Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-01-19
WILL LEAVE THE COUNTRY
Inventor Gets No Opportunity to Dem.
onstratc Value Of His Craft to United
States Governnent-Den Story
T|,at Charges Will Be Filed Against
Secretary Morton.


reporter while discussing the treat
ncnt his company has received at the
hands OF tho navy Departments.
Less than year ago Congress pass
cd All act rrCyding for the building of
NV submarines for the navy and re
curing that the bidders for the con
tract for furnishing the boats should
enter their vessels in competitive"
fcSr n prove their comparative values
Seven months ago the Lake Torpedo
Goat Company Of Bridgeport. Conn.
t,!ildcrs Of the type Of submarine in
vC.ted by Captain Simon Lake. let the
contract To the local shipyard for five
hnats four Of which were tc he ship
ped abruad The fifth boat was to
be placed IN the competitive test pro
NidcG for III The act Of 904 and was
TO be called the Simon Lake X.
The Simon Lake Y is now ccmp1c:-
cd and practically ready for any kind
of attest and the other fonr have been
shipped to their destination Tho
Lake beat will never enter 4 govern.
mont Test however and it looks as
though the Holland type Will continue
10 be the official type of the United
States ua"v in site of the fact that It
has never been tested III competition
~ W Illt dilOLllcI sun t al Sllma!lnp.
special from Washington ycstcr.
day stated that the Lake company
would file charges against Secretary
Of the Navy Paul Morton with the ra-
val on'mittccs CT the House and Sen.
ate, charging that although the Lake
company was :: bidder it was not per
mitted TO participate and the CONTRACT;
fer slNJSnbmarines was awarded to tho,
Holland company about six weeks ago
Several weekly publications have
published an attack upon Secretary
Morton, based unon the treatment al
iesed to have been accorded the Lake
y company. and marked copies Of these
have been sent to the members OF Cor
gross and the Senate at Washington
When seen i'll his room q Hotel War
wick last night, Captain Lake denied
'hatahis company you'll prefer charges
z against the sGcre iary OF the navy, but
Giscnrse,l The subject freely H..
seemed to be very indignant over the
action Of the navy department. bu.
said that Secretary Morton was not the
person, at fault
Eha secretary said he. acted and
has been, acting upon the advice OF
persons who are in ), position to adj
wise and who Should know what they
given some very bad advice"
If YOU will not complain against the
secretary. probably there will be
charges against somebody else +" sug
Sested the reporter
Il do not care TIC talk akCut that just
DOW replied the inventor How do
you suppose such report happened
to &c olrculateuES the reporter ask
CO expect some Of the :tockhold
"rs or our company got mad and did
some talking. was the rely.
mr.. Lake went on 10 say that al
though he had built the Simon Lake
\ especially TO be used in the govern
ment test anL had almost gotten Der
in shape for the test in seven months
time: the navy department. proceeded
10 let the contracts for SIX boats to the
Holland company without giving him
an opportunity TO demonstrate the
worth OF his craft. The secretary
gave laclaof time as the excuse for not
Waiting for Us said the inventor
while any sensible man must under
s::tnf! that seven months is a very short
time in which to complete such yes.
sci. Besides no definite date for the
test had ever been set. 1t was well
known that the Holland neat. which
vessel Wonld be The only submarines
10 enter the test and it was supposed
hat The test would take place at any
time l3was ready for it. Tie Holland
company has never completed a boat
j.! less than twc wears and on one it
was allowed seven FEARS =
hlr lake said Mat he told Secretary
4 Morton when he was in WASHINGTON
fhIf nc was mp against stacked cards
AMI proposed IN throw up his hand =
When asEcd what he proposed to do
X now, Mr.. Lake said that lie would 10
A f;s'" IN another country. He cid net
state %hu country he had in mind
but somc time ago he remarked 10
newspaper IAN thar he would 90 to
one CT ihe three principal European
powers il tic United States Should
not give hin, = fair show.
WAT disposition viii be made or
The Simon Lake y is rot known ar
his time The little vessel has had
numerous speed anil sul.merocnrc
u tests and t.ials Of every Kind recently
and he work Of tuning her M is
about ccmDletoG.
NC contract iCr Lake submarine
81 the cruiser tvre has been lc, to the
4 onals:ihipyard l'rt Mr. Lake has never
:rdiu sNIdi ne l).Ol'OSC'i TO 10 with this
3Sc:iSe! except TO eHnreSs his detcrmi-
! nahon 70 carry ii across the Atlantic
cccal! su..ncr its own power
Naval Constructor +. Hess. OF M.
y brazilian navy, and Lieut.. Command.
Ccstrr.#cf the Holland navy, who have
been here for several weeks obscrvin.
the tests Of the Simon Lake n are still
in tie city. Cartain Hess states that
tie Holland and Lake loas are Tho
only *aleahle Submarines 10 Inc world
M. nrI 4 LAT liin / a l.n fnlAn e - 20, -. !.