New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-15

These difficulties could all DO overcome win ''o
help Of q suitable policy the part OF the un'teo
States Government. As in the case OF all other
manufactured goods experience has shown that
cheap ships can best be secured by manufacturing
them IN this country. There is a new and healthy
competition among the domestic builders, which
is steadily and surely reducing the cost of ships to
the lowest pont Foster this local competition, aud
then back It up with policy of proper compensa-
ton for carving the mails and Ii will be iounn
that American merchants will put their capital INTO
modern STYLES of vessels and the first step VIII nave
been taken in the right direction
The builder referred TO says that one of the Diff
culties in the way of restoring the carving trade
has been taxation. The capital required to start
a line of steamships is large and cannot usually he
obtained, except by form ing stock company.
Suppose the company formed with capital Oh
SIS OOO. 600 This stock is assessed at the same
rate as houses and lots and other property in this
city, az about Dig OF per cent of its value. tax
is levied even though the ships may be tied to the
wharf and not be earning dollar. The same prop
erty Ia Liverpool is taxed only L of per cent on
its net income The British ship besides takes from
bond free of duty all its supplies. The difference
IN cost of construction between ships here and IN
England is now about IL per cent. Were 1t not LOT
the extraordinary depression in trade in England
the greatest ever known the difference would be
only 3 Dot cent Estimating the life OF the snip at
twentv-four years the difference of - per cent Is
only % of per cent per annun. so that the dliier
ence IN original cost OF ship is OF no
great consequence This. in fact. is so
well understood that active steamship owner,
and no man who wants to be one now favors
the buying of ships abroad. Few. besides the mid
dIernen who buy and sell for Others, or the men,
most of them retired already independently rich,
favor the buying of ships abroad. The advantages
of ship-building NJ home far exceed all the dsad-
vantaces The people Of the United States cannot
afford TO DO left without an abundance OF we'll
equipped shpyrrds and large force of trained
mechanics. The power with which the United
States went 10 war in 1861 had no navy. She
could not build seagoing war vessel England bui.t
for her three swift cruisers and those three vessels
swept the merchant marine OF the United states
from the hi 9Th seas in spite OF the huge fleet OF war
ships sent out 20 catch and destroy them. What
would have happened not only TO the commerce of
the United States, coastwlse and foreign. but with
refren e 10 the Northern coasts and the safety Of
the great cities if the South Lad had large navy
What would happen in the future, in case of a war
with any European Power. with its formidable
navy, if the United States sbould have great
fleet Of sw fl merchant vessels and shipyards to
produce cruisers. 30 fall upon for material for a
navy of its Ownl The naval powers of the world
now depend directly on their merchant vessels for
the means of fitting ont feet of war-shps in case
| Of hostilities The success of the Shenandoah and
| Alabama alarmed ENGLAND hersclf, and the prece-
dent was not lost on Russia. the experience of the
| last five years has shown. The English Admiralty
| has investigated this whole subject and has per-
fected plans for arming the merchant steamers with
| guns and tcrpedocs in Of war. England could
spare 200 or 800 steamers from her trade, and
launch them against the coasts of the United States
ON three months notice. he United States has not
more than ten or eileen steamers which could catch
| any one OF those 200 or 800 ships. England would
not build sps for the United States in Of
| and this country would be Inundated without a
| large and swift feet of its own. which could
be sent out to prey English commerce.
and be utilized for National defence. The United
States cannot afford. therefore to ruin her ship
builders and destroy her shipyards. The builders
could afford It, possibly, but the country could not
Another view of this subject is that OF leading
owner of sailing ships, who advocates a policy OF
entire abandonment of protection TO home industry,
and the establishment of pure free trade. This, in
| his view. would be a means ofemploying what ships
the country now has, By stimulating the importa-
ton of metals manufactures and raw wool. This
| gentleman does not appear TO understand that In
matters of freight steam Is taking the place OF sails
and while there 10 steam vessels idle IN this
| countrv-there are hundreds of sail and steam yes
sells living idle and tied to the wharves IN England
which would Immediately monopolze all the carry
ing trade to America if the policy referred to
should be substituted by Congress for protection.
A merchant of this city, whose reputation is in
| ternational, who imports and exports on large
scale. saws that this is great exporting Nation. and
| ouVht to carry its own goods TO market He would
reserve the coasting trade American vessels. and
grant liberal mail compensation for ocean
service to steam lines the foreign trade, so that
Americans can establish lines and get their earn
ings But he sees reason why Enghsh-built
steamers should not be run by Americans as well as
! by Germans and he does not think that American
| builders viii try as hard as they ought unless the
privilege of buying sh ps abroad Is granted. Ger
many however, would never have her ships built IN
| England, il she had mater j herself-nevcr.
| The views Of Senator Blame are well known. He
faynrs a trial OF the policy adopted bY every other
progressive nation OF the world. putting the ocean
mail the same basis rs the lana service
treating the carrier and the railroad carrier
| alike and allowing proper mail compensation.
meanwhile letting the present sy' TEN suu>tdnt any
alone. IL would not limit this policy to the Bra
| zian line. but would apply II toward securing a
| share of the North Atlantic trade.
| Anot or United States Senator. one OF the most
| able and active advocates of protection, believes
fLat II would be more useful TO apply this principle
TO trades where there is plenty for sps TO do rs on
| the North Atlantic. He Is reluctant TO pay subs-
dies where the whole or nearly the whole trade Will
This brief statement sets forth very fairly the
| current views on this subject.
VALUE AMERICAN LINES
How important 1t is 10 the United states, econom-
cally TO occupy better position IN ocean naviga-
ton is illustrated by the facts about the American
line of steamships to Brazil. Previous to the estab
lshment of that line. number of British steamers
were employed in the trade. Those ships were
loaded with coffee, sugar. rubber. dye woods, etc,
in Brazil and brought their cargOes to NewOrleans
and New-York City. The freight on the cargoes
was assessed on the goods and paid by the Amer-
can consumers. Here, tho steamers took in fresh