Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-15
Miseellaneous.
SHIPBUILDING ON THE CLYDE.


The following letter was written to Sec
r!etary Fish, by E. G. Eastman, late Act
ing Consul ut Glasgow. Mr.. Eastman
formerly lived in Hallowell, Maine:
Sir:-I have the honor to inform you that
on the oath of September, 1864, i wrote
to the Department of State, calling their
attention to the great decrease in American
tonnage and suggested remedy in the
shape OF drawback on the material used
in the construction and equipment of ves-
sells in the L. s. That letter was sent to
the House of Representatives and by them
referred to Mr.. McCulloch, then Secretary
OF Treasury, to report thereon. He re-
ported against assistance being extended
to ship-builders and there the matter rest
ed Now after lapse of five years the
people all see the necessity of doing some
thing to restore the American flag to its
former position on the ocean, and | trust
the present Congress will give it the de-
liberate consideration the subject requires.
Having been nnyselfa ship-master in Amer
lean vessels, have always taken deep
interest in everything concerning our mer-
camille marine, and during my stay as
Acting L. S. Consul in Glasgow, have
made myself acquainted with the manner
| of doing work in the different ship yards
on the Clyde, and after thorough inves-
tgation of the matter, | am satisfied that
iron must very shortly supercede wood in
the construction of all sea-going vessels,
and further, that vessels propelled by
steam will in time do all the more lucrative
portion of the carrying trade of the world,
and this event will be FASTENED by the sue
cess attending the opening of the "Suez
! canal" and also the great improvements
a.
engines, whereby great economy is effec-
ted in the consumption of fuel. Now it
being conceded that iron steam vessels
must eventually monopolize the carrying
trade, the question is often asked ''can
iron steam vessels be built in the United
States ?" | answer that question most
emphatically in the affirmative if Congress
will only place our ship-builders on the
same footing as the English ship-builders.
| find on examination of the ship-yards
/ here, no labor-saving machinery in use,
and although the wages paid men are much
below those paid in the L. S. yet they re-
quire double the number of men to accom-
plish the same amount of work. The
whole system here seems to be ''main
strength and stupidness.n | say this adj
visedly, and as the old fashioned pod auger
| Qong condemned in the IT, S. but still
used in England, is to the auger used in
America, so are the tools and machinery
used in ship-yards on the Clyde compared
I to those used in the L. s. From this and
other facts am convinced and if required
can prove that as good and cheap vessels
can be built in the United States as are now
built in Great Britain. Therefore, refer
ring to my letter of the oath of September
1864. and considering the changes that
have occurred in shipbuilding since then,
| respectfully suggest that Congress should
allow drawback in all materials used in
the construction and equipment of all YES
sells built of wood or iron. and that stores
for their use at sea may be purchased in
bond, and further that bounty of ten
dollars per ton be paid for the next five
years on all vessels constructed of iron in
the United States and that class A. l. at
/ Lloyd's for twenty years, both for sea and
/ lake service. If this is done before the
five years elapse, we will have large work
shops and skilled workmen to build an
iron-clad should we ever want one, besides
numerous other advantages from having
our own ship-yards in the United States.
| But whatever laws and regulations Con-
gress sees fit to pass, | hope and trust they
will never listen to those degenerate
Americans who wish to transfer the ship
yards of the United States to the shore of
Great Britain, and thus partronize the
builders of the Alabama" in preference
to our own.
I have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant,
E. G. EASTMAN,
Late Acting U. S. Consul.
Hon. Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State.
Washington, ID. c.