Daily Republican., 1883-09-22
Shin Buiidlmg and Commerce.


John Roach, who may justly be term
cd the leading American ship builder
with all due reference to our ship build
ing firm that ranks at least second, has
been giving his views at considerable
length ON ship building in he Ameri
can Protectionist. Mr.. Roach gives
some astounding figures which show the
miserly policy pursued by the United
States in relation 10 fostering er mara
time trade. Those who are continually
crying out against the extravaganza OF
the government in naval matters would
do well to compare it with what other
countries have spent for new v ssels.-
In eighteen years the United States has
only spent s. 100000, while England
has spent $3.50, 000, 600; France, Sss, o0o,.
600 Russia, $35, 0o0, 600; Italy, So, 0Oo,
600; Germany, $4,000, 900; Turkey
81 100000 Brazil, SlO, 900 600, and ever
Chill, South American Republic
with population about as great a.
New York State, has spent S7,OOO,Oo'
for iron-clads.
One of the reasons of this bad show
ing against the United States is tha1
during the war Of the rebellion
$83, 100000 were spent principally
for wooden vessels which are still in
service, AMI which should be retired tt
make place for an iron clad navy that
will protect the nation and its com
merce against all possible. contingen
cies.
Mr.. Roach says that at the close O.
the war our merchant feet was de-
stroyed. The Government had taker
four hundred and sixty-seven ships tol
service and the remainder had eithel
been destroyed by Engish-Contederatt
cruisers or had been sold by the owners
for what they could get. No doubt Mr.
Roach is correct in his views, for from
that date American marine commerce
has practically ceased to exist when
compared with what it was before the
war. At this time the British Govern
ment, with great ingenuity, raised the
cry tor free ships, when she knew that
she could practically get control Of ht
great coasting trade of six thousand
miles Of American waters.
HIRE our own Government, it would
SEEM made a fatal error BY not pro,
tectlng American shipping in what
ever manner it needed protection. Our
Government, on the plea Of false
economy. refused all support TO ship
ping enterprise, and while England was
spending millions by paying for marine
mail services, our Government was
spending .diliions on worthless 5 ar
Route contracts. The United States
but for this niggarlly policy, might
have had control OF the whole of South
American commerce which England
row enjoys. The latter, with her supsi-
died vessels, brings to US the trade Of
Brazil by way of Liverpool, making us
pay round figure for il, while with
our own protected vessels we might
have it direct from Rio de .Janerio to
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore
and New Orleans. " does seem
strange that our Government, 50 wide
awake TO other interests, should make
such a fatal mistake with its marine
commerce.
This commerce can never be recov-
cred without revolution III our naval
affairs. We have been running down at
the heel ever sine" the war closed aud
there seems to be an ineXCuSabie care
lessnt S. on the part of the government
to recover ont lost shipping trade
Mr.. Roach i, u practical man and Le
has a remedy, one that cannot fail to
strike the public ear with favor and
confluence. His poiicy j. 10 build a
small eifectiv" mod 'ru Ndvy, beyond
this placing reliance on merchant
fleet bUilt by American abor and cap
ital, protected "u ."a as vel As on land,
and fairly paid Tor mai, aerviG"s, UpVu
tn" Latter nuch drprHt, 1t might ap-
pear ,jrr throwing away money 10
sub-Idll" theSe merchant vps,cls.
TN" expenditure vou'd most aSsnrrd-
ly b" NOR" trau rhr receipts for Years
but very likely There ar" other advau-
tages which would ailse Onr trade
would be increased and the custom7
and govern mtnt ',r'ir- would he
swel'rd far beyond what was spent for
the mail service.
Mr.. Roach wOuIN have all taxation
on American ships removed and would
rely wholly upon American instead Of
foreign ships. Mr. Roach is mldoubt-
rdlv correct, and If his policy wOGld be
Initiated by the Government and closely
followed up we would no doubt soon re-
cover our trade with South America
and other countries whose trade natur
ally belongs 10 us. bur Government
would then be able 10 protect our inter
eStS abroad, and avoid war by being
always well prepared for 1t without the
expense of "A tremendous naval estab-
liNhment.
TIE Match Trade.
Before TIA" lax on matches as taken