The New York herald., 1873-11-03
S HIP 3 UILDlN G.
A General Revival and Cheering Prospects for
tho Future in Boston, at Chester and Will
mington-Merchant Vessels, Revenue
Cutters, Coasters, sloops Of War
and Ferryboats ON the Stocks.


where American snipbuildlng was formerly active
there is Just now spasm OF revival. Following
the middle and winding up OF the war there was a
luil in the business, and until within few months
It seemed as II the old yards and shiphouses would
never again be the scenes of thrift and industry
that they few short years ago. In fact. very
many OF the old builders had begun to dispair,
and were looking around for other means
to gain living, and the mechanics had
generally applied themselves to other pur-
suits. In many OF the yards grass was
growing luxuriantly and undisturbcd, the build
ings were tumbling and rotten, and the prospects
OF revival during the present generation were
anything but promising. In the ship timber coun-
try, t0O there followed the same duness and
apathy in accordance with the usual laws Of where
there are no demands there is no of getting
out supplies Everything, in fact, pertaining to
shipbuilding seemed destined for q death
from which there was no resurrection,
ana the builders and artisans accepted the appar-
ent situation with as much grace as was possible
under the gloomy circumstances. The causes
OF this decline In such an important
branch of industry were numerous and
varied. The war was not the least responsible, for
besides requiring vast resources OF wealth to carry
1t on 1t also drained heavily upon the mechanics
and other representatives OF the "bone and sinew"
y,
Generalization in all branches OF trade and indus
try. There were too many Alabamas afoat TO
encourage commerce, and besides there being no
demand for additional vessels there was scarcely
business enough for those already in existence.
Again, everything that entered into shipbuiding
was scarce and high, and II any new ves-
Seis we're really needed it was cheaper to
have them built in the British Provinces than in
the United States. This was as true for several
years after the war as 1t was during the progress
OF the rebellion Within the last twelve months,
however, there has been perceptible and
GRATIFYING REVIVAL
OF The shpbuillng interests In and around Boston.
The resumption OF the business, however, although
bona tide and actual, does not indicate that there
u q very positive revival Of commercial marine in
terests in general. The old shipowners,
traders and capitaists-those who dozen or
fifteen years ago kept the New England yards in
dustriously employed-are not in any sense respon
sible for the present impetus which has been given
to the shtpbLildlng interests. The mechanics and
laborers are the men who have caused the resump-
hon OF work in nearly all the East Boston yards,
and thus far their enterprises have justified their
cooperative labors. Mr.. Abial Cove, o practical
builder himself, and OF the Oldest in this vcin-
tty. was very much amused when asked him
about the revival of the shlpbuildng trade In New
England.
"Reviyali' he exclaimed. "Why, there is no
real revival. To be sure, the business has picked
up little during the past year. but you don't find
any OF the old capitalists putting out dollar A
few OF us East Boston mechanics have got together
ana are building few vessels. We had to do it or
starve. and 80 far we have got along very WE'LL"
"You are doing considerable business in your
yardS" l said inquiringly.
''Oh, yes; have made things as lively as / could
Within the last ten months have built, on an
average, one vessel a month, some of them 500 and
some 100 tons, a sort of mosquito neet. keep
three agoing all the while and mean to have
launch every four or five weeks.n
"Do you build them by contract or for general
market2r asked.
ut is this way:-aiew OF us get together and put
In our money, and keep working as long as the
money lasts. carpenter takes sixteenth in
terest, and then spar maker, blacksmith,
timber man, and so on. We all take few shares
according to our means, and get our pay out OF the
earnings We commenced this sort of business
three years ago, and up to now we have launched
twenty vessels and Will probably launch four more
"What do you do with them after they are fn-
ished-sell them to parties engaged In the shipping
'sell theml No. We haven't sold single one
out Of the whole twenty. We put them chiefly
Two OF the largest we have put into the foreign
GRADE. between New York and Buenos Ayres
These, as well as the coasters, pay from seven
teen to twenty per cent, and nearly all the profits
derived are turned right into the business and we
are constantly increasing and enargng our facili-
ties. All that have made for the last two years
have put into the business and sl7, 900 BESIDES"
"Is the business at the other yards carried on in
''Yes, generally" Mr.. Cove replied, land it will
PROBABLY continue SO tor year or more, and then
II Is likely some % Q, the wealthy shipowners will
COMMENCE build.ng large ocean vessels for foreign
trade. Thep, and not until then, shall | consider
snat tnerS any real revival In the shpbuilding
AtSa.npson's yard, in the immediate vicinity OF
MI. GGves, work has recently been resumed for
sne n Hrst time IN ten years. There is only one
ION the stocks-a small coaster of 500 tons-and
sne s being built on the same cooperative plan
Chat previously described.
Campbell Brooks on Border street. are about
tne only builders in East Boston who continued
business during and since the war. They have
now got SIX large merchant vessels pretty well
merchants. Besides these, they have one large
snip or 900 tons almost ready for the lower deck,
ann sey are also building n hs HUI Of
small barkentine, to be owned by Captain Alfred
Eldridge and the builders, will be launcned from
$50 tons Is under way ior Captain Caleb Nckerson of
New York. three-masted schooner OF 700 tons,
and the frames are being prepared for three other
similar vessels. Messrs Campbell 4 Brooks are
probably the most extensive builders in the coun-
tty. BESIDES doing q large amount OF repairing,
they have built no less than sixty sail OF vessel
since 1865. They are very hopeful OF the business
In the future, and, unlike Mr. Cove, believe that
the seeming revival is actual. The money panic
has had but slight effect upon them, and this is
true OF nearly all the builders In and around
Boston.
AT SMITH a TowNsEND's YARD
there are also evidences OF business and industry
which have not been witnessed before for many
years. Mr.. Townsend informed me that until
about year ago he had almost decided to give up
She business altogether. The decline he attributes
to such causes the war, hign price OF labor and
material, and an effort on the part OF England 10
cripple as lar as possible everything In
the line OF American shipbuilding. Among
Is the Magellan, which was launched with
all the "pomp and splendor OF circumstance" Sat
urday afternoon. She is OF 1,025 tons burden,
cost 500, 900 and was built Tor Hemingway Co., OF
Boston, to be run between this port and Valpa-
rais0. The keel is also laid for vessel OF l,60o
tons, and in few days work will be commenced
on cue of 1,60o tons. The hull Of a new revenue
cutter Is also being built at this yard. Mr Towns
md says sSat the demand Tor vessels now Is larger
than can he >SpIlied- and taken alfngetler. the