St. Paul daily globe., 1895-11-09
FUSS OVER NICARAGUA.
Naval Architects Refuse to Ask
Congress 10 Aid the Canal Com

pany.
NEW YORK, Nov. S.-The Society
of Naval Architects and Marine En-
gineers had a warm discussion over
the Nicaraguan canal at todays ses-
sion of it's convention. The question
before the body was the proposition
of presenting memorial to congress
from the society asking favorable
action on the Nicaraguan canal pro-
ject under the auspices of an Amer
lean company, and the proposition
to present the memorial was defeated
by vote Of 27 to Is. Admiral Rich
ard w. Meade, U. S. N, was chair
man of a committee which had the
matter in charge, and he made the
report favoring such action, the re-
port being accompanied by the draft
of a memorial, which follows:
'"To the Honorable the Senate and
House of Representatives of the
United State in Congress Assembled:
THE Society of Naval Architects and
M.srine Engineers, incorporated under
the laws of the state of New York, in
convention assembled, do hereby pre-
sent for the consideration of your hon
orable body the question of aiding by
suitable legislation, befitting the mag
n1tude of the great project, any prop
erly organized American corporation
engaged or to be engaged in the task
Of constructing a ship canal through
the territory of Nicaragua.
1T is useless for the society to re-
mind your honorable body of the tran
scendent importance to this country
of a successful prosecution of such a
work. Apart from its commercial ben
eft to the entire civilized world, it
seems to us to promise to the people
of the United States the means of
cementing in even closer union than
now exists the seaboard states of the
Atlantic and Pacific, of rendering one
and indivisible the ties that bind the
extreme East to the extreme West, and
Of justifying one of the notices of
this glorious union, 'Esto perpetual
Furthermore, it seems to promise
our people engaged in ocean commerce
the prospect of competing, as of old,
in American built ships or on more
even terms than hitherto for the great
trade of China, made possible by the
recent struggle between that country
and Japan; and 1t further promises to
insure closer ties between ourselves
and the Central and South American
republics, giving to this country that
predominance in the affairs of the
American continent which by right we
should have, but which has been jeal-
ously contested hitherto by certain
European powers.
For these and other reasons which
will doubtless occur to your honora-
BILE body, we ask most respectfully
that the Nicaragua Canal company,
under control of citizens of the United
States, may receive at your hands such
consideration, sympathy and substan-
tial aid and encouragement as you may
deem wise and just"
The OnnOSitjOn ha Sp1 Or
ground that it was inexpedient for
the society to interest itself in legis-
lation, and was led by Charles II.
Loring, U. S. N, retired. In the alb
sence of Chief Constructor Phillip
Hichborn, U. S. N, Secretary William
L. Capps read a paper in which Mr.
Hichborn reviewed the shipbhilding Of
the United States navy during the
past year and drew special attention to
the conditions involved in the design
and construction of war ships in this
country, and urged the government to
seek honogeneity in the classes Of cruis-
ers and battle ships.
Papers were read by W. P. Stephens
on the "Center-board," by Prof. w.
S. Aldrich on Engineering research of
the Navy" by F. B. Downs on "Ven-
tilation of Ships" by Naval Construc-
tor Albert W. Stahl on Experimental
Test of the Armored Side of the Iowa"
and one by Lieut.. A. H. Niblank, U.
S. N, on Tactical Considerations in
Warship Designs which treated main
ly on the best means of communicating
between the coming tower and other
parts of a man-of-war during engage
ments.
The third annual banquet of the So
ciety was held tonight in the banqp&
hall of the Hotel Brunswick. Co
gres5man-elect Amos Cummings, who
responded to the toast, "The Navy"
said that England spends in one year
on her navy what we spend in six
years. eff we attempt to do the same"
he said, 1--WE put on a long face and
throw up both hands, but the people
who do this and prevent our efforts to
make a naval showing are our West
ern brethren, who have never even seen
the sea-coast, and are Indifferent as to
whether or not that seacoast and its
cities are attacked by an enemy. Why.
we ought to spend $5O,0OO,OOO a year on
our navy"