The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-17
BENEFITED BY EXPANSION.
ipbuilding Industry Was Never So
Prosperous as Now.

Prosperous Now.
NEW YORK, Nov. 16-The seventh an
nual conference OF the Society of Naval
Architects and Engineers began here to-
day. In the absence of President Griscom.
Rear Admiral F. NJ. Bunce. u. 5. N, re-
tired, called the convention to order. A
large number of engineers were present.
Rear Admiral Sampson was elected first
vice president, made vacant by the death
of William II. Welch. and w. /. Babcoek
was elected to succeed Admiral Sampson in
the council.
The annual address of President Griscom
was read by a member. In part he said;
THE society will undoubtedly join me in
congra tulation to one of its members on
the masterful skill shown in the design of
certain yacht, whose record In the inter-
national races induced me to characterize
this the Columbia year for naval archi-
tects. Yet the immediate prospect of anoth-
er challenge makes 1t necessary to caution
you that all your energies are still required
to meet certain conditions still adverse to
the shipbuilding interest of our country.
Whatever may be the political, moral or
constitutional aspects of a policy OF expan-
sion, it is not without advantages to ship
builders. The large number of vessels pur-
chased by the government, last year, for
the use of the army and the navy, tcc ther
with the increasing use of steam yes - I
the coasting trade, have produced the
greatest activity ever seen In our coast
shipyards, both on the Atlantic and Pa
cific oceans.
1.-The proportions of our export and i'm
port trade now carried In American bot
toms is too small to 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
shipyards working at full time for a num-
ber of years. While We have the materials.
the tools and the mechanics the successful
building of modern vessel from a COM
mercial point is, in reality, a triumph of or
ganization of the multitude of diversified
trades, which 1t includes. This stage is yet
to be reached, and can only be attained by
systematic production. Production depends
on market and on traders who see a
profit to be made in ship owning under the
laws of the United States"
At the conclusion Of the reading of the
papers during technical discussion concern
ing the dangers of overdeveloping warships
F. B. King. of Washington. formerly an
engineer at SpdrrOWS FOlnt, ndue some
remarks to which a majority of the men,
bers objected. He began by a reference to
Ericsson and the fact that the Monitor had
been built and launched with her machinery
aboard In one hundred days. Our present
ships. he said would have to 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 on than those
| that take two or three years to build
Some people will say that We can build
| them." he said, ''but We? The ability
| to hustle can only be acquired by years
of practice. Despite the deplorable end OF
| the Monitor he said. mo specific faults
| could be pointed out that she possessed"
| Naval Constructor Bowles said he was
| sorry this time had been selected for a
| revival of the subject. 1T is most vicious
| subject, he said. 1T would be very un-
| becoming of me to say anything derogatory
| to Ericsson, but the fact remains that his
work was very faulty in many respects
! despite all the gentleman has said" This
| statement seemed to meet the approval OF
| many Of the members.