The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-18
A SUBMARINE TORPEDO BOAT.
Claims Mnde for the Vessel OF the
ArgOnaut Type.

ATEOnaut Type.
BRIDGEPORT. Conn. June 1S--The
Lake Torpedo Boat Company was incor-
porated in New Jersey during the week,
with a capital stock of 81, GEO 600 The char
ter is very elastic. but the main purpose
Of the company IS to manufacture sub
marine torpedo boats The principal
hackers of the project are Lebbeus 3.
Miller. Superintendent Of the Singer Man
ufacturng Company of EizabethpOrt- n
J.. and Simon Lake. the inventor Of the
submarine boat Argonaut. These men are
also interested in the Lake Submarine
Company. of New York and the Sound
and Coast Wrecking Company, of Bridge
port.
The Lake Submarine Company had been
endeavoriue, for some time to get their
subrna rine boat before the Navy Depart
meut for consideration. but were unable
to DO so until the last session Of Congress.
when. through the efforts Of Representa-
tive Hill, Of the Fourth district Of Con
necticut, the company was placed in
posftion so that It might compete with
other manufacturers of submarine tOrpe-
do boats Immediately the Lake Subna-
riue Torpedo Boat Company set draughts-
men at work designing torpedo boat OF
the Argonaut type Since January the
designers have been working on the new
boat at the offices of the Sound and Coast
Wrecking Company, in Bridgeport, and
Yesterday completed their work. Plans
and specifications have already been sent
to concerns capable OF manufacturing
such craft. for bids. and Mr. Lake. the
inventor of the new type Of torpedo boat.
who IS president Of the company, expects
to place the contract for the trial boat
this week.
During the last few weeks representa-
+i,,.s Of the British. Chilean, Russian and
Tananese Governments have been in
I Bridgeport investigating the Argonaut
/ TYNE and efforts have been made to DuT-
} chase outright from Mr.. Lake the rights
( tn manufacture the boats for these for
eign Governments.
/ 4 have refused to consider the offers OF
/ foreign Governments" said Mr.. Lake
/ until after my own Government has had
an opportunity TO decide if it cares fol
] the Argouaut type Of submarine torpedo
boat II the United States Navy does not
. want the boat then il Will be time cnoug!
t. consider the offers of foreign Govern
/ ueuts. The new boats VIII be capable al
! being navigated on the surface, at any
/ predetermined depth, or on the bottom
/ They Will be much ike the ArEonaut II
I general arrangement buJ. WIN iA'i'
power and finer lines, so as to get NOR
speed The company proposes TO place
! contract for one of the NV vessels IN
lew days She VIII be about the SIZE @
the Argouaut-sixty feet over allan
viii be capable Of carrying i've NhIJe
head torpedocs She VIII run by gaSoieh
/ engines when on the surface and by stoi
acc batteries when submerged She WI
bC fitted with wheels for travelling Owe
The bottom. and hydropiancs for trtyeiIn
at any predetermined depth she VIII ais
NJ. diving commandments 20 enable div
/ crs TO leave the boat while submerSed.
/ Great secrecy has been observed by eI
cry one connected with the designing O
I the boat and while this IS the nrst az
l Th.ntfc statement 2zsvea uUt by the il
veut0r. Mr.. Lake. il is believed that ther
are a great many features about the ne
| boat To recommend her To- tho Navy 10
uartmeut which are being Withheld an
will not be divulg-d until The eN'er-nly MT
/ trials are made