The New York herald., 1870-01-14

she u bus aphantoraor ,ner former ssiG and rates
NOT the rule, and hope she WIN continue to remain
for many years 10 come the monument Of credit and
anuity o. yer smmsns builder M Iron ships can De
require 10 be dOcked but once year to clean ana
pant Their bottoms r the improved metalic paint is
USED ana ahowed 10 dry well before float
tng For coast, lake and river trade wooden
vessels WIN for some time yet take the lead; bur 1
cpai parts even OF these wil mutt OF ir0n Your
correspondent speaks OF the finish OF cabins aud
joiner work on American buiT ships. This s nom
sense. There is no question raised against the skin
and ability OF our mechanics, for Ii Is well known
% tliat we can boast OF having the best In the world
Doti Ia education aud skf; anu as to .smartness,
know by expcrience-so far a. those connected
with Win shipbuldlng are conccrned-that one man
does more work In one day, generally than any
two of the same trade EITHER in England, France
Germany or SPAN.
Your correspondent shows his sershness by hs
opposition 90 gvfng registers to foreign but shIps
and says--Tile American shipDuiider does MOI wlsn
MS competition TO be confined to building coasters,
and the government VIII give him bur one ha ne
help and encouragement thai Great Britain mas given
her builders ne VIII ask but lew years TO snow
WIZ compare iavoraoy IN every respect with those
constructed Abroad" Question--What WIN become
during these few years our builders are
practising and experimenting iron ship
buualngY Il commerce has To wait Its increase
VIII these progHoscicat0n5 can be verified by fact
should advise the men who 20 down TO the sea in
SHIPS 10 seek other employment--iarming MINING
peddmg, anything-to gam an honest living; for
can assure tnem their occupation IL gone and would
peg of them MOTTO wait and lmitate 'poor Micaw-
ber,n Tor nothing would ever turn up To benct them
in their unfortunate profession No the iacr is the
shipbulders on the seaboard or the country want
Congress 10 pass laws mere 70 benefit themselves
tnan the commerce Of the nation, and pretend that
the mechanics are leaving The country and spelling
ior Tor want OF work, which IS not true;
lof the good mechanic can always lind
employment IN the United States; ana IL
not on seagong SHIPS he can find " on stean-
boats canal boats barge5, derricks, bridges houses
&c. In fact he has business winch he can always
cain living ut IN this country No fear hlm eav-
ing A. Ike the saior, who mas no advantageoi this
KIND HIS mechanism can only be displayed ana
used on sipboari; FOR he is 'Jack Of All tr,des but
master OF none" and they number twenty TO one
meciianlc out Of employment.
question the authority OF Congress to donate
pnpllc money 10 benefit individuals or COMPANIES
he they snpbuiIders, shpowners or any other class
Oi men, without getting value therefor. The grant,
ing OF subsidies am In favor OF FOR the country gets
back value for them by way OF postage. and we nave
commercial nasons Of the world. The idea OF the
pnblie treasury returning 10 owners OF ships
DullG IN luis country so mucn per ton on
tier cost, or giving u bonus pro rata az proposed,
Is one that requires much consideration before Con-
gress confirms 1t, ms It Will lead to many compca-
tons In the interests OF otilcr manufacturers and
the drawback system Us recommended Is u bad
one as II opens VIDE channel for fraud embezzie-
lneiit ana fascaiity. Now by building our ships OF
the size mentioned abroad viii IN no way interfere
with Inc profits, success or prospects OF the Aerl-
can shpbuilder, hut rather benefit him as well AZ
the country; Tor It will have tendency to cheaper
labor ana material with US and enable him to CON-
pete iayoraby WIN foreign builders; IL VIII not inter-
iere with Ills building wooden SHIPS or coastlng
vessels, but 1t Will take years before he can
buiid iron ones, owing to the nigh price OF mate
rial and want or proper Iachitlos. BY buying
OF building our large ships and steamers IN
England employment WITH be given to our sailors
ana mechanics also 10 keep them in repair for they
VIII be strictly as American as If built on own
shores ana Will lind business for many men directly
and Indirectly, besides contributing largely TO the
public treasury. England thought 1t no disgrace to
puy and buiid ships in thsJ country when she could
do 30 cheaper than at home. The first cost OF ship
is no.iing compared to the advantages and beneaLs
England has long since found that 1-t, and she
gives protection 10 all property owned by Ie;' sub
Jects and thereby ner revenues largely increased,
No shlpbuiider with US need atter himself that our
commerce VIII be recuperated 10y his nandworK at
the present rate OF labor ana material. NO not
even with the aid OF tile government; for Amer-
can merchants Will pay my or even
thirty per cent more for ship built
In this country than he build her for In another
lie can lind better use 1or his money! but give him
fair deal, and even less than equal advantages, he
VIII use BON his money and energy u stimulate and
recover the once proud position OF our Tag In all
parts OF the world. Let our government give Ame-
where they please and protect their property with
the dag ana the whole nation viii be benefited
thereby. But the policy OF our government appears
TO favor few already wealthy manufacturers who
do not exceed two hundred thousand in number to
the injury and detrnent OF the remaining thirty nine
or iorty millions or the narOri.
with Tree registry, iron ships and sailors rights
our commerce Will soon increase and Btreng then
and again dot the ocean and show the Stars and
stripes throughout the world as OF yore.
AN AMERICAN SHIPMASTER.