The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-24
AMERICAN AND ENGLISH SHIPS.

1t is source of regret and humiliation
that the projected American steamship line,
to be equipped with the fastest sailers ever
built, has been abandoned, and that the plan
will be carried out by capitalists from both
sides of the Atlantic, but operating under the
British government. The purpose was at
first to build three vessels whose cost was to
be $5,0OO,O00 These were to ply between
Fort Pond Bay, at the easterly end of Long
Island, and Milford Haven, on the west coast
of England. Passengers were to be conveyed
in fast express trains from New York to Fort
Pond Bay, and from Milford Haven TO Lon
don, and the entire trip from New York to
London was to occupy less than six days.
about 10 miles at the other end, avoid
ing the inclosed waters and cur
rents of st. Georges Channel, and
lis miles at this end, avoiding the dangerous
coasts OF Long Island and New Jersey. The.
contemplated American line was to charge
higher rates for passengers than those now
demanded, and there was to be an increase
in the luxuries and comforts on the new yes
sells. No steerage passengers or freight were
to be carried Mr. Jacob Lor;llard, proprie-
tor of the enterprise, thus explains the aban-
donment of the plan:
'When the American Express Line was
first projected we thought the disposition of
Congress was to aid American shipbuilding,
and that the best plan of assistance would be
to help establish the finest steamship line in
the world, and we had reason to believe that
we should be able to effect a mail contract
with the government We calculated to
issue S., 600, 900 worth of bonds to build our
ships. Then to secure bondholders, we ex
pected to assign the whole mail contract
which would amount to 5000 900 per year
and was to run ten years. We expected thus
to be able, at the end of ten years, to pay off
the bonds, principal and interest. The con-
tract we proposed to make was that the gov
eminent should pay certain price if the mails
were delivered on TIC other side within the
five days, less price if they were not delv-
cred within six days, and nothing at all ii
they were not delivered within seven days
We also offered to carry American conSulS
and American government officers on gov
eminent business free of charge Our APP
plication for mail contract was made and
reported favorably upon, but we failed to re-
ceive it. Then the shipping bill before Con-
that with the additional cost of construction
of vessels on this side we should be unable
to make the American Express Line pay, as
the English lines would put their passage
rate so low that we would be unable to COM
pete with them. Then, American vessels are
obliged to pay higher wages to sailors and
officers, our wages account being nearly
double that on foreign vessels. Incidental
expenses are also greater Why American
sailors will not eat the same food that Eng
fish ships provide. and where the latter are
at an average expense of So per month for
each mans food, an American sailors food
will cost from $40 to $l4 per month. In fact,
without government help line OF American
vessels is impracticable."
In the matter of building equipping ana
sailing steamers the United States is obliged
20 come into immediate competition with
3reat Britain, and this cannot be maintained
with wages as they are in America. When
American workmen are content to accept
the same remuneration for their labor as do
English ship-carpenters and sailors, then we
may hope to compete with England for the
mastery of the sea. Experience has shown
that we cannot do it now. The situation of
England is such that her shipping must be
maintained at any cost, and the assistance
furnished in various shapes by the govern
ment enables sailing masters and steamship
companies to run their lines at profit over
any competing government. But with the
cost of building ships higher in America
than along the Clyde, and with sailors that
must have food fifty per cent. better than
H., o,,l
De paid from thirty to fifty
per cent. higher wages, we cannot
compete especially SO long as the govern
nent fails Or refuses to cooperate. A SINH
lar condition of affairs to that so noticeable
in shipping would prevail in other branches
of trade and commerce when English me-
chanics and English wages are permitted to
compete on equality with American
Torkmen. Our system of protection to
American enterprise and American labor
has prevented this during the past twenty
Two years, during which time American la
borers have received better wages than paid
1n Europe and American industries have
grown to paying dimensions If the prnci-
pie of protection were destroyed, isis the aim
Of the Democratic party, the wealthy corpo-
rations would then supply their needs from
British rolling-mills and British factories at
lower figures than they are now obliged to
pay, but our working people would find
no employment until they agreed to
accept the same pay received by laborers in
Sheffield, Birmingham, Glasgow and Man
chester.
English shipping, fostered by government
patronage, rules the seas, and what might