New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-08
pEvIvING AMERICAN COMMERCE.

TTTIR FROM VICE. ADMIRAL IORIEk To GOV
GEARY.
w,sr,xcrox. lime 7.-Vice-Admiral Porter
90, addcssed letter TO Gov. Gcary of Pennsylvania
,hc subject of the revival of American Commerce, in re-
NV IN recent letter Of the Governor. The Admiral
concludes as follows:
Ofa the plans that have been presented inc one that
most CClnmends itself 20 my Judgment rs taI o pudlng
mp great private workshop on the nAS Tr tIv Cea
ware. for the purpose OF building anu e9wbps 1 Tn
man proposes the OF bonds 10 the amount OF 100000
G Cur security to be taken on the property of the
country aud the bonds to he issued i! INC on
- os,rv as the work progresses as set r0rth in the
rircS charter of the international steamship Company
The plan 1T 10 thousands 1t very evident that
ir,e ishmcnt. with all the appaIOee vi
i ocneS making all the material required Tor ship
iS % and running its own vessels ON wel,arranged
aystem can compete more snc, @ 49, hIr
ban small companies that build thtr SHIPS y! vi. ~
and purchase their fittings OF every GeSerpuon at uii,
fcrcnt manufactures The former Wu az 1oS "a ~ ~
the profits charged by contractors my "a o INA e
first cost manufacture their outfits anu tae3 GVua De
Of employees, all under good dlscphhe, ~o' Win te
snet ~ steady empo mcnt. would md IL TO their In
t't 1% u' ~ scb large establishment rs the one
,roDoscd 10 lie Government, both in time of war aud
r%le cst9biishment in the United states that will com
rare with the iTon-shp yards on the Clyde we can
omy OF the English As we do not possess the great labor
,nmcns. plates that The English constructing to
resist heaviest shot; and strange 10 say, we could
not with our present means build such ship the
British vc,seOf-war Monarch in five years il at all
the nsseson OF such large private workshops and
the means Of supplying any Kind of plates or large
masses Of iron purposes, that make Great Britain
80 strong naval power, and no Government better
shops and keeping their skilled labor constantly
poycd The result is that all the nations OF Europe are
invited To build Their SHIPS ana construct their hach
cry En- sh shops because there only can be found all
tne appliances for building every class of vessel:
five could only start OF these large establishments
we should soon become powerful competitor OF Great
Britain not only in building our own ships, but in build
ing hpS' Of foreign countries Imagine what source OF
employment that would be the mechanics who are now
leaving this country or employment elsewhere For
egn Powers frequently send to TINS country 70 ask Dlos
the construction Of shipsofwar but finding that we
have all the do the work, they TO Europe.
We have now cohticts RON I4reEn aOI
0O stands OF arms for having all the mechan-
zeal appliances for doing this kind of work in greater
degree t.lan England make better and cheaper
guns of approved patterns. The benefits would
n large establishment the Delaware River, which
is he best place in this country to construct iron ships,
the facilities for transportation being close at hand
lscad OF attempting 10 build great workshops IN our
III always rely on the private establishments OF the
!, ,LiTerv which could be done much cheaper in the
er than the former and az the same time would be
ming the great labor interests which should never be
we'd to rust for want OF employment. That grand
zee of national wealth should be developed by every
a .as that he devised and thus large and most
4 .rtant portion OF population would be advanced
Intelligence, morals, happiness and comfort con
it duty that all Governments owe 10 tat portion
G. citizens who are dependent on manual IaDor 70
4, ,ide them the means of employment by wise ana
I2l legislation IL costs the county h3thng, put Oh
o. contrary brings large revenue to the treasury
d fake into consideration the necessity of promoting
81, welfare of the great mechanical interest IL would be
III best thing for the country tnat mas happened Ir
- ~ time past and nothing would go so far toward set
f- This VXed question Of commercial interest ana de-
~ piu tie resources of native land Let IL he re-
,nf bcIrd that nearly 100000 of intelligent men are a
.s c in search employment, owing 10 the TACT that
Dur shiIhuiidng interests have been neglected ny te
1rOper authority and foreign power allowed 10 shpl
and fake from our carpenters engine builders, Sc ING
means Of subsistence. Immediate legislation Wouu
remedy Am this and il is most gratifying to see that so
many intelligent minus alc ui4'N'AHo 'NN- "
II is to he hoped that something practical may be
illuminated from the many projects now on 1OOt; put
" m fouud that the most feasible plan Ii the one nave
Icrcn anuToyed II costs the Government nothing ana
fyc the masses employment, While all the Oher pToPo
stiou that have been made seem TO bring aDOu con
t of interests which will tend 10 postpone Indefinitely
any action in the right direction. l. .
There is thing that not be known 10
hers of Congress and il is matter that Keeps theln a
ing between opinions. Whenever an American PloPo.
anything for the resusctatOn OF our commerce on c
I;g sea foreign agents Immediately bes1ege congress
with plans that appear more ieaslDle put ir, io
sntended 10 defeat American enterprise These agents
Who generally profess to be aetuated by patIotc
nave no intention Of carrying out their pdns anu
having defeated the efforts of our own people 10 utl
fhe labor of the country, rest satsned unt soo o0
nroicct ia started for them 10 OVERTHROW -,
In the development Of the private ship-yarus anu
nachineslOps of the country and IN utlhzlng inc
cLanca labor, the strength " our navy, III WCn
am most deeply interested. can see that our cOuiy
il advancing rapidly in every direction Dut Ii.
one and that Increasing our resources Wlthcu
taking any steps for their protection against the Sup
itv of those who would like to commerce driven
f the face OF the earth. With all the means at haO
to mako us great naval power, we remain very lnsls
nifcaut from the Simple laot tnat VIC uo o
in the right direction.