Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-03
Especial to Democrat.)

l VcpCCIdl lO
 l Washington, March 3.-Captain Si,
 mon Lake of Bridgeport, the inventor
 of the submarine boat Protector. ap-
 peared before the senate committee on
 appropriations this morning. to urge upon them an appropriation for the
 purchase of five of his boats. He ar, ] gued for over an hour before the com
 mfttee and based his remarks on the report of the army board, which shows 1 that the officers of the army are in favor of acquiring five of these boats l for coast defenses. The report states that these boats could be used with 1 great advantage at the following points: One for the school of sub, marine defense for experimental work, one for the entrance of Long Island sound, one for the entrance to Chesa- peake bay, one for San Francisco har- Dor, and one for Puget sound.
 Mr Lake demonstrated to the com mittee the advantages of his boat over all others, as set forth by this report. He showed that it is suitable for de fense to replace fixed mines and also to lie outside of mines to be used for picket duty. He also showed that the boats are superior to stationary mines because they can be used in attack and to cut cables. The report of the army board gives full description of the Protector and speaks of it in the highest terms. This is the report that Congressman Hill referred to in his speech in the house. last week. It had much to do with the action of the house in passing his amendment to the naval bill. Captain Lake is in hopes that the senate committee will add the appropriation asked for, which is entirely separate from the proposi- ton in the house, one being for the navy proper and the other for coast defenses.
 The conclusions of the army board, which were read by Captain Lake are quite interesting. They report as fol- lows: "The board believes this type Of submarine boat is most valuable auxiliary to the fixed mine defense, and in cases where channels cannot be mined owing to depth, rough water. swift tides or width of channel, it will. give the nearest approach to absolute protection now known to the board. The boat can lie for an indefinite pe- | riod adjacent to the point to be de tended in either cruising, awash or submerged condition, by its anchors, or on the bottom ready for instant use, and practically independent of the state of the water and in telephonic connection with the shore, or can pa trol mined or unJnined channel, in visible to the enen'y and able to dis charge its torpedof1s at any time. ' possesses the pow CT of utilizing it's en- s,, totally submerged and can always charge it's storage batteries while so doing, necessitating its return to s''ore oAly when gasoline must be replen- ished. In narrow channels the boat or boats would have a fixed position with a telephone cable buoyed or a1l-s chored at the bottom. In wide chan nels they would patrol or lie in mid channel or where they could readily meet approaching vessels.
 stThe test at Newport demonstrated the ease with which the boat can lo- cate and pick up cables, and, with minor alterations in the present model, junction boxes, etc, can be taken 1nfo the diving compartment and repalrea at leisure while absolutely protected from hostile interference. The faculty possessed by the boat of maneuverlng on the bottom and sending out divers. leaves little or nothing to be desireh Ill ifs facilities for doing the work.
 s'The boat shows great superiority over any existing means Of attacklng mine fields known to the board. It can run by any field, and can attack at it's pleasure vessels in the harpor-
 Pension Bills in the Senate.
 T1ba senate at o'clock yesterday afternoon took up the consideration or private pension bills, and as usual cleared up the calendar. There were five Connecticut bills that passed among the rest One was granting a pension of SIT per month to Mrs Sa- rab l.. Augur. of New Haven, widow of Lieutenant William H. Augur, of the Seventh Connecticut Volunteers. The second was dn behalf of William J. F. Buck of Ansoria. at the rate of SPA per month. Buck served in Go D, Second Connecticut Heavy Ar7til- ! lery, and has lost both his legs. The third beneficiary was John Walton of the Soldiers Home. Noroton Heights, who secures SPA per month by his bill. He served in Go D, Tenth Con- necticut Volunteers. The fourth bill grants a pension of SIP per month to Mrs Phebe A. Ford of Meriden, wid- ow of R. M. Ford. who served in Go G, Eighth Connecticut Volunteers. These four bills were all introduced by Senator Platt.
 One house bill passed the senate, l namely, the one granting "a pension of SPA per month to Mrs Marceline F. Hamilton, of Danielson, widow of William H Hamilton of Go F, Third Connecticut Volunteers, during thet wan with Spain. This bill was orig 1 dnally introduced by Congressman Brandegee.
 Bills Reported
 The house committee on claims has reported favorably on the bill to pay Noah billiard, formerly of Hartford. l the sum Of $2O3. .12. due him for labor performed and material furnished un- der a contract for laying sewers in the city of Washingon in 1874 and 1875. The bill was introduced by Con- gresslnan Henry, and has been before