New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-22
DELAY IN NAVAL VESSELS
SPEAKER SAYS 1T is DUE TO HABIT OF
DESIGNING UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

The second session of the meeting OF the Society
of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, held
in the auditorium of the American Society OF Me-
chanical Engineers. at No II West Thirty-hrst-st.
took place yesterday Colonel +. A. Stevens presd-
ed at the morning session, and President Clement
A Grtscom in the afternoon. The paper by George
". Dicke, of the Union Iron Works. at San Fran
cisco. why 1t Takes So Long to Build and
Equip Naval Vessel for the United States was
severely criticised by several of the members. The
following quotation from Mr.. Dickies paper shows
why he stirred up hornets nest:
One Of the most p Of delay ,db IN
has hitherto prevailed of designing such vessels
while they are under construction. 1t is not neces-
fore the structural work begins, but the design
speccaon shogd state V distinctly how the actual
details are to be carried out The shipbuider
it should be carried out when he made his estimate
Of cost but between. him and that honest purpose
and his numerous assistants. and after them the
{ney represent Fans are made Only 10 De
and what seemed plain enough to the simple heart
complicated that the first years time of the
contract.
Admiral F, T Bowles said there was no greater
degree of superintendent or any greater delay
on that account in the construction of naval. than
in merchant vessels
A. G. Rutherford suggested that other causes OF
delay In the construction of ships not touched on
by the author of the paper arose from the fact
that the steel companies. being familiar with
the uses of the steel ordered from them, did not
deliver 1t in suitable sequence for USE and that
there was a frequent scarcity of labor of certain
classes. Secretary W L. Capps said he thought
that II the author of the paper were present he
would have cried already. Don't shoot; l will
come down and suggested that he we'll known
as humorst
Inc most interesting paper read during the az
ternoon session was that by Lawrence Spear, late
constructor in the United States Navy on Sub
marine Torpedo Boats; Past, Present and Future
Inc paper was illustrated with fourteen half
tones OF the submarine boats Holland and Fulton.
and win SIX outline plates showing sectional views
OF the same boats and OF the French boats Goubet.
lie PIonseur Bauer's Plongeur Marin. Fultons
Nautilus. the Nordenfedt boat and BushnelIs
BOAT Mr. Spears paper. after giving a concise his
tory of submarines in the past. took up the pres
ent' OF which he said in part:
The principal difference between the French and
4merlca1 designs lies in the choice made of dimen-
rect result Of dierent ideas as 10 the oe restYe
ta t OF speed and handwriting qualities. To at
signers have been forced to adopt a Considerable
the double hull with large tank capacity, and Incl,
oenIdiy me steam engine and multiple rudders. As
compared with the Holland boats: the increase in
urt brs speed is gained by sacrifice Of efficiency
as to tS nr First as to simplicity second
cruising TO the diving condition. and. third. as TO
observations.
Lewis Nixon said that excessive speed IN sub
marines was not necessary. For proper defence
they must move slowly said he. Seven eight
knots is fast speed for them. they must do most
OF their work in shallow water. on soundinss The
progress made in these boats has been good when
II Is considered that they have continually had
damper put on them by the very people who should
have supported them"
Rear Admiral Francis T Bowles said: There
is no doubt that the submarine OF to-day has
moral value. I remember that while a Spanish
Warshlp was in NewYork. prior 20 the war. I was
asked 10 use my influence 10 protect her from the
remains who. some feared. were going TO get the
Holland and blow her up
some members who mildly criticised tho existing
system on board the submarines quickly
shown by Mr. Spear that they were I'm error when
he quoted some facts from the trials OF tho
Adder and MoCcasIn in Peconc Bay.
For his paper on Balance Valve Gear" Luther
u Lovekin. chief constructor for the New-York
Shtpbudins Company received the competition
prize. 4 special train the Pennsylvania Rail
road viii take a large delegation OF the members
TO Camden. y. j.. to-day 10 inspect the plant OF
the NewYork Shipbudlng Company.