The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-01-14


the linnds Of foreigners On The Clyde alone,
ffty-sight steamers--Tegular traders between New
York and European pofts--hats been built since
1860. Theif aggregate tonnage is not less than
40 600 tons.
This large feet does moi include the vessels
built for the Canada anil Portland lines. It il
quite within beunds 10 estimate that this feet Of
Clyde built steamers has driven 250.000 tons Of
sailing vessels from The trans-AIlantic trade Of
New York.
The committee consider the days Of wooden
ships as having passed, and p0iBt to the number
Of British baiIt iron vessels which nearly moDop-
oiiz9 the entire carrying trade. They counsel
our ship builders to take e0gnizence Of the fact
that an English iron sbip can be built for S65 in
gold per ten, which IL about what u costs to
build an American wooden ship The committee
says:
II seems very certain that the United States
must advance very rapidly and boldly, or else
fall sadly IN the rear Of England, Germany and
France. We cannot maintain q respectable mar
atiTDe position before the world III our mercantile
navy Is to consist Of wooden sailing ships alone,
or wooden sailing ships coupled With one or two
lines Of subsidized steamers and this is our
present position. while our rivals ars distancing
us and carrying OF our own trade. tits Of course
better to build our own ships at home than 1t Is
| to build them abroad. Bnt IL is better to build
them abroad than not 70 build them at all. 1t il
better to employ ovr own ship masters, mates and
BearaeB, than the masters mates and eean Of
our Commercial rivals and, It IL better for to
| cross The ocean with steamers commanded by our
own fgll0w-citizens and carrying our own 1ag.
| All this can only bo accomplished by repeating
the law which refuses 10 grant American regis
Ter to steamer built in the cheap building yards
Of Great Britain. IT is surely worth our while to
consider xbetheT not paying too dear for
/ the sentimental feeling which has already de-
stroyed commercial prestige. The registry
j laws are declared to be by the force Of circum-
stances probibitoTy and oppressive to ouT own
citizcns, and in the interest Of foreign ship
and InariDers That iDfolcrant and eruel law
/ should be smeBded without delay.
In the opinion Of competent judges. emigTation
/ from Great Britain has been more than doubled
| by The application Of steam to emgrant Transport
tation. Yet the builders Ct. the United States
| have not turned out single steamer tbat could
lTe in the trade at the present rates which the
/ British steamer owners have grown rich. The
fine sieapers Ontario and Erie arc commercial
failures a. the Liverpool trade IL concerned.
After trying il for two voyages, the Ontario was
witbdrawns and her eoDsert, the Erie, has never
been = sea. The original cost Of both steamers
was nb0ut 81 500 500, and they we're finally sold
for s25g.2I7 each. The Collins steamers did not
| pay With their subsidy and freight at Elk and
eight pounds sterling per ton On the small guam
tity they could carry and since the several
attempts 10 carry emigTants in old paddle steam
cTs have al resulted in failure. while at the SANE
time Rriieh bnilt teameEs adapted 10 the business
have been earning 80 per cent. per annum on their
cost. The emigTaDt business Is now dependent
| upon British ship builders and British ship own
efs, and viii remain dependent til the United
States Congress repeal fn1diy the registry law.
To subsidies 10 any form 0nr association il mort
empbatieally opposed destroying competition
and enterprise.
By fhe amendment Of the navigation Law as
plead fur. tie heaviest IosS will fall upon the
present owners Of wooden vessel. especially Of
wooden sle-gbeel steamers, and those benefited
VIII be ship carpenters. engine buildeTs, boiler
makers, rnachir ists. sail makers, spar makers.
reIc makers, joiner, painters ship chambers, dry
dock owners, seamen, chieers. landlords. coal
dealers. lighter men, tug boat owners, in . word.
citizens Of every eiags.