The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-07-18

Mr.. Kimball makes the encouragement OF |
shipbuilding one of the points in his letter &C
cepring the Democratic nomination for Gov
ernor. We are glad that he did SO. Both
parties ought to unite in a vigorous effort to
accomplish what all concede to be for the
common good. There are those who contend
that the suspension of American shipbuild
Ing Is not SO ominous an occurrence as il has
been represented. They point to the decline
of the same industry in the British Provinces
and even in Great Britain itself, where none
of the extraordinary causes which are said to
account for it here are in operation. They
show that the employment of steamers and
iron vessels for the transportation of mer-
chsndise has lessened the demand for wooden
tonnage. These suggestions no doubt have
some truth, but they certainly afford no ex-
PLANTATION of the fact that even the tonnage
required for carrying our exports and bring
ing our imports is not furnished by us but by
foreigners. 1t is moi so much the decline OF
the shipping interest as its transfer that is ap-
palling. wt&
But new demand for shipping is
likely to spring up in case all the
provisions of the treaty of Washington
are carried into effect. The immense
grain crops of the West which in great
part seek the Atlantic seaports by rail or by
the Erie canal at immense expense to the
producer, naturally seek an outlet by water.
II the route by the Lakes and the St. Law
renee were unobstructed, much the larger
part of the corn and grain would find its way
to market by the longest water route Under
the treaty Of Washington all artificial obstruc-
tons to commerce will be removed, and the
improvement of the old canals and the build
ing Of new ones, like that projected from the
st. Lawrence to Lake Champlain, will remove
the natural ones. Here, then, will be new
demand for shipping. As matters stand al
present the new tonnage required will Ger
tainly be furnished by the Provinces, for they
can build it cheaper than we because they
have cheap lumber and cheap iron. The
prize is worth contending for, and our neigh
bora will certainly gain it if we do not enter
the list with more vigor.
But there is still more interesting consid.
alton for Maine. Under the treaty the right
W eao A5ucficS 10 StCuTeu 10 us IN Sucl q WaV
- to inspire capitalists with confidence in the
permanence and safety of that business.
In the natural course of events there
would be great revival of this indus
try al along our coasts just as soon as there is
the proper legislation to carry out the provis.
ions OF the treaty. But as 1t Is, the Proyin
ciais and not our people are likely to reap all
the advantage from the new arrangements.
With free access to our markets and with
their better facilities for building and fitting
out vessels they will have an immense ad-
vantage.
There areimany who object to the schemes
Tor reviving shipbuilding that have been pro-
proposed because they are not based on
general revision Of the tariff for the benefit
OF al industries inetead of an exemption
OF th!s single industry from its operation. But
If 1t becomes certain that it is useless to hone
for this general revision-and neither party
can justly accuse the other of being solely re-
sponsible for refusing it-then it is eminently
proper that shipbuilding should be regarded
Is an exceptional case. and its claims to special
relief should be recognized. The influence
OF the tariff on other branches of industry NAV
be malign, but here it has been absolutely
destructive; and if drawbacks and bounties
are the only practicable means of preyentpg
the humiliation of American commerce thew
should be cheerfullv granted