The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-29
The Revival Of Shipbuilding.


We have several important dispatches
about the revival Of shipbuilding in various
ports Of our country.
A contract has been signed for the con-
struction Of six mammoth Whalebacks in
the main shipyard of the enterprising city
of West Superior. at the upper end of Lake
Superior. and the keels Of two Of them
were laid there on Tuesday Of this week.
They are to be Of an improved model. 800
feet long. and swifter than any of those
now afoat. An interesting fact about this
new feet of new style of steamers to be
built in an American port is that 1t is for
the service Of the Canadian Pacific BAIL
road Company. company owned and con-
trolled by British capitalists. Truly inter-
esting indeed is the fact; for It shows that
we are now building Whalebacks for JOHN
BULL. whose ships flags have braved the
breezes Of the Atlantic at our expense for
good many years. Perhaps We will yet
build all kinds OF ships so much superior
to BULLS ships that the old navigator
will be compelled to spend his money here
In buying some Of them.
In the shipyards of Buffalo there Is also
unusual activity at this time. We hear of
Jilo plOSloe VI LILO NOTh upon b u6"
ton steamship. upon an 18-knot twin screw
steamer. and upon yet other vessels Of
various models and sizes. A shipbuilding
company there is DESTROYS OF securing from
the Navy Department contract for the
construction Of one Of the 1,2OO-ton war
ships favored by Secretary TRACY. the ship
to be built and launched at Buffalo. from
which. she can proceed by way OF the st.
Lawrence to our Atlantic seaboard. In our
Judgment it would DO more advisable to
have these projected ships built in this city
or Its vicinity than anywhere else: but of
course the Buffalo company has the right
to try to got contract.
There arc busy times just now In the
shipyards of tho seaport OF Bath. up In
Maine: and letter In last Sundays SUN
from Bangor correspondent gave the
news OF the yards. A steam whaler is
on the stocks ut Bath; Cruiser No. 6 will
soon DO launched there: tho keel has there
been laid OF a sailing ship bigger tbnn any
OF Its kind afoat. A.000-ton ship OF the
registered length OF 3l2 feet. and q largo
number OF other vessels TO run by steam or
by sail. are In course OF construction there.
In the shipyards Of other Maine ports bust
ness is brisk. but in those Of Bath especial
ly. as our correspondent remarked the out
look for 1899 is promising.
We need not refer again to the facts we
recently rccounted about the revival of
shipbuilding at other ports besides, New
York. at Boston. Wilmington. Baltimore,
and OF III tho Pacific. ut San Francisco and
Portland. The revival is not so active or so
extensive rs 1t ought to 10. but 1t gives
promise Of growing In activity aud extent.
1t may be presumed that Secretary TRACY
Is Interested In the new submarine steamer
that has just been constructed at Detroit.
1t Is novel In its design and In It's method
OF operation, differing In several respects
from every other submarine boat yet heard
OF. Tho main invention adopted by its
builder consists In reversible propellers
working on each side amldships. which are
servlceable In regulating the desired i'm
merslon as well as In propulsion. We shall!
not DO able to pass Judgment upon the util-
ity OF this naval novelty until it Is set
agoing under water. with only an observing
tower rising two feet In the air. We have
favored tho Whalebacks all along, and we
are ready to favor other meritorious things
In the seas and lakes.
We shall constantly watch the progress
OF tho revival OF American shipbuilding. 1t
must DO promoted In the coming year.