New-York tribune., 1901-06-01
COLD TRUTHS FOR HICKMAN.
THE INDIAN SECRETARY TELLS HIM WHY
AMERICAN FIRMS GET ORDERS.


London. May 31-Lord George Hamilton. the
indian Secretary. who not present in the
House Of Commons when Sir Alfred Hickman.
Conservative and former president of the Brit
ish Iron Trade Association. on May 23 attacked
American built locomotives and bridges has re-
Piled in A letter to Sir Alfred Hickman In part
ii is follows:
No practical engineer who has visited Ameri
can workshops and inspected their methods of
production and manufacture would for a mo-
msht lhdorse Your assumptions. Their cOmpe-
ution IS dangerous because they are yearly i'm
proving their products. both in quality and
price. II always has been the practice of the
boards Of management OF the Indian railroads
10 give preference in ali their contracts to British
manufacturers. and that policy has SO prevailed
that up To the great recent engineering strike
no crde" for railway locomotive was ever given
outside of Great Britain. Since then owing to
the British workshops being blocked with work.
certain Of the Indian railway boards found it
necessary. as locomotives could not be obtained
here. to place few limited orders in America.
am READY 10 give all the available reports
concerning working consumption of fuel and
load drawing power Of these locomotives. The
carrier reports We're unfaVorable. but when their
working was better understood. and alterations
were made 10 suit the local fuel. marked i'm
provement was noticed so much so that one
company wishes to obtain engines of SINH
lar construction. That American locomotives
obtained footing in India was due 70 the
locomotives are In the future to regain their
monopoly IN that vast system of railways Brit
gestions these reports convey.
Concerning the Gohteih viaduct in Burmah
Lord George Hamilton says the order
placed with Philadelphia company because no
British firms had anything like the
perience in this class of construction. The Amer
leans bid a less price and quicker time than
any competitor. The charge made by the late
supervisor OF the construction Of the viaduct
that the riveting defective was in no way
supported by searching inspection. The Bur
NAH Railway Board" he adds. composed of
the most competent railway experts. salts
fed that the bridge is sound and reliable"
Lord George Hamilton also says that If he
seems to combat Sir Alfred Hickman's conten-
ton it is not because he does not heartily ap-
preciate his object. They both wish to assist in
maintaining the supremacy of British engineers
and workshops against foreign contractors. He
adds:
You seem to think that orders have only gone
abroad because those who gave them did not
understand their business. l wish il were so.
The competition have to face is founded
something much more formidable and more sub
stantial. Chemical research, the concentration
of capital, thorough technical education and
improved industrial organizations have made in
recent years greater advance in America than
here 1t is with the product of these com
binations and not with the assumed stupidity
Of the Indian officials, that the British engineer
has TO contend. SO far as l am concerned, l
can undertake that preference, unless the diff
ference in price, quality and delivery is very
substantial, will always he given to British
firms. May I not ask you as a leading mem
her of the great steel industry of this country,
TO cooperate with me by impressing your
associates the necessity Of meeting competition
in the future so as TO ensure that price and
time of delivery will be on the side Of British
production?
Charles Bletterman Elliott general manager
Of the Cape Government Railways who arrived
yesterday from Cape Town at Southampton,
where he was interviewed by a representative
of The Daily Mail" concerning his mission.
which is to purchase material for South African
railways said he would remain in England for
several weeks and then go to the Continent and
the United States. He said:
shall devote special attention to the equip
ment of narrow gauge roads, and, while in the
United States to the electric lighting systems.
/ shall prefer give British manufacturers the
preference If their terms and materials
satisfactory, but must have the best and
cheapest equipment it is possible to obtain