The Republican journal., 1871-08-17


and practically knew how to do the worl,
All this needed the skill it is the policy OF
the present system OF legislation TO eradi
cate.
Cores. Can you explain to me lust
how the laws have operated to effect this
Mr. llichborn. 70 so increase the cost
OF all ship-building material as to render
| 1t impossible ior us TO compete with for
cign ships | understand Mcssrs. Car
ter, White and Blanchard as saying that
the ccst is nearly double, and ii is true.
CORES. they also say they are COM
pelied TO man, supply, fit and repair their
ships III foreign countries
MI liichhorn We are all compelled to
do the samo thing now have Il ship in
New York from which the copper is to be
stripped, and She sent TO Europe TO be re-
coppered because We can do ii from one
half to two-thirds cheaper there. 4 ship
last year brought copper ore from Chill to
Boston, and needed coppering, The eN
pcnse of doing so was 50 high in this
country thai she put her metal in bond
took if again, ON sailing, out Of bond.
carried il TO England and had ii prepared
for her own use.
CORES, And YOU think our govern
mont doesn't make much from such pro-
cceain@s.
Mr.. IIichborn. No. Oar mechanics
lose their labor, the merchants lose their
profits ana oar country loses the gold
which ii most needs Every dollar that
we pay TO England is u balance against
us.
CORES Is the increased cost of con
strurtinn the only cause of this deprrs-
sion ?
Mr. Ilirhborn That, joined to a slug
giNl condition OF commerce. For four
years we We're destroying instead of pro-
ducinm, which materially Iessened our
business. But this gap we have very
nearly filled, and there is u very fair de
mand for ships; but this high tariff pre-
vents Us from competing with foreign
built vessels Reduce this tariff SO rs to
increase exports and imports, untrtter
our ships, and all business would at once
resume its Wontcd channels.
CORES. Then You are not among that
number who allege that there is now u
surplus Of vessels more than there is
business tor?
Mr. Iiichborn No Unite our htnd.;
and we will soon show that there is plen-
ty of business for all the vessels we can
build.
Cores. What reply have you to make
to the charge that wooden ships have had
their lay and are to be superseded bv
iron ones?
Mr.. lliehborn. That | have no idea
that wooden ships have gone by; that
the natural material for the construction
,I ,rasyn1 -, ,4,h.l hat .lI
wooden ship has. on an average, as LONG
IL lie rs an iron one; that for all kinds
of cargo it is more safe. and that they
are built 1T u much less cost. The furore
for iron ships was y part Of England'5
plan to break down American commerce.
| lad England been Il country of wood in
stead of iron, we should never have heard
the scream of iron ships.
CORES. And does not Mr.. lNnch's re
port show that. notwithstanding all this
cry, there is in England an actual in
crease ol wooden vessels ?
Mr.. ilichborn. Ii does.
CORES Allowing that iron ships are
to take the place of wooden ones, why
can't we build them in America?
Mr.. llnhhnrn. We can, and iuSt as
well and a5 chraply Ii has been Well
authenticated that sheet Of equal
weight and thickness, of Pennsylvania
iron is from one fifth to onc-siXlh strong
er than any iron entering into the com
position of British ship.
Cores. Are our machinery and me
clianics rs well adapted to the work F?
have heard it stated that we would never
be able to build anything equal To clyde
steamers.
Mr.. Hichborn. Which is false. In
| Massachusetts, Connecticut and New
| York, As | understand from close inquiry
| is to be loml the best machinery in the
World. As Ia the mechanics. the only
| practical test | have was obtained from a
skiltnl builder IN New York DuIing the
war he received an order iOr three first
class monitors. Fearing the skill and
adaptation ot his own worn.en, he ,lcs-
| patched TO England, and had sent him
| from the yards OF the clyde twelve Of
thcir best Wolltmen. SAID he, $50 much
more eklltul Wrr" my own Workmen. that
| IN less tilau three months, working by
| the piece ;ln'l at equal rates, they had
! completely driven the Engllshmen from
the yard.
CORES What, then, is the great
trouble
Mr.. llichhUrn The Wnnl Of A. irieud-
ly Legislation AS the shipwrieht7 Of Ing
land enjoy.
Cores. What do You demand ?
Mr. llichborn. More practical men in
Congress; a reduction of the tariil with u
view to revenue only; more economy in
the administration Of affairs, and possibly
Il slower payment of the national debt.
With regard to thi,, latter question there
is Il matter of doubt, myself have al
ways been in favor OF speedily settling
the debt. But you are free to say thai
am decidedly in favor OF u low tlrill.
tbNtIII Sion.
Here th, lripnrss of the hour made Il
cessation ni conversation necessary, and
after thanking Mr.. Iichborn for his kind
ness and courtesy, we Withdrew.
lEECIr