Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-04-15
AMERICAN sHIpBU1LD1NG PROSPECTS

AMERICAN SHIPBUILDING PROSPECTS,
A correspondent of the New York Herald
writing from Philadelphia says:
1.-THE imminence Of prolonged foreign
war causes especial interest to be attached
to negotiations for the building Of ships of
war that have been in progress mere for
more than month, and the evasive way in
which all denials are made by persons in y
position TO know tend to confirm even the
hypothesis that are raised from the slender
groundwork of known facts. An effort has
been made to unite the shipbuilding inter-
ests on the.Delaware into one gigantic cor
poration which shall ally the largest iron
mills, coal companies and shipbuilders IN a
mutually bene6tting compact. 1t is known
that contracts from several European Pow
ers await the organization of such resources
for sbipbulding, and that the vessels ordered
will be ships of war; Russia is not the only
European government that wants TO speedi-
ly increase her naval strength with vessels
of the newest types. Germany, Italy and
France have not been blind TO the prepara-
tions that England has been making for
several months for the control of every
speedy transatlantic steamer, and they re-
cognize the desrability of having few fast
cruisers that may serve in any possible
emergency to emphasize their condition of
armed neutrality. To the United States
every nation of Continental Europe must
turn for the ships and much Of the supplies
that will maintain the present tottering
balance of power.
: ''An order for six fast iron cruisers, OF the
Esmeralda (Chilean) pattern, was received
in this city Friday. These vessels are nom.
inally ordered by private gentlemen, just
as they might order steam yachts, but they
will be tor sale when completed, and the
offers of only one European government
will be entertained. Three paramount fea-
lures will be insisted on-namely, nineteen
knots of speed and coal carrying capacity
for twenty five days steaming and buoy
ancy for three steel riaed cannon of large
calibre. The Esmeralda is regarded by the
prospective owners of these vessels as the
highest type of war vessel that floats. 1t
was built for Chile, in England, and is
about 1000 tons. The six vessels to be
built on her model will not exceed 1900
tons in size and will not have an ounce of
unnecessary plating upon them. Predicated
upon the certainty of war, the keels of
these cruisers will be laid before the lst of
May. The syndicate of capitalists inter
ested in this scheme believe in making
money by selling ships, just as their col
leagues in the grain and produce business
hope to improve their condition by feeding
the struggling nations, and hold that pro.
visions are quite as much contrabard of
war as ships.
"Mr. Wharton Barker was found ut his
banking house, and, as one of the best in
formed persons in this country on Russian
affairs, was asked DO you regard war as in
evi,able?' Most assuredly. l have SO be-
lieved for months Many experienced men
have recognized the inevitable ever since
the Treaty of San Stefano was supplanted
by that of Berlin. That treaty was an out
rage, not only to Russia, but.to civilization.
Even the Turks recognized the fact Mark
what say, there are very good reasons for
saying that an offensive and defensive ALI
ance exists at this hour between Russia and
Turkey. Nobody must be surprised in the
event of war to find that Russia will ignore
or repudate the restrictions regarding the
Dardanelles and Bosphorus thrust upon her
by the Treaty of Paris, framed by "a congress
of nations hostilely jealous of her growth.
No sir. ! believe that the first English ship
that attempts to enter the Bosphorus will
find the forts manned with Turkish and Rus
sian garrisons. Such war as this must be,
whenever it comes, will disturb the equii
brium ofEurope far beyond any specuations
that we can now indulge in. If had lots
of money | would 60 to building fast sailing
war ships to morrow, to sell to European
powers Mr.. Barker would not deny that
orders had been received for the construc-
tion of several ar.ships.
at was stated to the writer that the Guior,
Red Star and American steamship companies had
been approached by the British Admiralty for
terms at which their vessels would be leased to that
government. Another steamship agent went so
far as to state that the British nations claims
upon the vessels of his line might be asserted at
any hour. The vessels of the American company
all carry the British flag, under the statute that
only American built crafts can fly the flag of this
land The agent said that if Russia naugurated
the aggressive ocean warfare that possible for
her this statute would prevent tho American peo-
pie from taking advantage of this splendid oppor-
tunity which such condition of things would
present for the regaining of their once proud posi-
tion on the seas. He even suggested that in the
event of war an extra session of Congress ought to
be called to take advantage of n situation that
may not recur again in O century. America 5
future said he, belongs to her, and she has
stood long enough upbn courtesy and the ameni-
ties of trade She must regain what she lost
during the four years enforced lethargy OF the
national commerce during the civil war. The
ocean trade was taken away from her fairly
enough, but now is her chance. 1t is the hour for
great stroke Will she rise to it?
AN UNFoRTUNATE PERsON.-The most
unfortunate person in the world is one af-
l n L -