The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-11
STEEL SCHOONERS.
A Project TO Have a Fleet Built
for This Port.
Trade With Japan, China and the South
Pacific Islands to be Stimulated.
Saving to Be Effected.

1t was learned yesterday that movement
is on foot among gentlemen prominent in
shipping circles in this port to form a syndi-
cate and have fleet of steel or iron schoon-
ers built in England which will sail from
this port across the Pacific, and to islands
and foreign ports in the Pacific Ocean. The
movement has been going on quietly for
some time, measures have been discussed
and it is probable that in the near future
there will be a number of large steel
schooners brought here that will in man
ner revoiutionize the carrying trade be-
tween this port, Honolulu and other ports.
In conversation yesterday, gentleman on
Change, who has been connected with ship
ping here for the last twenty-five years,
and who is interested in the new project,
said Il tell you II is great scheme, and
it is a wonder that none Of us thought of it
before.
There is a dearth OF good carrying
schOoners on this coast now, and there is II
field for q fleet. A friend of mine tried
hard This week to charter a handy vessel of
from 800 to 200 tons burden, but could not
get one.
"0ur plans are not yet quite completed
but viii lie in a few days, and then We in
tend to send an agent to England to arrange
for the building OF four or five steel or iron
four-masted Sehooners, say of about 1000
tons each. 1t Is good, square proposition,
and with the names OF John ID. Spreckels,
John ROsenfeld, A. Chesebrough, or other
well-knOwn merchants at the head of the
enterprise, there will be no doubt Of raising
all the capital We may need in England
itself if we should so desire.
We can watch for time of depression
among the British ship-builders, and can
get steel vessels built for onethird less
than we can get wooden ones constructed
on this coast. Why, you can't get a soft
wood ship built in Nova Scotia or on the
Eastern coast Cor less than 8lO per ton.
The tine barkeatiue lrmgard, that was re-
Gently built at Port Blakeiey and Is now
here, is OF 62S tons burden. and cost in
r ound figures $4,000. or over Els IA ton.
Now l am satisfied that in times OF de-
preston we can get our steel or iron YES
sells built in England, or al Belfast, or on
the Clyde for 81 per ton. Why, the new
British ship Engelhorn, as fine ship as
ever entered this port, only cost eS 5s. a
ton to build. OF course the vessels VIII fly
the British or some other foreign flag;
they'll have to.
II tell you these schooners will be great
thing for the trade of this port. We don't
care for the coast trade there are only
three or four ports on the coast anyhow;
San Diego, Portland and ports on the Sound,
but shall run to Japan and China and Hon
oulu and open up trade with islands in the
South Pacific and give an impetus to trade.
The schooGers will be large carriers, have
four masts, carry small crew and be fitted
with all the latest appliances. They can be
run ut half the expense of wooden ones.
There viii be no calking required every
trip, but once in while they Will go on the
dry-dock to be scraped and get coat OF
paint and tallow. They will last too half
As long again as wooden vessels and the in
surance will be light. Some time next year
you may expect to see the advance guard OF