The Republican journal., 1870-09-08
HOW no DO lr.

The glazing errors which Congress has
committed in the matter of our shipping can
not be too often Or too forcibly presented to
the people Of Maine. 1t is without example
in the history of any government, that q great
and vital interest should be thus deliberately
and hnreIentingly slaughtered that too,
in the face of such an array of facts pleading
for its life.
We have before us the report of q Select
Committee of Congress, made last February,
after investigating all available sources of
information on the subject. This committee
consisted of Messrs. Lynch, of Maine, as
chairman, with Messrs. Burlington, Washburn
lIotchkiss, Morrell, Calkn and Wells The
report covers 800 pages, and embodies the
testimony of the most distinguished shipping
merchants and builders in the country, bear
inc upon the causes Of the decline and con
tinucd depression Of the business.
After showing that the sailing tonnage of
the United States has declined from 2 SAG, 237
more than one half, while that of England
had proportionably increased, the report pro-
cceds to give the opinions of practical men,
and facts derived from their experience, as
given in evidence before the committee.
Hon. N. &. Hichborn said
Up TO 1860 the Maine ship-bnlI.lers constructed
sailing ships for England CHEAPER than the Eumjis il
could build them, but under the disabilities which
The shipbullding interest was now laboriuo utaar
that trade had langushed. The representatives,, of
that trade asked this committee to recommend to
Congress the passage of such laws AS would facil
tate their efforts in building up commerce and such
as are granted to the same interests in other com
mercal nations. A ship now costs sixty or seventy
dollars ton built in This country, whereas i'm the
Provinces only costs torty-tive or fifty dollars
ton, and the two ships when atloat were brought
into competitor with each other
The Ship-building interest of N aine called ,lpou
Congress simply TO untetter il in the matter of ship
building and it would then meet all the demands
upon il.
Mr.. llichborn rightly and forcihly states
the requirement to be that commerce shall be
''unfettered." That was its condition in its
prosperous days, under Democratic rule, ant,
that is all that it needs now
Mr.. James L. Simpson, the well known
ship-builler and repairer OF East Boston,
testified that
In 1873 =, '5-3'; We could get yellow metal
for about eighteen to twenty cents a pound Now
it from tWcntv-seven TO thirty cents pound. 1t is
so with all the materials thai emit r into the con
,trlrtion of ships. We could then have bolts
spikes Nc, at from three and 4 quarter to tire,
and a half cents II pounl. Now we cannot buy the
raw material Short of i've or six cents il pound
Ships will not be coppercd on this side when they
can be e"ppered much cheaper on the other side
| In 1S.9-'GO and 1851 the docks of New York were
employed all the time, and ships We're entered
three, four, five, and SIX weeks ahead for their turns
to get on the dock. Now, the reverse is the case
the docks lie five and six weeks without a ship
What is the cause of it: The natural depression in
the shipping business which is caused by the tariff
The commerce of the country is conveyed in foreign
bottoms. There are to-day some eighty or ninety
steamers running to New York. all foreign vessels
| DO they ever dock in New York No. unless it is
for mere temporary repairs.
thluk that, with The tariff off, we can build
ships As rheaply rs they are built on the Clyde bu
| as the tariff is, we cannot do so. We used to gel
yellow pine down SoI tn for SO to S21 a thousand
and white oak for three and half to four cent,
a foot or $50 to $40 thousand. We have now tC
| pay from $50 to 50 and $50 for white oak, ant
from S31 to $50 for yellow pine.
| The troubles Of the American ship-ownel
do not end when he has built and paid tol
his vessel. He cannot sail her with any
where near the same economy that the Eng
lish owner does. Upon this point Mcssrs
| II. p. Buck 4 Co, the wen known New Y orl
merchants, give their testimony, and state
the relative cost Of sailing II British and al
American ship of the same tonnage We
copy the figures
An average crew for an eastern American shin
| Of 1000 tons register would cost, at the presen
| rates OF wages about as follows, viz