The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-10-24
SEATTLE. rarRsDAr. ocTosrn 81.
suIPBUILDING.

Irving " Scott. the head Of the frm who
built the United States steel cruiser
Charleston. and who will launch another,
the San Francisco, on the 18th inst. con-
tribuiesi an interesting and instructive AZ
ticIe 10 the san Francisco Exanainey. OF
October %. on the remarkable success thai
has thus far attended shipba!idIng on the
Pacific coast. and the superior advantages
which 10 affords for that important branch
Of industry. To the same paper John y.
spreckcls. head OF the Oceanic Steamship
Company. and elder son Of the grea. sugar
king. contributes an article on the same
line of inquiry, which presents IN array Of
facts which Is no less startling than sug-
gestiye. and makes recommendation
which are entitled 10 and viii doubtless re-
eeive respectful consideration in the high
est quarters
The history OF the construction OF the
sister ships. the Corona Quilt In the East,
and the Pomona tbuilt in San Franciscol,
presents in strong light the advantage OF
building on this coast the vessels intended
for use on the Pacific. The contract for
the Pomona was made September il, iss7
She was launched May -. isss. came up to
ail requirements and went right into ser.
vice. The contract for the Corona was
made October %. six weeks later. She was
launched August 4. 1855, and. both being
intended for the same traffic. reached San
Francisco in January, 1859, and conse-
quentiy did not go into active business
until seven months after the Pomona.
After six months trial of both ships. the
agents made written reports 10 the owners.
showing that the Pomona carried as much
freight and made as good time as the
Corona. and ran with % per cent less fuel.
making greater average speed
But the strongest points made in Mr..
Scott's article are those In which he de-
monstrates the advantages OF San Fran.
cisco over Eastern points as shipbuilding
center. all Of which apply with added force
In favor of Seattle. and those points a,
which he admits San Franciscos weakness
do not apply 10 Seattle. 1.-The advantages.
Gays Mr. Scott, ''of being able TO build a
ship in q climate where the temperature Is
such that at all times of the year steel and
iron plates can be handled without exces.
sive heat or cold, is inestimable" And he
IL unquestionshly correct in claiming that
the gain of time due 20 climatic conditions
more than compsnsatcs for the difference
in wages. While work is suspended there
on account OF the cold in winter or for fear
of suns'fokes in summer. ii is prosecuted
without interruption here. Fortified bv
his own experience which has been extern.
sive, he insists that although wages are
higher here. the men do SO much better
work that the same amount of money will
produce more work than anywhere east Of
the Rocky mountains.
But he admits that Eastern points nos
sesS an advantage over Saa francisco on
account of accessibility To- iron sunpiv
And he also admits San Francisco's weak
ness in respec, 30 fuel. On the other hand
her safe hsrhosase and facilities for oh
tanning good timtrer and fine fni~hing
woods are claimed to be Of great import.
anee
Seattle has barber equal to that Of San
Francisco in every respect The climate Is
faaltlcss. Within radius Of one hundred
miles. with this city a. the center. can De
obtained in boundleSs quantities. every i'm.
portant article used in iron or wooden
shipenlding--th hes. of timber, sll varl-
cites of coal and iron, choice woods for tin
ishiag purposes, unlimited water power II
needed. The possession of ali these al.
vsntagcs l. inaisputshle. as viii certainly
Re discovered by capitalists who are likely
10 he impressed by Mr.. SCOTS arguments
and conclusive demonstration
The magnitude which this Industry will
probably attain may be inferred from the
statements made by Mr. sprcekels. such
facts as he presents cannot fail 10 create a
profound impression and lead To govern.
mental action prcmo;iye OF the shipouad-
iaK industry.
He shows that Cur total foreign trade in
ISIS VAS 81 ~ esSS 90. Of which onlv sess
olg,Iie. % i4s4 per cent. WAS carried in
American bottoms. Our people are thus
shown 10 he dependent on foreign nations
10 market - per cent. OF their products
aai furnish themselves with sach laxaries
home. A q result, the people u this
country paid - foreign shlposners last
year IN rognd numbers SIS. oo.doo Tor
freight, or about four times the amount
paid Cor interest o. the entire national
ese1 This amount would have given en-
pl1ymsnt 70 ss5.so men FOR 50 DAYS each
ST - FER day, supporting tally ore million
people. And this drain has heen ana :
stss,s!ly ga the inerszse 1; Is further
shown that e<tsesa American woosen lot.
toass And fovesga vessels 81 trsa aa& steel
there i = freight Discrimination - - PEI
eeE;,, and the ecst - sailing sAsn Is sa~sat
81 PEI osgS greater. Hence FAC Necessity