New-York tribune., 1877-06-02
AMERICAN SHIPS.
THE BEsr NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AGAINST THEM
ABROAD To BENEFIT ENGLISH BuILDEEs-COM-
SAMUEL WRIGHT

THE BEsT ArLoAT-DIsCmMINAIoNsA AGAINST THEM
ABROAD To BENEFIT ENGLISH BUILDEES-COM-
PETITION COURIED.
TO the EdttOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: Your paper recently contained extracts
from one Of the circular letters Of Mcrs Davis Brown
4 Co. Of London. together with comments upon the re-
tources of the United states for spbulns not only ia
materials bu in mechanics aud machinery for maiiipu-
lang them For the benefit Of youf readers permit the
writer 10 add somewhat to that already stated
People are infor ued by this circular that iron ship
ping is fast acquiring asccndency over wooden SHIPS III
the carving trade" 1t also informs us where aud IN
what trades this distinction is made; why, the circular
fails TO euliehen 1t is, however, because England
discriminate with the letter in her rcgisIies which
signifes "foreen built" against al other vessels
whether wood or iron, which not built OF Brlish
materials on British soil, ard by British subjects BE
cause OF this unjust discrimination foreignbuht Nesses
are subjected the most damaging and expensive sur
yeys without which they cannot enter into competition
on equal terms British ports or thor dependencies.
While these unjust restrictions intended TO operate
against American slips-the best a1oat-rcn ships,
built Of British materials. on British soil,
have strewn the ocean bed with wrecks.
Such Is the hearess indifference to the rights OF seamen
on the one hand, 0nd the greed for gold on INC oiDrr
which las been so long Tacuccd ana dCehdtd ny ID
gish shipOvuers hroherS ana legislators tat ID ls nov
question which of the Two iron hccs is the iascs the
one a1oat, tat cngulied ih the ocean GclbS Is u
with this KIND Of vessel INA. IL D., iI9NI 70 EEc a."
eruinatue foreign Characterization l?Vsi This kind OF
vessel s REGARDED by practical minds OF Intelligence as
dear at any price II is this kind oI vessel when mas
brought The marine insurance companies o. england 70
tbe very verge Of bankruptcy, requiring change ~ the
characterization of British built non ships from Al Tor
90 years down to yearly surveys .
The circular further informs us tEit U" inns sta!c o.
things must change ere long on the American owners
viii be obliged 60 scck other more remunciatlNe invest
meuts for ftclr capital" change is suS-rscu ana Tor
whose ben,dtl Not Americans surely. Her protective
laws are q buiWafk against these uEacaWOithy Ntsecls
Protective laws nave enabled the United states 40 per-
feet her system OF building ships Wh her superior ma
tprls ueFy and labor, and thcy aIc now cheaper
In the United a.cs than in England ana BIltsh 5hip
owners are making contracts for American bUlli
Ships at lower rates than the quotations an Tins
circular before us When England shall remove all the
restrictive laws which exclude American hult engines
and cars frca hcr railroads, then aud not until heh can
limited states afoTd To consider WIN view 10 duot
free trade laws iu regard 90 ships. ~ would seem iH l
was intended to add insult To injury Wcn the iOliJWlhS
clause erted ia the cllcuar: " 1hc protective
laws of the United SGos might serve tht interests o
shbudcr>. ii any builder. pure ana simple existed
In an sincerity inquire what mas become OF American
shpbuiGers! Tie United States las more Ihacucai
ehphuder- thau El gland, ana size mas bcitcI nttcio
aud these iu grcacr abundance, and can supply tAe
world with brttc ships than We're ever bdlt or Bisl
materials IuIh representatives ID the congress q"
Washington aIe $50 Instructed the people OF te jnted
States alc nOt ready TO export their -ip'udcls "ud -
port their sp,. Iao most Itrl gent and pFdclcu snip
owner. u United States regard he byal as tC cheap
est ships There are at least 5Q sht bW te:s lu te
United STATES who would gladly enter The hcd oi c0mle-
ttion, aud engage 20 build vessel OF American Watc-
Tials and NIth American labor whose ptro malce shd!l
excel tnat o. ANY vessel ol the Msslo. DsOWn ~ 20,
whether of wood OF uou, iof HNer Oi ocean seiNlce'
whether 10. sicamiu- or sailing. E-SpeCtuliy,
Aetc I0ri, Aii, 8, Io77. JOliN W.. GiIFiITHs.