The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-02
The wheat Crop and tho American Ship.

The Wheat Crop and tho American Ship.
Two or three weeks ago there was
launched from the shipyard Of ARTHUR
SEwALL. on the Kennebec. the four-master
Husquehanna, one Of the largest wooden
ships ahoat. Like her next elder sister. the
Shenandoah. Of which an excellent picture
appears in Aaypey's Weekly for this week.
this notable vessel is ono Of long line sent
to sea year after year from . yard which is
:, now maintaining. almost alone. the tradi-
lions Of the American clippers that thronged
the ocean In the forties and the dfties.
Whore there were formerly hundreds Of
shipyards along the New England coast
producing these splendid craft to carry the
American flag wherever ocean commerce
reaches. there are now hardly half dozen
firms that dream Of stretching a wooden
keel for enterprises more ambitious than
the coasting trade. Even In these yards.
with single exception. the indus
try is dormant for good part
OF, the time. and the production
occasional. It Is striking fact thatIat the
time Of the launching of the SusquehanRa
she was the only ship. using that word in
Its proper sense. then under construction
anywhere in the United States; and it
speaks volumes for the energy and courage
0f her builders that tho Susquehanna was
hardly of the ways before work began on
the keel Of her successor.
There Is no profit in discussing the mo-
lives OF the one. two. or three Arms Of
builders Of wooden ships In Maine which
continue to construct vessels for the for
1lgn trade under adverse conditions that
have driven nearly all Of their competitors
out OF the business. Whether there Is
money or not in investments like the
Eusquehanna and the Rappahannock
and the Shenandoah for their build
ers and owners. the fact remains
That tho vast majority of the old New Eng
land yards are lido: and the appearance Of
D now first-class American wooden ship In
New York harbor on its way from the Ken
nebec or tho Sheepscot or the Penobscot to
fan Francisco to load with grain for Liver
pool, is an event rare enough to attract
considerable attention.
Next Wednesday there will be held ct
Bath meeting of the representatives Of tho
shipping industry In Maine and other States
Ito take action" In tho language Of the
call. "for the preservation Of orr shipping"
Tho New England ahipbuilders and ship
owners say that they will present to the next
Congress petition signed by five million
citizens asking for the passage OF ton
mage bounty bill which would involve the
expenditure by the Government OF not over
$4,000. 0OO annually. q sum which they con-
trast with the s25O.ooo.OOO paid evcry year
by Americans to foreign capitalists In pas
bepger aud freight charges. The Maine
Shipbuilders. furthermore. allege that for
eisn ships are now fraudulenty put under
American registry.
We are not informed by the Bath call
what tonnage bounty Is desired by the Ship
ping League. Probably It Is the same meas
ure as that which came within very few
votes Of enactment by the Ffty-first Con-
gress. The history Of attempted legislation
In the last Congress TO promote Ameri-
can commerce is peculiar. In May Of
last year Senator FRYE reported from
the Committee on Commerce two distinct
bills. both of which passed the Senate. One
was the Postal Subsidy bill. relating only
" steamships carrying the United States
mails. It was with regard to this bill that
Mr.. FRYE made prediction which must
not be forgotten. II have right to say"
he remarked. that II this bill becomes q
law. o line Of the best ships In the whole
world will be put on within three years be-
tween New York and Liverpool-Amercan
built ships flying our flag"
The other bill. known as the Shipping
Leagues Tonnage Bounty bill. provided