The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-01-12
shipbuiisiu.ou ON t,,e CIyde.

The following letter was written to Secre-
tary Fish, by E. G. Eastman, late Acting Con-
sui at Glasgow. Mr.. Eastman formerly lived
in Hallowell, Maine:
SIR:-I have the honor to inform you that
on the oath of September, 1864, wrote to the
Department of State, calling their attention
to the great decrease in American tonnage
and suggested remedy in the shape of a
drawback on the material used in the con-
struction and equipment of vessels in the
U. 5. tThat letter was sent to the House
of Representatives and by them referred
to Mr.. McCulloch then Secretary of Treasury
to report thereon. He reported against assis-
tance being extended to ship-builders and
there the matter rested. Now after lapse of
five years the people all see the necessity of do
ing something to restore the American flag to
its former position on the ocean, and L trust
the present Congress will give it the deliberate
consideration the subject requires. Having
been myself shp-master in American ves-
sells, have always taken deep interest in
everything concerning our mercantile marine,
and during my stay as Acting U. 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 in
vesugation of the matter, am satisfied that
iron must very shortly supercede wood in the
construction of all sea-going vessels, and
turthsr, 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 success attending the
opening of the "Suez canal,'' and also the
great improvements daily making in the con-
struction of marine engines, whereby great
economy is effected 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 irou steam
vessels be built in the United States?' L an
swer that question most emphatically in the
affirmative if Congress will only place our
Shi n hui l1prS tho ao ha Tn
lish ship-bulders. L 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 U. S. yet they
require double the number of men to accom-
plish the same amount of work. The whole
system here seems to be "main strength and
stupidness." L say this advsedly, and as the
old fashioned pod auger (long condemned in
the q, 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 to those used in the U. s. From
this and other facts 1 am convinced and if re-
quired can prove that as good and cheap vessels
can be built in the United States as are
now built in Great Britain. Therefore, re-
ferring to my letter of the Oath of Septem-
ber 1864, and considering the changes that
have occurred in sbipbuilding sinee then, re-
spectfully suggest that Congress should allow
a drawback IN all materials used in the con-
struction and equipment of all vessels 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 con-
structed of iron in the United States and that
class A. 1. at Lloyd 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 enc, besides numer-
GUS other advantages from having our own
ship-yards in the United States. But what
ever laws and regulations Congress sees fit
to pass, hope and trust they will never listen
to those degenerate Americans who wish to
transfer the shipyards of the United States to
the shore of Great Britain and thus patron
ize the builders of the alabama" in prefer
ence to our own.
L have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant,
E. G.. EASTMAN
Late Acting U. 5. Consul.
Hon. Hamilton Fish, Secretary Of State
WASHINGTON. D. g.