Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-02-01
THE BUILDING OF RATrLEsHlps.

THE BUILDING OF RATTLESHiPS.
Yesterdays issue of the esteemed
Norfolk NirSinian-Pilot contained the
following interesting observations:
The Newport News papers are boil-
ing over with happiness. HI state
Rl-nt Of Secretary Morton that the GOV.
"rnm"nl-built ship in the navy yard at
Brooklyn had cost up TO recent date
nearly 4 million dollars more for the
same" amount Of work thar had the Sis
ter ship at the Newport News yard.
When all the facts are properly can.
vaSSed there appears to be less Occa-
sion tor Elec in the private yard or
gloom IN the yard at Brooklyn. In the
first place the Brooklyn navy yard had
70 BE equipped with new material TO
build ships, This was, OF course.
charged up to the account OF building
lhe Connecticut. Besides that they had
10 go out in The highways and bywuys
Tor men who knew how TO build ships.
tnr. OF course. the navy yard there
Vas oi that dignity that confines itself
u tightening bolts, scraping off bar.
nat'i:s. an:l watering and Campaigning
ships that are intended for sea. On
th., contrary, the Newport News yard,
by reason Ct the favor bestowed upon
it by the government. had all the apDli-
ances ready for shipbuilling in the
plant. II had the best siipbuillers TO
be inuHd III the country II was ready
u begin work Immediately and with.
ont an h'di,iona! cost for equipment
for the hui!;,im!; Of the ship allotted
rs il. """" # # M.
"Nur VA ,l,is all. /, had Imperative
contracts with the manufacturers or
nrlnnr plate to deliver plate for the
ship by given dates. The Brooklyn
yard had 70 take M plate as il
could set il. Under these conditions il
IS not n>ccsSary to say that no Two
plants whether government or pri-
Nai.., coull uNrn out battleships in the
same ti.ii". ... .- "..#.M IT,. "'
"Nn1 there i still another reason
That is !is!astef,li 70 mention, but that
nevertheless exists, and that, is that
practically every man in the United
States navy was opposed TO the con
slfuction Of b~attleships in d govern.
'nrnt plant. and there is no man SO
likely 10 drag under work as a man
WHO IS sent To Il distaSteful task.
Without charging directly, there.
tore. that The slow progress made in
Inc construction OF the Connecticut
was due IN part to the reluctance of
the navy men concerned in the con-.
Htrnctlon OF it. we MAY be permitted to
wonder whether they felt any great
c'1asrln III the faster progress being
made on the Louisiana
But for The fact that such stuff as
the foregoing occasionally appears in
papers published in cities where navy
yards are located it would be :ncredi-
bic 70 presume that such profound ig-
nnrance prevails concerning the terms
or the bat,leshiD building contest and
tie spirit III which It was entered and
hu; been conducted.
II our contemporary will examine
the report OF the secretary OF the avy
fer 1902 it will discover that none Of
the equipment necessary TO put The
Brooklyn yard in shape to build the
Connecticut vas charged 10 the ex.
pcase account of that ship.
The act Of Congress making aDprcv
pilation fer the construction Of tho
Connecticut and Louisiana contained
this provision: The secretary cf tn,
1890 - 49, - liz t'~''l " ht.t-D an
accurate. OF The cost OF III
Spect!On ard construction OF vessels
provided for in this act whether bull
in government yards or b. contract,
and report thereon to Congress. at
each session, the progress OF work and
cost thereof including the inspectiC,i
CT all material going irlo the co!str,,c-
tor OF said vessels, and. upon lie
completion thereof. TO report q full AMI
detailed statement showing the rela-
tive cost Of INSPECTION and construc.
tion5in government Yards and by con
tract"
That outlines the PORTS at wl.;cr
comparisons arr to he made. Now
Inc report shows that plans and spec,
f!ca'inns !cr The Connecticut were for.
@4 #H"" 0- "" III. ~. M""" ""#". @" "#0.