New-York tribune., 1901-06-18
THE LAKE BOAT MAY GET A TPra1
a COMPANY FORMED TO MAKE TORPEDO ao,,z
on THE PLAN OF THE ARgoSsrrr

ON THE PLAN OF THE ARGONAuT
Bridgeport. Conn. June Il (speciaD-The Lake
Iorpeoo Boat Company was Incorporated in New
Jersey during the week. with a capital stock OF
Sl'VOVotO The charter is very wide. but the main
purpose OF the company is 10 manufacture. sub
marine torpedo boats The principal hackers or
the project are Lebbeus b Miller. superintendent
OF the Singer Manufacturing Company OF Eliza
hethport N J., and Simon Lake the inventor or
the submarine boat Argonaut These men are
also interested in the Lake Submarine Cor,panv
OF No II Broadway. New-York and the Sound and
Coast Wrecking Company. of Bridgeport, Conn.
The Lake Submarine Company had been en-
deavoring for some time 70 get their subnaar,n
boat before the Navy Department for considera-
ton, but We're unable 10 do so until the LAST sss
sion Of Congress. when. through the efforts Of Con-
gressman Hill. OF the WITH District of Connecticut
the company was placed in position that IL
might compete with other manufacturers OF sub
marine torpedo boats. Immediately the Lake Sub
marine Torpedo Boat Company set draughtsr1eu NJ
work designing a torpedo boat of the Argonaut
type. Since January the~designers have been work
ing on the new boat at the offices the Sound and
Coast Wrecking Company. In bridgeport and YES
terday completed their work. Plans and specihca-
tions have already been sent TO concerns canahia
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 representatives OF the
British. Gillian. Russian and japanese govern
ments have been in Bridgeport investigating tbs
Argonaut tyre. and efforts have been made to pur-
chase outright from Mr. Lake the rights TO manu-
facture the boats for these foreign governments
Il have refused TO consider the offers Of foreign.
governments" said Mr. Lake. until after my own
government has had opportunity decide II IL
cares for the Argonaut type OF submarine torpedo
boat If the United States Navy does not want
the boat then il will he time enough to consider
the offers of foreign IentS The boats
will capable of being navigated the surface
any predetermined depth, the bottom
They will he mitch like the ArgOnaut in general
arrenStment. but with more power and finer lines
so as to get speed The company proposes
TO place 81 contract for OF the vessels IN
a few days She will be about the size OF the
ArgOnaut-siXty feet over all-and will be capable
of carrying five Whitehead tOrpedOes. She will
run by CasoIene engines when the surface, and
bv storage batteries when submerged She will be
htted with wheels fO- travelling over the bottom
and hydrOplanes for travelling at any predeter-
mined depth. She will also have diving compart-
ments to enable divers to leave the boat while
submerged"
Great secrecy has been observed by every one
connected with the designing OF the boat. and
while this is the first authentic statement given
by the inventor, Mr.. Lake, IL is believed that
there are "a great many features about the new
boat recommend her to the Navy De lartment
which being withheld. and will not be divulged
until the experimental trials made