The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-17
SHIPBUILDING IN AMERICA.
SuBjec& Discussed by Naval Arcki-
fects and Marine Engineers

SuBjec& Discussed by Naval Arehi-
teets and Marine Engineers
NEW YORK, Nov. 1.-THE eighth an
nuaI meeting OF the Society OF Naval Ar
chitects and Marine Engineers endad lest
night with dinner at DeImonieo's. To-
morrow the members of the society. on an
imitation rendered by Charles H Cramp.
viii visit the Cramp shiy5uiIding yard a.
Philadelphia After inspecting the plant
luncheon will be served by Mr. Cramp.
This meeting has been the most success
ful in the history OF the society. and has
been largely attended. This was especially
true of today's session. when a number OF
interesting papers pertaining to ship
building we're read and discussed Charles
H CramD presided at the morning session.
in the auditorium OF the American Society
OF Engineers. on West Thirpy-frst Street
and Clement 4 Griseom. President Of the
International Navigation Company. in the
afternoon
Mere than usual interest centred in a
pape- ~ George W Dickie dealing with
the question whether American sl1ipbuild-
ers under present conditions cou-q COM
pete with foreign builders Of the largest
class OF ocean passenger and freight
steamships. Mr.. Dickie said that there
were three points TO be eonsidered-skili
in design. cost of labor, and cost OF ma
teriaI In regard TO skin Mr. Dickie said
that he found it difficult to make any
Just comparison between the product Of
one shipbuiIder and another.
las TO what we may be able TO do in
regard TO eqGaIizing the cost of labor as
between our yards ard those in Great
Britain" said MF. Dfckie, Il do not think
It viii be brought about by any attempt
10 equalize the rate OF wages paid
throughout the shiPbuilding world, but l
hope that some of the rising shipbuilders
among the younger members of our pro-
fessiOn may be able 20 devise some method
whereby every part OF q ship, both huh
and machinery, viii have a labor value
fixed for il that Will net exceed what
such & piece of labor costs elsewhere. and
that whoever by his labor, contributes to
the production of that piece shall receive
as reeompense the percentage that his Ia
I Dor represents IN the total labor required
+ to complete the part on which he werked-
The English had the advantage IN the
] cost OF material to the extent Of 10 per
cent. Mr. Diekie said. The conclusion he
/ arrived at vas that we were not get in &
( position 20 compete successfully all
/ around with the sflipbuildeTs Of Europe
( but he held out the hope that as we gain
experience and adopt new methods this
difference may ultimately disappear.
I some wise legislation viii have TO be
devised that viii enable the American
/ ship owner 10 build his ships here. said
( Mr.. Dickie. although costing somewhat
more, until We have found out the way tc
pay American labor 10 build American
ships that viii not cost more than the
English ships built by English labor
The discussion which followed The read
ing of Mr.. Diekie's paper was spirited anC
lively Representatives of the slipbuiId
ers on the Great Lakes contended that VIZ
we're on terms to compete with the build
ers abroad, but the majority of the ship
builders present did not take this view
They agreed that the principal handicaI
TO shipbuilding here was the cost of Ia
Dor, but pointed out that the arrangement
/ Of the hours OF labor in this country wa:
better than in Europe.