Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-09-30
DAILY Posi- IBfELLlGEBCER

DlILT POST IIfgLLIGgBOR
suIP BUILDING.
We publish elsewhere in this issue q
circular issued BY the Congressional
Joint Committee on ShipbuildinR, IN
.vhioh 4 series Of important questions
A.. ueeuoandsd On the subject Of ship
building.
There are few subjects in which the
people Of Puget Sound, when their sur
roundinas and resources are taken into
oonsidsretion, should feel deeper IN
tarest. or Ia which they arc more d.
rectlv interested than that Of shipbuild-
ing.
Tha true friends of American industry
have for long time past noted with
alarm and regret the decrease OF our
m.r;time interests. The civil war, the
cheap labor and low wages OF Europe
uuvise legislation, the advent OF the
ses tramp, and many other causes have
combined to disturb cur relations IN
this regard.
Supremacy on the high seas IL, per-
hans. mot 70 be thought Of, and the day
NJ equality, even, 10 probably far Oh,
INIT viewing the case in its worse aspect
II ID within the bounds of possibility to
make the vast coastlng trade. especially
Of the Ocoidsut, which in its present
proportions, large as they are, is but a
piamy to q giant, exclusively our own.
tits not to be understood, however,
that the action Of Congress, TO which
tho proceedings Of the Joint COMMITTEES
referred to form but the prelude, ID TO
he limited to any particular branch OF
bodybuilding, OF ocean carriage. "na'
thu outcome il TO be time alone can de-
eide. The movement is the result OF a
videspre,d demand for tho rshabilita-
ton OF our former prestige, 90 far az
praoticable. The merchant marine II
tho training school and nursery OF the
man-of-var's-man. and the greatest
optimist ON the subject Of peace and the
doctrine Of settling international dis
putss BY arbitration can hardly hops
thst this great nation can escape tina
Of strength on the water before the bat
To Aaas viii svsrywhsrs b furled. and
The nations be gathered together. In the
Parliament OF man, the Federation OF
the world"
In this view Of the case alone, the &C.
ton Of Congress 10 highly important
and it behooves every man who can
throw any light upon the subject to re-
spond fully and freely 20 the questions
which have been prepared by the Com
mittee.
Bat other and, il possible, vaster in
forests are at stake, and challenge SYM
psthy and cooperation with the Com
mittee and with Congress, in this effort
to restore languishinR industry to its
pristine vigor. Labor. skilled and I'M
skillsd; productive industry in the mine,
the forest, the field; the development OF
our vast resources in many directions
now latent, al demand action, and that
action can only be based upon an intel
liQent understanding OF the subject in
all Of its bearings, and that understand
ing can only Be reached BY friendly con-
ferenoes with those familiar with tho
TOPICS which form the foundation Of the
work to be done.
Hence it il to be hoped that no man
competent to discuss the subject intelli-
gently will withhold his contribution to
the general stock OF knowledge which 1t
IL the wish and purpose of the Commit
tse to gather.
Puget Sound and ito environs ought
TO and can win distinguished place in
tho record 70 be made up. There are
many gentlemen Of wide experience and
enlarged views on the subject in this
great tidal basin, and what they might
have to gay in the matter would I'M
OCCASIONALLY command respectful con-
alteration, and be entitled to great
WEIGHT before the Committee and in the
legislative halls. We trust that neither
Ystioenos nor indifference will deprive
the country Of their valuable observa-
lions and suggestions.
Apart from the general interest which
attaches to this subject, Puget Sound
has . special and direct interest therein.
Wood. copper, iron and hemp enter
largely, not 70 ~ exclusively, into the
eonsesoetion Of ssa-goingsvesasls. II Is
almost supsrauo1s 10 assert that wood
and iron are q our doors. Experts say
that hemp oan be grown in this basin Of
unsurpassed quality, and indications OF
eoppsr are NOT hacking. How vast and
valuable would be the impetus which
would b. given 10 the productiou and
manufacture Of these great staples, il
national legislation oan be 20 shaped -
10 revive the shipbuildina industries Of
the nation, would b. II would seem al
most sxtravagant 70 cot before readers
in the shape Of an estimate. An ap-
proximatsly oorreet visw Of the subject
in this uarsisalar regard, however. will
suggest itsslf to every intelligent
Tt ahipyard = the nucleus Of the
village, the town, tho oity. IL 10 an in
dustxy permanent and creative in it,
ehasaetsr while The supply Of material
Lasts, and aasuredly decades, II not GEN.
turiss, must slApas before our forests
fail. the mines already discovered be-
como sxhausted, o. The fertility Of the
coil 10 which We can reasonably look for
The production Of ons essential staple Of
the great WORK. can fail.
We do mot know that W can moro
appropriately aloss this artisls than BY
quoting the language Of the San Fran
CISCO CArosieIs Of the 2Sd Inst, which