and engineers on the
Continent. as well as In Great Britain.
Offering the New York. the Columbie
and the Indiana as object lessons. Wi
do not shrink from comparison with
your best builders"
/ In an interview Mr.. Camp was asked
how he could compete with Englist
builders In the matter of prices
THAT. "he answered, was not the nosI
confederation, We could
more than meet them in the character
and the quality of the ships.
i have no doubt that the Engllsl
would like to get hold of some OF ou
work, particularly in machinery, iol
the purpose of getting acquainted witt
our practice. The performances o
our ships have astonished Thorn during
recent years.
1 III Hewitt and the rest Of the fire.,
traders had had their own way this
American bhipbutlding firm wouit
never have been able to make this oifel
to the British Admiralty, and W,
should be still depending upon for
eigners for the material of our navy
instead OF turning out the best ships
which from keel to truck are of Amer
lean material and OF American work
manship. The building of the new
navy Is, indeed. striking object les
son TO which protectlonists eau poin
with pride.