The Republican journal., 1881-08-04
Clyde Shlpbullding unprecedented Ac-
tlVlty.

| Ne most casual passenger on Il river
steamer on the Clyde can not fail to mark
the unusual stir in the yards along its
banks, while statistics show that the
launches of the first five months of 1873
the highest Year hitherto have already
been exceeded by the first five months Of
1851 to the extent of $1,000 tons, and
there are indications that before the close
OF the year the proportion in favor of this
year will be even greater. The causes
which have brought about such an out
burst OF activity in the shipbuilding trade
are certainly worth investigating. I'm
doubtedly chief Of all the causes of the
present large shipbulding is the Ameri-
can trade. Almost every great company
at present engaged in the carrying trade
to America, is getting built on the Clyde
or elsewhere vessels of u class which they
never possessed before The gigantic vet
most graceful Seryla, now approaching
completion in the dock adjoining Aiessrs.
ThOmpsOns yard at Dalmuir, shows the
scale at which the Cunard Company have
measured the requirements of the future;
but she, though the largest, Is yet only
one Of several vessels, all larger than any
they possessed before, that are now build
ing for the Atlantic trade. The Inman
Line have replied to the challenge OF the
Cunard Line by the City Of Rome, which.
though not built ON the Clyde, may be
mentioned here, as She certainly would
not have been designed on so large a scale
but for the work done on the Clyde. The
Allan Line have already contributed their
quota this year to the list of immense
ocean steamers built on the Clyde by the
Partisan, which has already proved her
self the fastest, as she is the finest, of
steamers crossing the Atlantic to Cana
da: and her success has induced the rival
Dominion Line to contract for a steamer
on the Clyde Of 300 tons which may be
expected to hold her own with the Par
isian. The North German Line, which
but Il few years ago remOdelled their line
with steamers which We're then thought
to be the ne plus Uity0 of speed and ac-
commodation, are now back again on the
Clyde with the same purpose, for they too
find that their fleet must consist of steam
erS over 5000 tons. The Servia and City
of Rome will find Il worthy rival in the
Alaska, Of the Guion Line, Of &, 400 tons,
whose beautiful proportions, as she sits i'll
the stocks of the yard Of Elder X Co., at
tract attention from all passers- by.
And while such preparations are being
made for the human, not less gigantic is
the scale on which vessels are being pre-
pared for bovine passengers. Steamers
Of u tonnage that would not have been
dreamed Of for any service twenty wears
ago, are being built for the cattle carry
ING trade, and there are many indications
that in future the orders for this class Of
vessel will be on scale even larger still.
And the American trade, though the
principal, is not the only enterprise which
is calling for steamers Of the largest class.
Two steamers OF over 5000 tOns-thG
Rome and the Carthage are almost ready
at Greenock for the peninsular and Orien-
tai Company; while their great rivals to
Australia, the Orient Line, are following
up their success with the Orient by build
ing for Australia steamer even larger
and faster than it; and for the | nion
Line to the Cape the largest vessels they
have yet possessed are under construction
at present on the Clyde. In whatever way
we may explain the present largely in
creased activity of shipbuilding on the
Clyde, it certainly indicates that ship
owners are alive to the requirements of
the time, and that whenever the cNpan-
sion of trade may call for additional facli-
ties OF transport they will be ready on the
most extensive scale When we compare
our condition with that of America on the
one hand where the shipbuilding enter
prise, that once seemed likely to rival our
own country, is utterly dead, and with
France on the other, where attempts are
being made by system Of bounties to
foster q sickly life, we may we'll be proud
of our hardy, home-bred shipbuilding en-
terprise Dundee Advertiser.
Wanted Pistol