New-York tribune., 1907-11-23
PLEADS FOR q. S. SHIPS,
PROPOSES n NEW PLAN.
Second assistant Postmaster General
Tells NaraL architects about 1T.

A 4
Hereafter shall lick a postage stamp with sorne
sstisfaction for Of all the arguments on the ques
ton Of subsidies this is the best ever heard and
ike all good inventions. it's a wonder we did not
think Of il bef6re. thank you, sir. for your most
sensible address"
So said Francis T. Bovrles. former rear admiral
and chief constructor of the navy, who as toast
master last night AT the dinner OF the Society Of
Naval Architects and Engineers at Delmonico's
had Just listened to the address of the guest Of
honor. James T. McCIesry. Second Assistant Post
master General, who said. IN part:
We Just sending to the Pacific Coast the
greatest feet of warshps have ever assembled,
and should feel ashamed that the auxiliary feet
sccompanying them is a foreign fleet Allow pri-
vate individuals to build those ships. Allow them
"netenth Of what II costs the government with the
understanding that they will obigate themselves TO
turn them 10 the government when needed.
Ny function is 10 transport the mails. II costs
*500o000 TO do It; of this 100000 is profit
Devote that profit TO the upbuildng of the merchant
marine and We shall not have 10 take cent from
the Treasury. II doesn't make happy TO know
that of z36 ships that carry the mails only sixty
seven American If will give to own
what we now pay to foreigners viii be carrying
tho mails under Old Glory
r. z. Schwerin president of the Pacific Mail
Line, said that he felt it incumbent him to tell
the truth about what he termed 1.-The most de-
Porable state of affairs which bids fair to drive
our flag from the Pacific Ocean, well from
represents losing money all the time as
the result of the governments attitude toward its
affairs. and intimated that when its ffty-year
.harter had out April 10. application
eould be made for its renewal, the company retir-
ing from the steamship transp sportGtion business,
IT'S all tommyrot,' he said, Ito talk all kinds
Of scntlmentality about the American merchant
marine. The who do good is not the
who is going TO deliver with the big stick
and an atmosphere of moonshine and splendor The
NJ Z Ja-ri7 Mr. Tr1r1r-
ington should build ships and maintain them If
the project viii not pay is all nonsense. The
American flag, if it is to stay in foreign trade,
must have fair chance. 1t is a plain matter of
dollars and cents. and If cannot make money
investing in steamships he certainly will not put
cut his money that way.
"Air Biu lost one of his two magnificent yes
scls. and when asked about the twin ship to
that one. only recently he said: To he'll with the
twin ship" That shows how he felt
Rear Admiral Caspar F. Goodrich. the next
speaker. said in part: Ten years from to-day our
,varships viii be stripped like prizehghter when
they go into action. They not so to-day. The
great boat cranes, the military masts. the fighting
tops as our friend here from Japan can probably
tell you. are superfuous. I would suggest that we
abandon them. Let ducts with induced
draft. too. instead of ventilators. In action
everything above the skyline is perncious except
that needed for the business in hand. Why not
lead the simple naval life? We have, for example,
r,,ltitudes OF bath tubs and other elaborate con-
trivances- Our people would be satisfied with
much less. il is only right that We naval officers
should lay down what want. and you gentle
men can put them in practical shape If the 15inch
gun is desirable. should have it. but not jump
from one size another. like hitching up twelve
hand horse and one OF fourteen hands, and then
apologizing to our neighbors for doing it. That's
what we doing now. ] ask you 10 take this
thought and give it your Endorsement"
e; B. Hunter of the firm that built the Maure-
tania after speaking of the new ship and her
maiden passage, said:
we admire most the courage and enterprise OF
the Cunard Line and especially OF the late Lord
Tnvercylde. whose foresight made 1t possible 1t
las been said that IL built subsidies.
want 10 say that it not, but as the result OF
a very hard bargain with the British government
The time will probably come when the United
States VIII have a merchant navy worthy of its
greatness"
Toastmaster Bowles congratulated Mr.. Hunter on
the building Of the Mauretania. and said: These
great vessels, the Mary and the Lucy will now
carry US back and forth and II any one must rule
the waves we are glad 10 see that il Is Britannia
Seven papers were read yesterday by their au-
thors before the members OF the Society Of Naval
Architects and Marine Engineers, at No % West
asth street at the second and final session of the
annual meeting of the society. Professor w. S.
Leland g paper, TESTS on the Steamship Governor
Cobb" raised discussion the turbine engine
a means Of marine propulsion The tests on
this turbine propelled ship were made by members
provide thesis work for some Of the graduates in
the department OF naval architecture. The tests
were made a regular trip Of the ship from
Boston 20 St Johns. Observations began on pass
ing Boston Light, and were continued tWenty-six
hours, for the boiler test continually and for the
engine test at favorable times.
Attention called by several speakers to the
successful performances Of the Cunard turbine
steamships Lusitania and Mauretania Lewis
Nixon who spoke disparagingiy of the turbine at
VS. n
certain good work had been done by this class OF
engine.
c. A. NcAIlister, engineer in chief OF the United
States revenue cutter service, read paper on
Two New Revenue Cutters for Special Purposes" "
The special purposes are the construction Of two
cutters, one Of which is TO be life saving steel
tug. 152 all. - feet beam and u feet IA
inches draft, with rs tons OF coal on board and
u.0oO gallons OF water. For life saving there Will
to rigged from the mainmast a breeches buoy ar
Tangement, operated IN similar manner and by
the kind OF gear has been used for coal