New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-06-15
THE GOVERNMENT As sHIPBU11DER.

Three wears or more ago. In order to settle
a much disputed question in naval policy, an
interesting competition was instituted by the
Navy Department. Before that time work on
the new navy had been done almost exclusively
In private shipyards But the idea gain
ing ground that the government should ltselr
take hand in construction. 1t was urged that
it was unwise to depend entirely on private
shipbuilders for the reason that in case of fric-
ton or emergency the administration should
be prepared TO lay down It's own keels and turn
out its own completed cruisers and batueshlps.
Congress heartily favored the enlargement ana
development of the government yards ana
stood ready to encourage more liberal Dulid-
ing policy To determine the Navy Depart
ment's capacity to do the work heretofore given
out under contract, searching test was Or
dered Two battleshps, Identical IN design,
wera authorized-one to be built in a govern
ment ward, the other by private shipbuilding
company. These twin ships were the Connect
c,t and the louisiana The former was to be
constructed at the navy yard in this city, and
the latter in the great private plant at New
port News
The competition began with the signing of
the Louisiana contract, In October, l9o2. AT
the beginning conditions seemed to favor the
priyate builder. The navy yard here was not
comnletely equipped for work on such an ex-
tended scale, and the Connectcuts keel could
not be laid until March Z, 1904 month be-
hindSthe Newport News record The Virginia
comnaDv held its advantage through the next
seventeen months. The Louisiana was Launched
on August q. 1904 The Connecticut, after
sevarsI mysterious mishaps, took the water on
Senteu,ber % 1904. From that time on, how
ever work has advanced a little more rapidly
nm the Connecticut than on the LOUISIANA w
Nav /. 1905 the latter was reported f4-oo
ner cent completed, and the former 1900 per
cent But an official statement issued on june
~ shows that the Connecticut is now sllghuy
ahead of the Louisiana, the percentages OF com
nIetion being. respectively, 10 and TOD Inc
Noyr Denartrnent also seems convinced that the
Connecticut will either finish in the lead or make
q dead heat Of the building contest
pitcher of these results will be a decided vic
Tow, for tho advocates Of the new policy There
seams TO be- indeed, every reason for MAINTAIN
mo government yards in which ships OF any
siza can be buiIt-and built in competition WIN
the hest private establishments. 1t Is desirable
+ho+ nrivate plants should be encouraged TO
eou,n themselves for naval construction. but
both RS check on overbidding on the part OF
nrivate firms and as an additional resource III
ttr,o ~ need. the government yard will always
sorve an excellent purpose Until the present
connetition is over 1t will not be possible TO
I'll -b;cb of the twin batteshlps has been bullt
tho more cheaply. But, even IL the Connecucul
costs little more than the Louisiana, the gov
arnment,s capacity TO do the work at KNOWN
forra will enter regulahve FACTOR ihto
future competitions. The Navy Departlnene
Iii q. ,ea ST be able to protect itself against
oyorb,tant demands and If the pinch comes
&c A. came some time ago the question OF
armor Mate prices-the government Will nave
more effective weapon to beat down over
charges than the mere threat to become OH
,ts own account a shipbuilder or arnor piate
nnanufaeturer If the Connecticut is an uh-
qualified success our naval policy VIII nav
undergone material and wholesome inou'-