Smyrna times., 1873-02-19
For the " Smyrna Times"
The Importance OF Ship Building to
Smyrna.


"The C0ast,oise Commerce Of the United States
lis Development and Influence Upon YES
sci Building"
The year ls4S was the commencement of a
grand era in the ocean commerce of the q. s.
simultaneously with the impetus given to it by
the immense immi grafton to California, came
the discovery of the Australian gold fields, and
the establishment of the China Trade. Then
it was, under this stimulus, that the marine
capital of the country sought for investment
in deep, sea going vessels Then it was that
the magnificent clipper ships of the United
States challenged the admiration of the world;
the faultess beauty of their models, their we'll
know sea worthlnesS, and unsurpassed speed
sosn rendered the United States, from l84S to
1860, the greatest commercial power on the
globe, wrestling in that period the boasted su-
premacy of the seas from England. Then,
like a thunder bolt came the rebellion, and
gradually passed away those stately ships which
had made our flag familiar in the uttermost
parts Of the globe, and in their places sprang
ap the Clyde-built iron steamships of Great
Britain, to monopolize and still hold her covet-
ed supremacy. But capital, ever restless as it
is, sought for other fields in which to multiply
and soon found that the impetus given to the
coast trade by the war afforded favorable op-
portunity. Peace came, and with it, the de-
VSlOpmtuI vi Ln6 vast coal anu iron resources
of Pennsylvania besides, the war had created
trade among the people that did not cease
with its close; or, more properly speaking, the
ocean commerce of the country was transferred
to foreign bottoms, and capital sought for in
VeStment In the coast trade, under less restric
tlOni. This almost new trade may be said to
have originated in 1866; at the time, and since,
giving employment to our ship builders who
were destitute of an ocean commerce to build
for. But the yards that built the famous
cipper-ships of As were not the ones sought
for to create this navy; the genius of Donald
Mckay, of Boston, or Webb, of New York,
were overlooked and the most vessel for the
least money was the genius resorted to at this
time. And lust herein is where Delaware can,
or is destined, to perform an important part in
meeting with the requirements Of the coast
trade; and to lOcallz9 1t We will take the ton
mage on the stocks and that under negotiation
for construction during the present year. Al
the yard of Messrs Hastings are two vessels,
the aggregate building price of which is $34,
0M, and at the yard of Messrs Worden &
Evans, in addition to the vessel they are build
ing on their own account, they are negotiating
for the construction of three vessels, aggregat
ing building price of SAT 900. Here is
total for one season S work in this immediat,
vicinity of $Sl, 900, cash value brought, anC
materials necessary for their construction; an,
Is it not apparent to any one that an industry
capable of localizing $Sl 900 should b,
properly encouraged and it may be askeC
what encouragement is needed? Is not tht
right of way in the Greek guaranteed for al
who choose to avail them selves of its advanta
ges? Are not the laws of the State sufficien
to protect all in their rights of property?
Granted all this, and more And yet there Ca
be thrown in the way ofany Legitimate enterprise
obstacles which if not intended, can. in thei
fulhlment, result in the greatest harm. Now
can be readily seen that the material of Timbe
necessary for these vessels cannot, at all time,
or in sufficient quantities. be obtained in thi
neghborhood hence the dependence must b
by rail- And it is also we'll known that til
facilities of Messrs. Worden & Evans for pr
pairing ship timber from the logs are not su
passed by any other mill in the State, and
they, instead of as heretofore producing shi
timber for shipment, manufacture it her
thus bringing into immediate circulation I'll
construction cost of those vessels for the ben
fit OF our people, they certainly ought to
entitled to that moral encouragement that IL
people of Smyrna have it in their power
give. j. b. SCOrT.