The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-21
TO BEAT THE RECORD.
Ambition of the Seattle Tor
pedO Boat Builders.
CONSTRUCTOR SPEARS VIEWS.
He and Moran Both Interested in Good
Work-Seattle to be ship
Building Center.
CONSTRUCTOR SPEARS VIEWS.


Spear. who is charged with the
duty Of inspecting the work on the
torpedo boat now building by Mo-
ran Bros, is most favorably impress
ed with the outlook for the completion OF
the boat n strict accordance with the
terms Of the contract and specifications,
and he even ventures to hint that Seattle
may have the honor of breaking the record
in torpedo boat building.
MIR. Moran and l had a little converse
ton this morning" Lieut.. Spear said last
night al the Rainier-Grand, and we
agreed that it shall not be our fault IL the
boat is not built before the expiration OF
the time limit. II this is done, and l be
lieve It can be. the record will be broken;
for in no single case has similar contract
been completed within the time named. You
can easily see how the accomplishment or
such feat VIII 10 70 my interest ana 10
that OF Mr.. Moran. This Is his first boat,
and in a sense It is my first boat. That
IS TO say, this is my first independent du'y.
Heretofore l have served only as suoor-
dlnate; now for the first time l am placed
IN charge, and l shall naturally share IN
and rejoice at whatever success the Morans
may achieve. AR. Moran, Of course, IS an
xious TO make a record for himself such
as will insure further work from the gov
eminent, and / can see that he IS going
TO bend every energy to do IT.
al am much pleased with him, personally
and officially. ! am specially impressed
with his business-Hke energy and vim.
Why, l had not been in the Office five
minutes this morning when he shot ques-
ton at me about the lines of the boat that
made me put on my thinking cap, ana
showed me at once his intelligence ana ms
pride and interest in his work He diners
essentially from the ordinary contractors
with whom / have dealt. They are usually
4v,Ef n a
fulfllment of the letter Of the contract.
Moran evidently feels a personal PRIDE IN
his work. With rare foresight he mas al
ready placed all his orders. and by the
time he gets his plates and other material
here he viii be ready to so right ahead
with the work.
u look on the building OF this torpedo
hgat here" continued Lieut.. Spear, as
~ ooeninr wedge for Seattle and for the
entire Northwest. II Mr.. Moran does the
good work which I fully believe ne Will
DO and which" he added. with just
touch OF military determination, i am ue-
termined 10 see done. Il VIII mean greet
deal II will almost certainly mean the
establishment Of a great ship yard mere.
When congress meets next year, appropria-
tjons for other boats VIII be made, ana II
Is not venturing too much TO say that MI
Moran IS likely to get the building OF some
Of them. 49,
II regard It as a most fortunate thihs
70 have the shipbuilding for the govern
want .hus Distributed. First OF all, II in
creeses our chances for better work Then
IN case OF hostilities. when we snouId re
compelled 70 rely largely on rapld puii"
ing TO supplement our navy, we should not
be exposed 70 the peril Of having only one
sh.pyard. the bockade or capture OF
which would mean grave disaster. Inc es-
Enlistment OF n shipyard here Tor build-
ing naval vessels VIII educate the peculiar
skilled labor necessary fer such work
What is more, perhaps, Il VIII educate, or
draw ont. the resources Of the country
itself The coal. limestone and iron, wh.cn
ara within easy reach OF you mere VIII
be drawn on. and q great stee, plant might
result. You might he surprised 10 learn
to what extent the production OF steel and
other material n the East has been edu-
Gated by the rigid requirements ana IN
spection OF government shipbuiid.ng"
That is indeed remarkable" sad Lieut.
Corgas OF Admiral Beardslee's STAFF, VINO
was taking part IN the conversation ana
who was formerly special steel inspector
for the gosernrnent: and IL Is well Illus
trated by the diminishing number o. pieces
that are rejected The steel men have sim
ply been compelled TO perfect Their pro-
Cesses % meet our requirements
AS n result Of iris development, re-
suned Lieut. Spear. I'VE now build the
best armor IN the world, in proof % which
we have. as you lcovs secured all the re-
cent contracts from Russia.
''Iu addition 10 the Incentives which
have already mentioned. there IS another
which wIl cause Mr. Moran and me bo-h
"a use our best Efforts 70 make the torpedo
boa. A success. received letter this
morning from :he department az Wash
ing.0l cry, irstrurt.ug me that the boat
IS - have twa .~.al trips. The first 81
+eesa vii be - tss, her con- 2l-auee WIN