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a) MARINE REVIEW AND MARINE RECORD; 31 PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENT BUILT BATTLESHIPS. Labor is deeply interested in the competition between the government and the Newport News Ship Building & Dry Dock Co. as to which can build a battleship better, cheaper and quicker. The question cannot be settled until. 1906 when the two vessels should be ready for sea. The ship building company starts with the advantage of a complete plant and trained labor. On the other hand the Brooklyn navy yard began the preparatory work upon the battleship Connecticut last July. About $175,000 is -being spent in putting the navy yard in shape to build the battle- ship. Admiral Bowles, chief constructor, and other naval experts. contend that the cost of the government-built ship will be 25 per cent. greater than that built by private contract. 'The con- tract price of the Louisiana is $3,990,000 exclusive of armor and armament which would make their estimate of the Connecticut's cost $4,987,500, or $997,500 more than for the Louisiana. Secretary Moody has given instructions which will prevent delay in the construction of the Connecticut, directing co-ordina- tion of work between the several bureaus so that one bureau shall not bring its work to a point where it should be taken over by another bureau only to find the latter unprepared. In the matter of armor Admiral O'Neil, chief of ordnance, had intended to delay issuing advertisements until. spring, when the manufacturers would have delivered much of the armor for battleships pre- viously laid down. There was also the possibility that congress might again fix a cost limit, which would result in embarrass- ment. Finally there was the chance of improvement in armor, and Admiral O'Neil wanted the best that could be obtained. But after discussion Admiral O'Neil is arranging to contract imme- diately for armor, almost 8,000 tons of which will be required. An indication of the increase in the size of American battleships is given by the amount of armor required. Battleships of the Maine class, of 12,500 tons displacement, carry 2,451 tons of armor each. The 13,500-ton New Jersey class will be protected by 3,332 tons of armor. 'The Louisiana and Connecticut, on a displacement of 16,000. tons, require nearly 4,000 tons of armor each. 'The specifications for this armor demand not only the best armor now on the market, but that the success- ful contractor shall use every endeavor and incur all necessary expense to keep pace with the highest development of the art. The best thick armor today is that manufactured by the Krupp process. The best thin armor is the Harveyized. Each will be subjected to the usual severe tests. All armor. 5 in. or more in thickness will be tested by thiree projectiles, the guns, with the exception of the 9 and I1I-in. armor, being of the same caliber as the thickness of the plate. In the exceptions noted, 8 and 10-in. guns will be used. By making the armor contract immedi- ately, responsibility for delay' will be placed upon the contractors. This question of time will be an important one. The New- port News company has agreed to deliver the Louisiana in forty- one months, or in March 1, 1906. 'The Connecticut must also be completed within that time, else the disadvantage of slowness will be charged against government construction. 'This contin- gency 1s not unexpected by the department, which, under the law, cannot employ men more than eight hours daily. Ship builders can and do make their day longer. Nevertheless, though the department did not favor government construction, it pro- poses to devote every energy to making the Connecticut as good a ship as possible, with as much rapidity and as cheaply as cir- cumstances will permit. But four vessels of the new navy have been built by the gov- ernment, the Texas, the old Maine, the Cincinnati and the Raleigh. All have seen splendid service, yet all could have been constructed more quickly and more cheaply by private contract. At the present time, when neace can be assured only by an ade- quate navy, delay m construction is deplored by naval officers; but in building ships at navy yards the United States is doing what Europe has done for years. During the present year France has laid down battleships, armored cruisers and smaller vessels in her navy yards. Germany is building in her yards two battleships, three armored cruisers, one protected cruiser and one gunboat. Seven battleships,°nine armored cruisers and six gunboats are being built by the British government in its own yards. Russia, Austria, Italy and other nations are build- ing ships themselves. In addition allare obtaining contract built ships, the policy being to employ labor and at the same time to keep the private yards busy. 'This is the policy labor desires the United States to adont. Mr. Sidney Boulton, well-known underwriter at Lloyd's, is combining some business with a pleasure trip tu the United States that will probably extend over a couple of months. He spent several days on the great lakés. Mr. Boulton has for some time past been a leader among underwriters at Lloyd's who engage in lake business. The number of lake policies bearing his name is very large but still probably not more than a hundredth part of his general business, as he is a large operator in insur- ance. He was very frank in saying to vessel men, representatives of insurance companies and others whom he met on the lakes that personally he had only a very meager knowledge of the ships, transportation methods, etc., but of course that need not interfere particularly with his success as an underwriter. A band saw machine and a large wood lathe were recently shipped by the Atlantic Works Incorporated, of Philadelphia, to the Perth Amboy: Dry Dock Co., of Perth Amboy, N. J. VA So a irae. oe "BENEDICT- NICKEL" Seamless Condenser Tubes. Experience has proved them to be the best tubing for condensers. They are not readily affected by Electrolysis. Made from an alloy of nickel and copper, "Benedict-Nickel"' is dense, tough and homogeneous. We are also among the largest manufacturers ot Seamless Brass and Copper Tubing and of brass and copper sheets, wire, etc. Our Table Book giving full information regarding ou1 products is sent on request. eee eee BENEDICT & BURNHAM WIFG. Co. WATERBURY, CONN. NEW YORK, 253 BROADWAY. PRICE LIST BOSTON, 172 HIGH ST. V. Waring NY.