Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1881-02-28

Gar shipping Commerce Decline
The New York Nation, a tiee trade
organ, has been enlightening the put
lie upon ship building and the Lost
Carrying Trade of the United States
taking, OF course, free trade and free
ship view of the subject, which put the
question in such advantageous az
pect before the public that William IT,
Gibbons, President of the Pussy and
Jones Company, Of this city, has an
swered the article at length, correcting
many of the errors made by the Nation
as we'll as refuting the arguments ad-
vAnced by the same paper When we
consider that Mr.. Gibbons himself IS
inclined TO favor free trade ana free
ships we are disposed 10 attach more
importance to what he says, as he IS
practical ship builder and should uu-
derstaud all phases Of the ship build
ing subject and the carrying trade OF
the nation. Instead OF there being not
one American iron steamer sailing from
the port of New York, and only two
from Philadelphia, as the Nation says,
Mr., Gibbons calls attention to the Skis
tence of the Ward, Alexandra and
CLYDE lines between New York, Havana
and Vera Cruz, numbering six or more
iron steamships, having an average
capacity Of over 1000 tons each the
line to Rio de Janeiro, which employs
two ships of 3 900 tons each the Pa
ciic Mail Steamship Company's lie 70
Aspinwall, employing four ships-not
to speak of a dozen large and costly
steamships owned by them and engaged
in trade upon the Pacific coast, or the
lines from San Francisco to China and
to the Sandwich Islands. Mr.. Gibbons
also informs the Nation, which, it
seems, was very much in the dark on
this subject, so much so that it cannot
be depended upon for correct informa-
ton, tat from Philsdelp his the Amer
lean line employs four iron screw
steamships in the Liverpool trade, each
of over 5000 tons, whose good equip
ments and excellent performance com
pare very favorsbly with the best ap'
pointed ships of any nationality now
engaged upon any ocean. These, says
Mr.. Gibbons, are all American ships
American built, and he further say
that it is notorious that in ell that re
latss to strength, economy of fuel, som
fort of passengers, speed and safety o
sargoes they have 40 superiors.
30 much, then, in answer to tn
charge that free ships and the free car
rying trade has driven American ship
ping out OF the waters. Yet it canuo
be denied that the ocean traffic has, t.
a great extent, been absorbed by Euro
pesn 81 Ups, not On account of the pro
lection thrown by the government
around American ship building as from
other causes which Mr.. Gibbons seem
fully to understand and which is full.
set forth in his letter. In correcting
great error he says:
"Ths idea obtains largely that
steamship can be bought more cheapl.
in England than of airy of the builder
upou the Delaware: and to ths en-
that American shipping merchants ma,
be placed even in the race for tn
carving trade of the world with thei
Euro esn rivals, it is proposed TO &C
cord to the former the privilege of pun
chasing their ships from Scotch or Eng
lish or European builders and adnli
ting them to American register. )
those who are informed as to a., IL
facts bearing upon this matter nothin
Dsess,,, be said; but to those who are moi
and who have merely accepted the as
ssrtion, without calling for the proc
that there exists a large difference i
relative values, or, better said, in rel'
tive prices, it is proper to state that t
day there do. S not obtain difTerent
in price between a first class stesmshi
built upon the Delaware or at WI
nineton and one built according to tt
same specifications in England or SEQ
land. sufficient to pay an Ameris;
merchant for the expense OF remlttll
the funds to London which would
needed to pay for the vessel if pu
chased in England"
We are sure that his must q
the eyes of great many generally W
Informed people who have always be
led to believe that ships were.ou.lt a
much less cost in Europe than ON
Delaware. The question then arts
Why has the largest share OF the carr
ing trade of the oceans reverted
foreign countries, with the advantat
apparently equ3l' Mr.. Gibbons
swers this question by saying IL
capital is more profitable in this GOV
try by engaging it in other W tur
That is to cay, Highland, has =
expanse Of territory 70 open q
Z ssttle ma isle Unsted ststes hasA
~ u s,.oh i a5stssn "A nst m "a