Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-08-15

SHIP FOUNDERS.
a New York Ship-Dwner Who Takes
n Gloomy view of the Business
Profits anI Expenses.
A distinguishing Characteristic of
South street is the appearance of the
signs over the offices of the ship brokers
and merchants. New York signs are in
themselves a curious study ranging as
they do from an expensive panorama in
a Broadway window to a three -and-a-
quarter hash placard in a cheap restaur-
ant, each conveying an impress of artis-
tic finish in its execution and of comfort
in its promise for the person for
whom it is intended. The sign
Of the ship merchant is neither
artistic nor expensive. 1t is simply old,
so very old in some cases, that tho paint
has been worn off by the wind and
orm, leaving only faint outline Of the
letters in black or gold on a coffee brown
background, which might once have
been either white or black, for all pass
ing inspection willie The old signs
which once read "HOwland 81 Aspin-
wall, " and "Grinnell, Minturn & Co.,
have been wholly oblitcrated Like wine,
or like choice meerschaum pipe, the
old signs gain value with increased age.
To remove them would give pain to
scores of gray-haired shipmasters, who
first saw them as cabin boys, fresh from
some coast or inland village.
In these shipping offices the visitor
will usually find in the room marked
'private" genial old gentleman who
can name the products of every country
on the globe, can tell the cost, the de-
mand for, and the value of each, and
the number of ships engaged in the
traffic. With this information, the visi-
tor is pretty sure to be told of the prof
its once made by shipowners, and that
never, since ships began to sail the sea,
have profits been so small as now.
"Ships must pay some profit to ship
owners, or else the shipyards would be
idle," suggested young man to one OF
) the pleasant old brokers.
r "Some ships pay, of course, but at
: best the profits are not large"
"What freight will good Last India
ship receive nowl"
, ''The chief East India cargo is kero,
! sene oil ten gallon cases, which weigh
eighty-four pounds each. A large ship
will carry, say rs, 900 cases. The largest
,, cargo on record was carried by the iron
ship Lord Wolselcy She took 10l, ,00C
cases out, The great majority of ship;
carry about half as much as that. We
sent out a bark with 10000 cases moi
t long ago She got 26t cents, or SO, SOC
: gross. If she is lucky she will get jutt
or sugar back at say 81. She will bring
1900 tons or $40, 500 gross, and she
t will earn it in year.
a GA ship like that costs $50, 900, and
$21, 900 is a small gross income. Out of
. this sum of $21, 900 she has sundry ex,
f penses which will astonish yon, perhaps.
q For crew. she carries a captain, two
j mates, a cook, and fourteen men. The
captain gets $50 month and five per cent
. of the gross freight money, or 81 AIS fol
\ the year. The first mate will get 5000
the second mate 1920, the cook, $3.50
3 and the fourteen men will get SO, 800
or a total of 3G,275 for wages. To feet
them will cost 50 day, or So, 265 fol
J. the year. 1t pays to feed them well, bu
II it could be done for less, of course
Is Then out of the freight money comes
y II cents case for slowing the oil, anC
thirty-fve cents ton for discharging th
l. return cargo-a total of 81, 225. The brok
is erage on the cargo out is five per cent. anC
IS back seven per cent. or $1,265. Por
% charges at Shanghai are three cents
case, or 81, 200. Pilot fees will amour
Is to 5000. Then we have insurance at tiv
" per cent, So, 500: annual deterioration
n five per cent, 900; tonnage tax a
re thirty cents ton $500; and interest o.
A. investment at four per cent, $4,000"
in "Is that ala"
Il Il "There are few small incidentaIs
a Oh, forgot the ship chandlcr's bill.
40 was 50, 600. That's all that's wort
10 counting"
o The young man had jotted down tn
= sums. They aggregated for the yea
!, $23, $50.
N "That's just about it, " said the broke
as with a faint smile "You cannot max
lo more favorable showing, because yo
III have estimated the insurance at lo'
B. rate, and the return cargo is always
matter of some doubt Beside, yea
er is good round trip. You see, th
to owner is $4,000 or $4,000 out {
IN pocket"
lie "Why does he build new ship
ne thenC
of "Give it up"
n "Do all these ships sail at a loss9"
1t "That one was only of 1000 tor
a register. Take ship registering 9,2C
k tons, and she will carry $4,000 cases {
n oil out, and will bring back 5000 tons
he cargo. Her freight will amount
a about $40, 900, while her expenses ov
ne those of the bark of 1000 tons will
I'd about SIS, 900, leaving clear profit
Id 1900 on an investment of $1,000
ey provided she has ordinary good lucl
Is The best luck that could happen TO Il
owners of the bark would be wreck WHIT
she was fully insured"