The Republican journal., 1881-06-02
ShIp-Building Abroad.

Coy. Packard lnited States Consul at Liver
pool, sends dispatch To the State Department, in
which he refers to the ship building and the ton
mage market Of Liverpool His paper upon this
question Will doubtless be of value to all who are
Interested ID American commerce GOV. Packard
reports that orders enough have been received to
keep all the snip building yards in full employ
ment for the present year, and that the present
contracts aggregate G30,o)0 tons He assigns the
following as the reasons for the prosperity in
British ship-building industry:
lst, the tonnage built in 1879 was fully 100, 900
tons less than III 1873; and ID the continued sue
cess attending the importation OF live cattle and
dead meat from the United States and Canada has
created demand for vessels commensurate with
its dimensions, and the admitted proiltableness Of
the trade has consequently necessitated the con
structon of vessels specially adapted by size and
ventilation for it,
An equally important adjunct is the enormous
import Of cereals III the next place, the losses
this year together with casualtes( have been
quite unprecedented, amounting, 1t is said to over
300 600 tons absolutely lost.
The demand for second hand steamers, especial
y for Continental account is reported as being
very good. noticeable feature has been the de-
mard for first class British steamers on time char
mail and fore gn service.
The continued building of first class, but plain
Serviceable cargo boats has been one of the lead
ing features Of the year Under good management
duu Will codl dt present prices lneSe DOdtS Delng
specially built are reported to be opening up prof
liable trades in quarters new to steam OF this type
In iron sailing ships brisk business has been
done to supply the demands Of this market The
new ships are mainly of large tonnage, and nu-
merous contracts have been made at prices rang
ing from SO 96 10 S6I -, but to day similar ships
from >6l - TO st3 % dependent On specifications
and builders Even at the last-named figure these
ships, combining every good quality which skill
and experience cal suggest. are said to be proiia
bic Investments
In second hand sailing ships there has been an
exceedingly good demand, more tonnage than us
ual having changed hands at prices fully S91: to
Il Oh over those ruling last year Ships twenty to
thirty years old realized from S}i 07 to S:}S 49, and
those sixteen to twenty years old from S;5S 93 to
SIG 2}, while younger ships have been sold at from
eiS d to S53 53. varying in ballast requirements
and general good condition The old British and
Colonial build are reported by the trade to have
met with reader sales than at any time during the
past few years and there is said to be no difficulty
In getting tair prices for them
The use of steel in building, though chiefly con
fined to steamers, has greatly increased and those
who have given it fair trial are quite satisfied
with the result
The thoroughly sound trade which has dis
tinguished the year is likely to continue for a
while, and, with the freight market remaining
fairly good, the present healthy tone in shipping
circles seems to be justified and warranted