New-York tribune., 1868-03-03
SHIP BUILDING.

PACIFIC COAST.
A few years ago one coming into New-York
by way Of the East River would have ON either
shore large number Of ships In different stages Of con
strucon These ribbed Leviathans swarmed with work
men, and in the distance appeared like huge monsters
washed no on the shore. being devoured by thelI
mics From morning till night tho incessan chipping or
peculiar metallic ring incident to shipbudihg seldom
slackened During the war; the pressing demands Of the
Government taxed shipyards TO their utmost extent
Every oakum-spinncr and shipcarpenter found employ
ment. The changes to be made in fitting out
wooden vessels as ships OF war gave the Dry Dock
Companies all the work they could possibly do
Dealers IN slip-cbandlery, and in every description Of
building material, did thriving business. Our navy
sprang into existence with great rapidity. Europe
amazed and alarmed saw rs take our place beside tGe
British iOn armed aud equipped WIN one Of TIE best n
yies in the world. Too much praise cannot he gwen 10
REPUTATION they have attained Since the war, the hus
ness has gradually declined until now but little Is done
rious and dcuit to trace. One is. capitalists prefer
rather to Invest IN 9ohaA1 The br IRON
copper cOrdage, and everything used ln snip Ouldg Is
faxed and beside. freigts aud provisions are high,
making 1t almost impossible for poor mnn
to more than make living, even u he has woIk; ~
generally Acknowledged that the STRIKE Tor the elgt
hour system gave blow to shipbuildng from whieh II
win not recover What has been SAID rtgaruns Tue
depression here Is also true OF ve marine engno mn w.
pairing department, the following Instances VIII rhow:
IRON Works in tbs city have facilities employing 1900
men, but employ only about co., The Etha Works,
bands and now have but They say that they have
known much depression and mention among the
| and boilers, which, added 10 that on each article
used in e1 building Gsnt on maAes nsaS wd 5G wh
the increase In the price OF labor Is some 60 per cent
m ue e.sabshng % steamship lines to other
initiated American ocean companies leaving US Oy lhe
During The war capitalists built vessels ut high pnees
anticipating heavy business with the South al the close
" the war Messrs. Roach Son eate further that at
present the millions OF dollars worth Of property en-
pl0yed in manufacturing is by means paying, aLd
sold today would rot bring 80 cents on each dol Of lis
actual cost Although losing Sl0O per dny this company
are not discouraged and they are now constructing
the world. so that when business does revive
they may be enabled TO work at profit
From this ono will see the advantage OF foresight Nnd the
right use Of heavy capital The Novelty lion Works
onw about To aud Il Is dong noiIng in iir Way Of
buildug marine engines. The establishment Of William
H. Webb. the builder Of the famous Dundrrberg, II now
In the same condition In 1863 John Engis son Iad ~
vessels on their stocks now they have none Smos0n
Twcifthst In GreenpoiDt Henry Steers has steamship
building for the Pacific Mail Company. wcbb d.
This Is about the sum Of all that Is doing
Fl yTT ago @ Uf Pe % ssrcsV @f PIyS @
in regular employment Lest Free Traders use these
clearly understood that this state Of affairs
fined TO the United States alone but to the whole world
From all parts Of the globe come rnmOrs OF famine and
distress Not only In New YCik are there 100000 men out
Of employment but in England and IN France the cry Is
decline is wen known and as much 80 in England
as n any other country Every ship landing Castle
Garden adds destitute population. For months
able bodied have walked up aud down our docks
vainly seeking employment. ~ -
We give some facts in regard TO shipbndlng on tho
Pacific Coast Last September the Board of Marine I'm
derwrters OF San Francisco appointed Committee to
investigate and report whether 10 would be practicable
organize large shpbuding business at Puget SOUND
and other lumber ports north Of San francisco wih the
TO control the foreign and coasting trade OF California;
the insurance companies could advance capital on mort
gage, otherwise necessary to promote enterprise
longing TO San Francisco are 81 ships valued at
70 barks, valued at s9S5,0O; 80 brtgs, valued at
tunnage, 5SSl2 The average age OF all the foregoing
vessels l5t years Steamers aud schooners are not In
ers frequenthg San Francisco are owned elsewhere.
California offers superior advantages for shpbuilding
Red and yellow fir constitute about Onehaf Of the dense
growth OF timber in Oregon and in Washington Territory
This timber accelerated throughout the world for magn
properties, aOrding the longest spars Frequently
sticks are furnished $50 feet long, lsxS ana even 2H
inches square, perfectly sound without sap check split
Panks Of this timber co and 30 feet long may be easily
obtained. Many mechanics think this wood equal In
strength 70 Eastern white oak Fir contains enough pitch
10 enable II 10 hold iron asenDgs with such ienacly that
bolts and spikes will break before they can be drawn
the iron corroded by acid The Chyso
polls Yosemite, Capital, Geo s. Wright, John T. Wright.
Timber may be had at every mill on the Coast for from
$40 sl2 per thousand san feet, board Laurel and
locust abound on the coast In great prOfusion Iron Is
found in almost inexhaustibe quantities, and 81.
into norsesSoes after the first smelling % This mine
Is surrounded by vast quantities of charcoal material
Pitch, tar roslh anu suapene NJ are pl0ducra, ana tne
have written several prominent shpbders of the
East for information regarding cost OF vessels wages
prices OF lumber and the condition OF business Henry
Steers prominent builder OF Greenpoint " Y, among
other things gives the following facts The OF first
class New.York built sailing vessel of tuns.
measurements exclusive Of copperng, is about <l6
rency per un 200 tuns sll2; 800 tnns sos 400 tuns
slO4 zoo tuns $780, tuns S6 700 tuns sos tuns
500; 1000 tuns ST. These prices will vary from 81 -
per tun, according 10 style OF finish. Mr. Steers
thought that these styles of vessels could no
built IN Maine per cent less than the above price,
int tl,a Rrifis PROV The
cau era S. samakers ss 26 shinSiners 50 per day Mr.
Stec nays for straight white oak 45 and 30 cents per
cubic of ~ cents TO 81 per foot for crooked framing
timbt vel NV pine $40 to SEQ per NJ. white pine ti5 10