New-York tribune., 1902-01-21
PRESIDENT ENTHUSLA STTC.
MIR. DOWNEY SAYS HE ENTERS WITH
ZEAL INTO THE ARRANGEMENTS
FOR LAUNCHING EMPEROR
WILLIAMS YACHT.

Wallace Downey, of the Townsend & Downey
Shipbuilding and Repair Company. returned
yesterday from Washington, where he has been
arranging the details for the launching of EN-
peror Williams yacht.
II called on President Roosevelt" said Mr.
Downey and found him enthusiastically in
terested in the preparations to receive the
kaiser's representative, Prince Henry. The
President and all the public men with whom I
talked seemed to consider the event as a decided
triumph for American shipbuilding and they
are determined to do all in their power to sig
Nifty their appreciation of this in the cordiality
or the reception and entertainment rendered to
the prince. The President was at first in favor
OF February % for the launching. but when 1
explained 10 him that the tide conditions on
the 10Th would be more favorable to the pur-
pose he decided that ne could arrange his en-
gagements to suit that date. At his suggestion
went over to the State Department. where
consulted with Assistant Secretary Hill. who
mas the official programme in charge. While we
were talking Rear Admirals Evans and Crown
lnshield came in. 1 explained to them my rea-
sons for desiring to launch the yacht Febru-
airy %. and after consulting with the German
Ambassador that date fixed upon.
Ihe State Department is now considering the
programme. Some of the minor details are vet
to be permanently settled. They asked me what
would be the best way for the Presidential
party to reach the island. I suggested that a
government boat could easily take them from the
Battery in this city or. in all probability, they
could embark on the government boat at the
bridge near the Jersey Central depot in New
Jersey They asked inquire what IA
cilities there over there for landing a
boat for this purpose. Our company will issue
about two thousand invitations for the launch
ing, and will probably run a boat from the Bat
terry TO the island 70 carry its invited guests.
We will ask the city 10 give us the necessary
police protection to insure against any objec-
uonab bic characters interfering with the official
visitors, and we Will so arrange everything that
all our guests will have an unObstructed view of
the ceremonies. We are overwhelmed with offers
from bands and singing societies 10 furnish
music for the occasion but l think the military
bands and those Of the warships will he all that
can be accommodated"
Emil l.. Boas, agent of the Hamburg-Ameri-
can Line, received a cable dispatch from the
home offices of the company in Hamburg yes
rooms on the Deutschland be reserved for Prince
Henry and his suite for their return from this
country. The Deutschland is to sail from this
port on March L. instead OF March s, as origi-
nally planned.
Morris X. Jesup. Charles Stewart Smith. Gus
tav A. Schwab. Herman Ridder and Captain
Jacob w. Miller. of the Naval Militia. called on
Mayor Low yesterday forenoon on business con-
nected with the reception Of Prince Henry of
Prussia They would not discuss their call and
referred all questioners to the Mayor. Mayor
Low said that at present he was not empowered
TO say anything about the subject