New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-23
aOUR DESERTED SHIPYARDS.'
STUBBORN FACTS FOR FREE-TRADERs.

THE UNITED STATES SECOND IN THE MANUFAC~
TURE or IRON STEAMSHIPS.
To the Editor OF the Trtbane.
SIR: Mr.. David A. Wells. chairman OF the
late Chicago Free Trade Convention during MS address
made the following statement in regard TO the ship
building industry in the United States:
Our shipbuildng industry has been protected until
is now nigh deaths door. Tue has OF our nerchant
marine has almost vanished from the ocean Our ship
yards deserted ana tlb art Or sEpDuuus anu ohP
usng almost TO DC lost
Similar statements frequently made by the leading
advocates OF free trade IN different portions Oh tht
country. That they not Only gross erVerSioisot
facts positively untrue, viii be readily dsc0vered ~
a brief examination OF the official report on Comuerca
and Navigation for tie year 1884. THIS report con-
talns table giving tho class, DuInber OF vessels
and tonnage constructed in tho United states each
year from 1897 TO 1884 From this table we
ascertain that in year S3 there made n this
ountry ll00 wood and iron vessels VITA total tonnage
or 22J,5li tons. II we compare the shipDuiidinS
industry this country during the last four years OF low
tariff with OF first four years at,r tue nigh arn
wont into operation In 1862 hnd that the high farf
period does not suffer ia tbs least 10y the con arlson
From tho year 1857 1851 about nearly Oh
free trade basis probably as In any like period In thu
cOuntrys history.
Daring the four years OF low tariff from 1853 to 1861
inclusive find that there were made in this country
43l4 vessels with q total tonnage amounting TO
5ig.3O7 20 tons During that time there We're SOLD 10
foreigners vessels OF American manufacture With
tom re ainoutig to l0l .222 tons.
Under the first four years OF protection from lS02 to
1865 inclusive there were mall IN this country 1851
vessels with "A totd tonnage OF 1,296.4G299 tons.
There Sold drrihe this period to loreisheis suis
with u tonDa-e equal to 1862 TONS Tnesc hIuies
show that ncro made Ia TINS country dlflfs tho
first four Yeas Of high trih 2.0l3 vessels WIN a
tonnage equal TO AL l5377 tons more than were maze
iurIug previous under free trade hhu thdt
We Soa 10 10 ipeis ,r," the rn q e ro HS arn
fIrN p.rs
IN tins country 1887 vessels wan tonnage ot
our years We made 500 ssels VITA tonnage ercatcr
~ 2U4 36j.O5 tnAn did during The last ioar
Years OF freo trade OF ng tariff Nav consider
that the first four years OF high tam were duns tno
war and that last four years have been daring
period OF great business depression brought on the
country 10y The reduction duties foreign imports
wncn took place IN lsIJ wil DO seen lnat tne s,''e
plOlccc cd until Is nigh DEATHS door Is very lar
IRON being correct. -
OF the matter Is the United states IS now.
next to Great Bn ain, the largest mlnuactder oil iron
steamships IN the world and II oit Government wo
render as much financial All To Lcr suiIine sui
Us the English Government Is rendering hcr. VIC c9u.u
oon rurla,s even Gr'at Bri'alh IN ShgoulIp, ',S
doubtless true that OWING 10 large subsidies Erdhleu
Great Br tain to hor shirowners' the shipownes o. e
Uued tatcs cannot coDprtc with those or Giei,
Britain a.. tno carrying rdic OI tue ocean. ihei vo
II their SHIPS dId not cost "hs
they do now. English sbpbuicrs have cheaper CAPITAL
lad cheat Labor. aud English sLipOwirrs NOT ohy
these advantages but they have large s",siuos
states sp,wncrs expect Ia compete VIA Bat sh snip
ownrrs under such eli cum.tanccsf But IN pnin9 snps
and ln sailing them own coasts on our lhiihu
waters, or running ships ~ the lsthiuus 0i Pahah
West Indies. California or China, Where oar spp,,s
and shipOwucrs to do business Al cbmlctllo VITA
those who pay the rates for capt ana lhpor as
they do and without subsidies. We Ind that our sup
huiiiug and using industries dnOit as active as
OF any nation Oh the !slo g. frcctianefs W tIe
c,,tr,rv nj v,itustanding There are th5
country according L. oincial reports 24OoE wooion
AMI iron vessels. with y total iohhFe "s'res',iins
l.7I 22S - t0s yet Mr.. Wells ts,crts th A. oUi snip
wards are deserted and art OF shlpbnil1ihg ana
sI,uslug see .ns 20 be lost" Would such testimony
be sicicnt Impeach him II witness IN any ordinary
court OF iIsticei L. l. MILLbii
kep- IOTk Nov. 2J, 1855.