The San Francisco call., 1899-11-17
SH|PBUILD|NG
WAS DISCUSSED
Naval Architects and
Engineers Meet.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK. Nov. ls.-The seventh an
hua! convention of the Society OF Naval
Architects and Mining Engineers began
mere to-day. In the absence Of President
Z. a. Griscom. Rear Admiral +. N. Bunce.
\. >. n. (reured), called the convention
TO order. A large number OF engineers
were present. In the preliminary business
transacted Rear Admiral Sampson was
elected first vice president. made vacant
by the death of william H. Webb. and w.
l. Babcock was elected to succeed Ad-
miral Sampson in the council
The annual address of President Girls
com was read by a member. In part Mr..
GriScOm said:
The society will undoubtedly join me in con-
masterful skill shown in the design OF a GER
tain yacht, whose record in the international
races induced me TO characterize this as the
columbia year for naval architects. Yet the
immediate prospect OF another challenge makes
II necessary 70 caution you that all your ener-
giles are still required TO meet certain condi-
lions still adverse to the shipbuilding interests
or our country.
What may be the political. moral or consti-
tCtional aspects Of a policy OF expansion II Is
not without advantages to shipbuilSers The
large number OF vessels purchased by the Gov
eminent last year for the use OF the army and
Inc navy. together with the increasing use or
steam vessels in the cOasting trade have pro-
cHced tie greatest activity ever seen in our
coast shipyards both on the Atlantic and Pa
eihc oceans. The proportion OF our export and
import trade now carried in American bot
toms Is too small 20 be mentioned and last
year was smaller than ever before. To make
this percentage a respectable one would re-
quire ten times the number OF American ship
yards working at full time for number Of
years. While we have the materials. the tools
ana the mechanics the successful building OF
modern vessel from commercial point Is In
reality a triumph OF organization OF the multi
tude OF diversified trades which Il includes.
This stage is yet 10 be reached and can only
b. attained by systematic production Produc-
NaHH 0gIA-C
who see profit to be made In ship owning un-
der the laws Of the United States.
Following is list Of the papers read:
'Coaling vessels at sea-" by Spencer Miller.
associate; Causes for the adoption OF water
tube boilers in the United States Navy" by
Engineer In Chief George w Melville L. s.
\; suggestions as TO improved appliances for
launching ships boats by John Hyslop: The
electric plants OF the battle-ships Kearsarge
and Kentucky" by Naval Contractor ]. J.
Woodward, L. 5. N; The increasing compi-
cations in warships. and how simpler arrange
ments might be adopted" by George ".
Diche. manager Of the Union Iron Works. San
tically stiffened bulkhead. with some results"
by II. +. Norton: Notes on sheathinE the
United States ship Chesap cake" by Naval Con-
structor Lloyd Banksoni L. S. y.
John Hyslop's paper was made inter
esting by the fact that in October last he
was aboard the Mohegan, which was
wrecked in the English Channel. and he
was one OF the 12S passengers saved.
At the conclusion OF the reading OF the
papers, during the technical discussion
concerning the dangers OF overdeveloping
warships, F. b. King OF Washington.
formerly an engineer at Sparrows Point
made some remarks TO which majority
of the members objected. He began with
a reference 20 Ericsson and TO the fact
that the Monitor had been built and
launched with her machinery aboard in
100 days. Our present ships, he said.
would have 10 carry the day at the outset
Of a fight or they would fail because OF
their complicated nature. He thought
the United States should train its men TO
build emergency vessels, as they were
more TO be depended upon than those II
took two or three years 70 build.
Some people say that We can build
them" he said: but can we? The ability
to hustle can only be acquired by years
Of practice. Despite the deplorable end
Of the Monitor he concluded. mo spe-
cihc faults. could be pointed out that she
possessed" -.
Naval Constructor Bowles said that he
was sorry that this time had been selected
for a revival Of the subject. 1T Is q most
vicious subject" he said. at would be
very unbecoming Of me TO say anything
derogatory TO Ericsson. hut the fact re-
mains that his work was very faulty in
many respects. despite all the gentleman
has said"
This statement seemed 10 meet the ap-
proval OF many OF the members.