The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-10-16
Naval Constructors Robinson and
Baxter Keep New Vessels
Abreast Of Improvements.
DESIGNED THE CONNECTICUT.
Members of This Branch of the
Service Rarely Emerge From
Obscurity, Notwithstanding
knowledge Necessary.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

1N-f Sb1IC 81 EClhh.
New York. Oct. 15-when the battleship
Connecticut slid down the ways a few
days ago to plunge safely into the waters
OF the East River. a line officer Of the
navy. who had watched this eminently
successful launch OF the biggest vessel
ever constructed in an American navy
yard. said:
Just about 1000 o nave been lifted
from the minds Of Baxter and Robinson"
There is much in that phrase, epitomiz-
ing as 1t does the weight which had
rested SO long upon the shoulders Of the
two men who had been made responsible
for this giant craft.
These men are Naval Constructor Will
liam ]. Baxter OF the United States
Navy and his very capable young aid.
Assistant Naval Constructor Richard b.
Robinson.
It has been said of the Construction
Corps that men OF that branch Of the
service rarely emerge from the obscurity
OF everyday work well done, and as a
reason It has been urged that theirs is
not q work which puts them In the
umelight.
They build the ships, but It is the men
Who fight them that get the applause.
When the mighty Oregon made her ia
nous trip around the Horn TO be first in
he sought &c escape from Santiago. none
ever gave thought to the talented de-
Ggner OF that superb fighting machine.
Lewis Nixon, and 1t Is doubtful II q hun
dred men. In the service or out of IT. can
tell ofhand what naval constructor II
was that carried out the plans of the de-
Hsner and superiptended the building OF
Tho vessel.
HoBsoN AS A CONSTRUCTOR
rh-~ oorotr,tor ~ sHA A-a~-
loan Navy who anne into sudden fame,
but ~Hngulariy enough It was for sinking
2 vessel and not for building one that he
gained renown.
This was Richmond Pearson Hobson. but
2 member OF the Construction Corps, as
he was habitually referred to as Lieuten-
ant Hobson. Or as Captain Hobscn. after
Oversee there was one constructor
whose obituary was widely written. He
had designed the British armorclad Cap
tain. q OF the FIRST ironciads Of Great
Britain's navy.
The vessel was topheavy and capsized
In the nrst heavy sea she met and went
to the bottom. taking her designer with
her.
But while nc member of the Construction
Corps has ever AIKEN rank with Sampson,
Dewey, Farraeut o.. Hull. there are signs
and it is g great new navy, so please you
there win be an awakening Of public
interest IN the men who prepare these
great fighting machines for war.
This Interest was keen when the Con-
uecticut was launched, and of the many
thousands who had gathered at the New
know something Of the men who had
made that launch SO eminently successful.
This Is to tell Of them. Take Construct
or Baxter first. Between mis- hurried
bending over to answer telephone calls
and to give innumerabIe directions about
fnnumerable things. he will find time to
n%rs sss az you yI set f Is shas cf ana a man ahs WITH ,ml
every sense alert. every detail of the
enormous work which he has in hand at
his fingers end-a man competent. capa-
the Navy Department OF the United States
would intruN with the building OF the
most powerful n costly vessels.
HIS EARLIER CAREER.
The writer of this knew Constructor
BAXTER when he was a Junior engineer in
corvette Swatara. and knew him then as
. young officer whom all liked and re-
spected and whom all regarded as one
front.
When It was his watch in the engine
room there was no care on the bridge
steam was al It's proper gauge and no
promptly obeyed.
None could show more zeal, and on that
ehip at least none ever pored SO long
over professional papers and textbooks.
No light literature or novels ever engaged
bis attention. He had adopted the navy
permitted no digressons.
The navy at that period had fallen into
its lowest period of neglect. Congress
were out Of date. with obsolete batteries
OF smoothbore guns, and in the general