The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-09
THE NICARAGUACANAL
MEMORIAL PREPARED BY NAVAL
ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS.
The Society I'm Session at New York
Votes, However, Not to Present
1t to Congress.

NEW YORK, Nov. S-The Society of
Naval Architects and Marine Engineers had
warm discussion over the Nicaragua
canal at to-days session 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 project
under The auspices of an American COM
pany and the proposition to present the
memorial was defeated by vote of 27 TO
10. Admiral Richard w. Meade. N. s. N,
was chairman OF a committee which has
the matter in charge. and he made the
following report
'In the judgment of this committee it
would be proper TO direct the president of
this society to address such a memorial
to the Congress Of the United States in
the name of the Society of Naval Archi-
tects and Marine Engineers when the re-
port OF the Nicaragua canal commission
appointed by the President of the United
States is made public; provided that said
report is favorable to the canal"
The report was accompanied by the
draft of memorial which follows:
ITO the Honorable. the Senate and House
OF Representatives of the United States of
America, In Congress assembled: Your
petitioner the Society of Naval Architects
and Marine Engineers, Incorporated under
the laws of the State of New York in con-
vention assembled. do hereby present for
the the question, of f aiding by by suitable IesisIa I
tion BETTING the magnitude Of the great
project, of any properly organized American
corporation engaged or to be engaged in
the task of constructing a ship canal
through the territory of the Republic Of
Nicaragua.
''It is useless for the society to remind
your honorable body of the transcendent
Importance to this country of successful
prosecution of such work. Apart from
Its commercial benefit to the entire civilized
world IL 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 and
the extreme West and of justifying one of
the notices of this glorious Union, 'Esto
Furthermore. 1t seems to promise to our
people engaged in ocean commerce the
prospect or competing as of old in Ameri-
can-built ships or on more even terms than
hitherto, the great trade of China made
that country and Japan; ana il further
promises TO insure closer ties of friendship
between ourselves and the Central and
South American countries, giving To this
country that predominance in the affairs
of the American continent which. by rights.
we should have, but which has been 1eal-
ously contested hitherto by certain Eu-
.'For these and other reasons which will
ask most respectfully that the Nicaragus
Canal Company, under the control of
citizens of these United States, may receive
at your hands such consideration, sympa-
thy and substantial aid and encouragement
as you may deem wise and just"
The opposition 10 the memorial was based
on the ground that IL was inexpedient for
the society to interest itself in legislation,
and was led by Charles Fl. Loring, T. s.
structor Phillip Hechborn, ". S. NJ, Sec
retary William l.. Capps read paper I'm
which William Hechborn reviewed the
ship building of the United States navy
during the past year, and drew. special at
design and construction of war ships in this
country and urged the government to seek
homogeneity in the classes of cruisers and
Papers were read by W. p. Stephens on
'The Centerboard;'' by Prof William S.
Aldrich on Engineering Research of the
Navy by f. Il. Dowst on Ventilation OF
Ships" by Naval Constructor Albert W.
Armored Side OF the Iowa. and one by
Lieut. A. III. Niblack, u. s. N, on Tactical
Considerations in War Ship Designs" which
treated mainly OF the best means of COM
other parts OF man-of-war in engage
The third annual banquet OF the society
was held tonight Ia the banquet hall Of
i25 guests. AT the head OF the table Glenn
eat A. Griscom, president OF the society
with Rear Admiral Meade on his right
and Charles III. Cramp. the ship-builder, on
1is eft. presided. The first speaker intro
duced was Congressman-elect Amos Cum
niogs, who responded TO the toast THE
Navy" Mr.. Cummings said that England
pends In one year on her navy what We
spend in six years. Can we attempt to do
the samey' he said. I'VE put ON a long