The Wilmingtonian., 1885-04-25
NO EXTRA SESSION
THE POSSIBILITIES OF AN IN
DUSTRY IMPERILED.
The Resembling of tho Navigation
Laws Fatal 10 American
ship Building.

Which is the better for this country, to
find at the termination Of 4 two or three
years European war that we have neglected
habilitating ourselves as ship-building
community OF not? And yet this is the CO.
gent question, or ought to be at this mo-
ment.
The shortsighted policy of the press Of
this country in advocating repeal of tho
navigation laws would undoubtedly leave us
without that desideratum at the end of the
term referred to.
Which is the more material the more
lasting benefit to nation such as ours is,
with its great industrial aspirations, to have
gathered in few hundred million dollars of
ocean freightagc as the results Of the oppor-
tunity given us in the expected European
war, or 10 find ourselves at its termination
busy ship-building community with our
ship-yaris in full blast This is the posi-
bility afforded us now, the first time for Il
quarter of a century. And yet tho press of
the country blindly cry out that we should
be allowed to buy ships from England
AS business men let us examine and see
what would be the results to this country
and England If the navigation las were
abrogated by Congress. England would be
relieved of her freight ships which are lying
idle in hundreds along her wharves.
This would be godsend to her Just now.
In fact just what she wants. She needs the
money and the orders to build new ships
which with her large plant and docks she
would set about Immediately, war or no
war.
Under any circumstances England would
resume the business of ship-buildiug imme-
diately the war is over with tremendous
vigor, and aided by our foolish policy of the
abrogation of our navigation laws, would
find an unlimited market in this country for
her iron ships. This course would be the
greatest blessing we could confer upon Eng
land. But the more important considera-
tion is as to how this legislation in Congress
would affect the prospects Of ship-building
industry here. We cannot as business men
fail to perceive that such legislation would
be the death knell 10 any hopes for the revi-
ryt------s---.st i...s a'a'a a-s':-
Cur merchants Viii not buy sips at h. M (
if they can get them for two-thrds Of the
price in England. The plain oours, for tt e
United States is undoubtedly to retain the
navigation laws and enforce our merchants
10 order tAeir ships here and thus cause u
demand for home building.
The reply may be made that wo risk los
the first crop Of ocean freights. That is a
relative question; and bears upon the two
points Of the capablity Of our American
ship,buiiders to fill orders, and as to wheth-
er the Russian Navy is able to seriously
cripple English commerce at the commence
ment of the war; We claim that the proba-
bic outcome will be that the British navy
will eventually drive the Russian to cover
in her sca-ports. There will not be, at the
commencement Of the Russo-English wal
such a heavy demand for freight ships that
it cannot be filled quickly by what exists
hero, supplemented by what can be done in
the ship yards Of Cramp, Roach, Harlan
and Hullngsworth, Pusey and Jones, etc.
But if that fatal measure of abrogating
the navigation laws be passed by Congress,
our ship-yards will continue TO be idle, thus
the first great opportunity for revivfying
this much needed industry will have been
. lost, at the end of the war we shall find our.
=, selves advantaged only to the extent of a
few hundred millions Of ocean freight taxes,
and as far as ship-builiing is concerned, in
as lamentablc condition as We are now.
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