Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-02-20
Ship Building I'm New YOrk.--The Progress
of the Great RevalsiOn.

| subject, the accuracy of which are indisputabe.
He, personally, visited each ship yard, and con-
versed with each ship builder. What we now state,
can be relied
First let US take retrospective view of the bust
ness for the last twenty years.
From 1920 to 1923, ship building, in this city, and
in this country, prosecuted with great success.
The universal expansion in trade, during the first
five years of that time, caused an increase in the
number and tonnage Of vessels, of fifty to hun
dred per cent each year, for the entire period.
In 1923, a general stagnation came on, which grew
out of the revulsion in 25 and continued into the
next year.
That revulsion, caused by too great an expansion
in credits did not affect ship building, it appears,
| till four years after it had affecteda the other
| branches of trade, and when nearly every other
branch had passed the ordeal. Agriculture was
affected in the year In every revulsion, when
the credit system is carried too far, and trade
banded to unhealthy limit, it is invariably the
case, that agriculture and ship building are the last to
feel its effects. When they recover, every thing is
again in healthy state-they are the barometer of
commerce
Thegmoney paid for labor is about one-fifth Of the
total cost Of a vessel Where the wages Of labor
one ship amount to ten thousand dollars, the mate
rial for her costs thirty thousand One
in this city paid out in three years, $780, 1884, and
1882 nearly two hundred thousand dollars for labor
alone.
As consequence to the low state of ship build
ing in 1929, great distress existed among the labor
ing classes, who dependant thereon for support.
There was scarcely any work to be obtained, and
when vessels were built, wages ruled remarkably
ow-ony twelve shillings per day and out proper
ton to the prices Of rents, clothing, and food. At
the close of $780, however, the business recovered
its wonted activity, and wages to two dollars
per day for &c new work." and two dollars and a
quarter for 4" old work." which have continued
pretty uniform ever since.
Prior to 1929, Henry Eckford, and those connect
ed with him, were actively engaged in building the
most splendid specimens of naval architecture that
ever foated the Atlantic Pacific. Messrs
Bergh & Co.. Brown g. Bell, Smith & Damon, and
others ase launched vessels remarkable for strength,
beauty, speed, and durability. Frigatcs were
structed for the Greeks and Columbians, and also
for own government. The Hudson, now lying
at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, built by Smith &
Damon, for the Greek government, and called the
Liberator. She was, however, purchased for the
United States Navy, and her name changed. About
the same time c. Bergh & Co. launched the Hope, or
Helles, sixty-our gun ship, also for the Greeks
She placed under the command of Admiral
Miauis, and blown up by him when ordered to
throw up the command. Henry Eckford & Co.
built the frigates Amazon and South America, for
the Columbian government. What has become of
them we know not Mr.. Eckford left this country
in June, 1881, in the frigate United States for Con-
stantinople, where he died. This frigate he built
expressly to go out in, and she neted for her
speed. When going up the Mediterranean, he fell
in with the United States frigate Constellation, and
beat her,out and out in sailing Besides Mr.. Eek
ford, Adam and Noah Brown, and the elder Mr..
Bergh, have retired from business. Since then, we
have lost Mr.. Webb by premature death. There
are firms in this city carrying on ship build
ing, as follows
LIST or sHIr svrLosp
Web Web ss6Siii ,n % sTI1 a 1 B pa%SS'
i 3,ss,, Win Hgs,. Burt. .rI,s.s csns sn.
Since 1873, Isaac Webb e. Co, Henry Eckford e.
Co. and Webb & Alen-all one concern, but under
different names-have launched thirty one ships,
twenty one bArks and brigs, six steam vessels, six
foatirg lights, and ten schooners Of thirty thou
sand tons in the aggregate. And Messrs Brown x
Bell have launched since April 1891, the year they
went into busness-forty three ships six banks and
brgs, fifteen schooners, and forty six steam vessels
worth upwards Of four million dollars. Messrs
Bergh X Co. have built about the same number in
the same period. These are the largest concerns Of
I the kind in this city. The others launched the
remainder mentioned in the table annexed william
H. Brown, Lawrence X Sneden, and Bishop * ST.
monson, seldom build any but steamers-their BUSH
ness is almost exclusively in that class Of vessels
All the Revenue Cutters owned by the United
States Government were built by Webb g. Allen
The Alert, few years since, was the fastest cutter
in our waters, and when the Government contracted
for the last four or five launched IL was stipulated
that each should equal her in speed. They were
built, launched, and tried Each one beat the Alert
Z" all to pieces"
AS general resume Of the whole we give the
following statement, showing the number Of vessels
built in this city since 1923 These are the results
Of skill and enterprise. Many Of the ships have
been lost and many sold for whalers. MANY launch
ed in the early years, still in use ami sound i.
limb. Better timber was obtanable anterior To
1880, than has been since, and ships twenty wears
old in this pert, with not rotten timber in
them. The William Tell, the second ship launched
by Brown & Bell. in 1921, is nov at their ward. I'M
dergong alterations, has been thorou over
hauled, and there is not decsyed timber in her In
those years, plenty Of material to be had on the
coast. Now, part OF that used comes from the in.
to- d. - =.