The New York herald., 1876-11-10
The Decay Of Shipbuilding in
New York.
WHY 1T HAS FALLEN OFF
Interesting Statistics and
Comparisons.

times resoondcd to the clink OF thousand hammers
but now are inactive and deserted The stocks which
some years ago tenantcd with stately ships
In course Of construction, 10 meet the de-
mands OF New York's and the country's grow
ing commerce. lie empty The men OF enterprise
who looked after the snpbuiding interests have shut
up their yards and gone other parts OF the country
where they pursue their business better advan-
tage. Only few shipwrght cstabiishme rema n,
and these find very little TO occupy them IN repairing
and lifting vessels. II you ask old shpwrights, who
remember when the city was In tho enjoyment of a
prosperous shipbuilding trade,
DECAY,
they loss what reply to make All will agree
that the business improving yearly mp 10 the
breaking out Of the but that since peace has been
restored the business diminished rapiiy as il PFC
viously increased until il disappeared altogether In
times. when labor and everything else high
ships about $40 per to build and thousands
were then employed In their construction; but
now, when vessels be furnished at
cost Of about $50 per ton, there is give
contracts for them. The New England States, princ-
paly Name and Massachusetts, build nearly all tho
vessels in the country the former State turning
sevon-eghths Of the whole number, and thther tho
trade OF New York mas gone Tho wages paid In these
much smaller than the trades union OF ship
carpenters will allow tradesmen to work for hero,
consequently the cost OF building ship In tho New
England dock yards much less than II could bo built
fo- In New York.
The average daily pay OF ship carpenters in Massa-
chusetts and Maine is about 81 u.s. who So so per day
is demanded for the GLASS Of work hore To the
action OF the trades unions assigned the remarkable
decay oithc ship building trade OF New York than
any other cause. Although tho temper OF New York
merchants who take interest in shipping, is little
soured at the decay OF this important business In the
CITY, they do not envy their successful competitors of
the sister States the advantage they have gained SO
long the industry does not leave the country. Old
and experienced shipping merchants complain bitterly
OF the apathy Of the national government In regard
shipping interests, and in this connection they draw
comparison between England and this country.
In the construction OF vessels for foreign trade there
several articles used upon which duty imposed
The English shipbuilders procure every article
they need At Tho cost OF production, whilo American
builders remitted Tho duty ON only lew
articles, then restrictions Thero 10 vast
amount OF yellow copper sheeng used In htting
sells sea- and the expense OF this commodity large
ly contributes to increase tho cost Of vessel The
duty copper shccling Is fortyve per cent ad vaor
en-, and is only deducted when tho metal Is used
vessels employed in the foreign tradc. II eigh-
teen cents per pound whom taken out OF bond. but
coasting vessels not allowed that privilege
Wire ropo is another article much used in ship.
building and all vessels required 10 pay tho full
duty o. It. which varies from two thrco and half
conls per pound, and fifteen per cent ad valorem'
Manila is also extensively used. and supplied OF
bond but under similar restrictions to the yellow cop
per sheeting
with foreign countries the duty which Is cent gold
per pound, is rcmiitcd, hut II tho vessel goes
coasiIng voyage cf than sixty days duration the
government can compel the return OF the tariff al
lowed. No reduction made on manila after the first
rigging, and vessels require new ropes every
years the advantage OF the reduction Is not very con-
The causes which cripple the trade Of building new
ships also operates ipJurlonsiy to shpwrights. who
would otherwise lnd overhaung, re6ttng repair
ing very profitable employment, Il Is conceded that
ships can be repaired quicker and better in tho New
York docks than in those OF any other country; but
IN almost every where repairs required many
articles OF dutiablc used which be pro-
cured much cheaper IN England This induccment At
tracts many vessels TO British ports which would pre-
Ter 10 have their repairs done In New York
II the was equal. In several Instanccs. American
vessels strip OF The ola copper shcetiug have their
keels caulked here and then sail for England TO DO
sheeted
The port charges levied on all vessels coming here,
shipping merchants assert, operaie dctrimentaly 70
the interests Of the city. Every vessel not 200
tons measurement Is obliged to pay per
day while they in port and all vessels over that
tonnage charged two and hall cents ton day.
The wharfage charges IN other American scaports are
much moro favorable, and caplaius OF vessels when
they can conveniently put up IL other hsrpors
GIVE MN YORK A WIDE BERTH.
The harbor OF Boston Is said TO be much favored by
captains account OF its port charges The system
prevailing there s TO levy fractional pcrcen tHge upon
.stactory TO ship owners. Notwithstanding The many
disad vantages under which American ships labor,
shippers affirm that there has a great improve
mcnt the carrying trade within the last years
principally on The Pacific This increase believed to
be due in ,J par, 70 the larger exnorsation
fregh,s arc not valuable the owners Amerc IN
vessels those OF other nations The disadvantage IN
this respect atributed TO the higher wages
pad American seamen and the greater cost OF ship
stores. rhe principal item which diininishes
the profits, and against which American ship
of ship supplies The Ebglish ships can
nrocure every iaxsbe article needed for voyage out
OF bond England supplies not only her vessels
with all taxable stores at first cost, but also those OF
every other nation when they anchor in her harbors.
crowded with shipping from every quarter Of tho
g.o5c In American ports II different vessels lcnv-
ing for iorcgn countries being Obliged pay full
price for ship supplies.
In many cases American vessels, when going to sea,
only 10y IN sufficient stores OF goods upon which there
IL tax 10 last until Al English port is reached In ad
dillon expensive storcs, the wages American
men much higher tDan in other countries. The
Italian and many other foreign crews can be hired nj
much lower rate, besides they maintain them
selves and unload carGoes. The vessels OF
Norway. sweden Italy and other countries soon
tho news reaches them tnat American freight awaits
transportation 10 Europe, coming mostly In ballast.
enabled 70 enter into an unequal competition with
American carriers, and cut the prices down
10 ruinous figure for American shpowners.
shipping trade that would DO only Just
10 pose discriminating tax vessels coming from
places with which this country has reciprocal in
icrest, 10 adopt some other plan which would place
American on an equal footing with foreign vessels.
The favorable circumstances Of Europeans enables
them 10 brd up prontabIo carrying business TO the
deirimeni oi native ship owners.
The following hgures will show tho number OF United
vessels trading with foreign countres. also the
number OF foreign vessels trading TO and IRON Ameri-
can ports, exclusive Of vessels sailing between tho
For one week IN October the number OF vessels OF
every class belonging 10 different nations lying In The
port o New York and vicinity was SILL OF this num-
Der ~ were steamers, 81 OF them being American.
Out OF A. full rggcd sailing ships rs belonged 10 this
country. The number oi barKs 100, only 43 OF
which were American bottoms. The number Of br'gs
was II, 80 Of them carrying The American flag. In
feet Of l4S schooners America had mo-
nopoly claiming 100 Of the whole number
The total number OF American steamers
engaged in foreign tradc "a, against 224 Of other
nations plying 10 aud from American ports Of these