The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-07
sEIPBUILDING IN BOSTON.
THE Business Not Affected by
the Eastern War.
VIEWS BY VETERAN BUILDERS.
Free Trade in Shipping and Shipping
Materials Demanded.


BosToS, May 5. 1871
what national blessing II would be II this war
~the beautiful blue Danubc would revive The pros
trate sh,pbulding interests Of America II would be
gratifying verihcaton Of the Old adaee, that III is
m III wind that blows nobody good" ana here in New
England there would be perfect shout OF delight from
Thousands of skilled mechanics. who have tor many
years earned hut scanty remuneration Tor moro
scanty labor. The time when East Boston,
Chelsea and Ncwburyport were among the chief
shipbuilding centres OF the country; but for many
day their yards have been almost wholly deserted
and silent Take IL IN East Boston, Tor instance
where have been turned upward OF 500 vessels OF
one kind and another within the time of its present
inhabtants-and we find the business almost wholly
Frustrated. This. may add, Is equally true of the
other points named; and indeed, 1t may BIO assumed
that there is tho inactivity and desire for revival
In every shipyard along the coast OF Maine.
WILL FOREIGN AFFECT AMERICAN SHIP
BUILDING?
II Is an unsettled question in the minds OF Boston
builders whether or not their business will be stimu
lated by the war between Russia and Turkey. That
thcre will be an Increased demand for carrying acii
ties on tho ocean highway is universally admitted, but
they shake their heads gravcy and say that tho stupid
laws OF the United States effective barrier 10
shipbuilding in America Reference. Of course, is
had to tho heavy duty imposed upon imported stock
entering into the construction Of both wooden and iron
vsssels Your correspondent has been surprised at
The intense feeling manifested by OF the Boston
builders on this matter, and tho views which they give
u,teranco well worthy the early and at
tenton OF tho coming Congress-
TRADE IN SHIPPING.
II is general free trade IN shipping that is demanded
and tho public sentiment IN favor OF 1t found express
sion in this vicinity long before there any thought
OF tho present hostitics between Turkey and Russia
Some six months ago tho Boston Free Trade Club Tor
warded 10 General Banks Tor presentation to Con.
Gress, petition asking, in effect, that "any and all
restrictions which prevent citizens Of the United
States from buying ships built anywhere outside Of
their own territory and SAILING them under the
tion flag, be at removed and that from the
Of the passage Of bill to this effect they may be al
lowed 70 have ships built, or buy those now aloat in
any part OF the world.n And the petition furthermore
asked .that such alterations be al once made in III
present tariff Us VIII enable any and all articles which
needed in the homo construction Of iron wooden
ships oil any KIND TO be admitted In tho Unlcd States
free Of duty"
OPINION OF BOSTON snIpBuILpER
James l. Townsend, OF the new shipbuding firm Of
Smith Townsend, informed your correspondent that
he hoped rather than anticipated revival OF his bust
engaged only building single bark OF 1000
tons, ana that was being built on their own ac-
Gov count In discussing 1, the petition which
MIR. Townsend declared himself IN favor Of universal
and opposed to partial ree trade England, he SAID,
Is free trade country, and consequently in a
worse condition than II we were English colonies
England took up Tree trade US matter OF policy when
she found that The United States had far more 10 give
than she had to take from her. In the beginning
OF the war we had splendid opportunity
1os ~. ssis 81 our IRON ama there WAS
but England advanced the price OF her iron, and
followed after In tho same track. and with per-
ceptblo reason for SO dong. Now, II we had been
satisfied with the price we wero then receiving
iron and not increased at all, labor would have In
creased and would have beeh able TO compete with
England. bill based Oh the Free Trade Club petit
ton, remarked Mr. Townsend, would be the advan-
sf no particular benefit TO those who engaged Ia
She various Industries that 60 into the make up of
ship Mr. Townsend was IN favor OF allowing those
who procure the best material and produce IL
the least cost 10 do so; but when country places
any restriction he Iavored law that would benefit
those who taxes aud have TO bear the burden OF
the country. Yellow metal is now admitted 10 the
foreign trade, but here tho law becomes disturbing
element for IL says American vessel cannot engage
IN the coastwisc irade three successive months
without paying duty Mr. Townsend expressed SUBJ
stantally the same views relative 10 French and Eng.
sh Loyds, and remarked that there three instiu
America that classify vessels OF which call
themselves American Loyds, aud Is called Ship
masters Association the latter moro than the other
two having the confidence Of shpowners. He be.
hcvcd that bill based on the petition referred
20 would not Increase labor because tho policy of
the other governments being TO protect their own
Industry, they would SO shape thor own laws in
chance in foreign markets, and being thus enabled 10
compete with the best built American ships they
would, Of course, get the labor We should, he SAID,
commercial people, give class and character
vnippng and then would be treated with the same
respect consideration vessels OF other rationale
sies Universal free trade would regulate the chasing
Of vessels in time and would also regulate all phases
ri commerce. aud we. In the United States, would oc-
cupy the places that belong to us.
WHAT AN IDLE sHIPBuII DER SAYS
The venerable d. d. Kelly, VINO has carried on the
business in Eas. Boston Tor nearIS Aslf century Is
IN his business growing out Of the Eastern war, unless
free trade law is passed He SAID that no was like his
neighbors-dong hardly anything In the way OF bust
ness His views in favor Of tree trade were fully as
decided as those OF Mr. Townsend. 1T is factn he
the same material and under the same conditions,
as cheap as any country IN the world;
but we hay, have . to pay a., duty on iron,
struction OF ship, ana still the duties amount TO but
little, say, for instance about live per cent OF the
tire Of the vessel Foreign copper on tho
average than American, possibly because they use
Chill Metal, and man who desires to metal his ship
lakes her to England wnere he buys his moai Tree Of
duty and tho English soil their metal cheaper 90 on
ships than they will TO export IT, This Is 10 encourage
labor, you know. When ship Is to be metalled tho
owner generally ovcrhaus her entirely. Foreign ships
In American port cannot take metal out OF bond,
consequently they do their repairing at homo at tho
expense Of vast amount of labor to this country.
PRoHIBroRy TAXATION.
Another drawback to American commerce Is that
onoo year tax OF thirty cents tonor instance,
vessel OF 100 tons has TO pay tax OF $40 year. No
other country innicts thus INK. Still another great
burden to the commercial interests or this nation
the expense OF our consul system abroad, which
Is enormous aud put comparative few of
consuls are acting In friendly way
toward American commerce. system that
greatly needed to advance the commercial
Interests OF the United States is ono by which Amer.
Can be officially Chased. In England they
have the English Lloy In France the French Lloyds
and many American vessels arc rated IN one or the
other. order TO reap the advantages OF first class
vessel but ID order TO be thus rated our vessels have
10 DO built somewhere after the style OF tue English
or French. What rs greatly needed Is association
or institution, commercial congress, for instance
that shall establish an American Lloyds, have thor
oughly American built vessels, with us charac-
tcriscs and with borrowing OF foreign ideas what
in regard to shpbuliding Mr. Kelly expressed
himself as being In favor OF any
building ship in any part OF the world
whore he can do II the cheapest At the present time
citizen OF this country cannot have vessel built
loregn land and sail II under the American fag
Deiher can an American sail his ship under any nag