Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-17
STEEL FOR BIG SHIPS
All the Go With the Extensive Build
ers of Great Britain.
IT BEATS IRON FIVE TO ONE.
Interesting Information in Consular Re-
.-. port Just Made.
AMERICAN POLITICIANS ARE WATCHED

,syrc1kI TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPArcH.l
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb 16.-A very
Interesting statement of the worlds ship
building of 1891 has Just been received from
Consul Metcalf at Newcastle-on-Tyne,
taken from the best statistical authorities.
Each company's and individuals produc-
tion. large and small, of number of coun-
tries are given, but the report is confined
principally to Great Britain.
OF the great ship-building firms of that
country, it is remarkable that Harland q
Wolf, of Belfast, ireland, exceed in the
tonnage of the vessels constructed all other
firms, theirs amounting to 64, ,962 tons w.
GRAY & Co, of West Hartlepool, who stand
next, produced vessels aggregating 59,OS3
tons. Russell & Co, of Glasgow, who
stood first in 1890, 56, ,667, and Sir Raylton
Dixon & Co, Middleborough, IS, 59l. The
Belfast firm stood third in the list in 1890.
The fact that Belfast firm has this year
launched the largest tonnage is in itself re-
markable, and it is still more so when the
absence of the production of steel plates
and of iron in Ireland is borne in mind.
Tonnage Turned Out of Big Ports.
The total tonnage of the vessels con-
structed at the great shipbuilding ports on
the TYNE is 135, ,367; Wear, 1872, ia; Tees,
100 1872; West HartIepool, &C, ,993. On the
Clyde the decrease of tonnage in 1891 over
1890 was "a, so tons and at the other ports
69,745 tons.
Steel vessels still greatly predominant as
about five of steel to one of iron, though
iron shows for the year percentage OF in
crease. Two ports-the Wear and West
Hartlepool-have built all their YES
sells of steel One reason for the prefer
ence of that material is found in the fact
that whereas few years ago the production
of steel plates in the county of Durham was
extremely small, it is now in that county
and on its borders so large that all the needs
of the shipbuilders of the North can be met,
and more than met, by the local steel plate
makers There is more than convenience
served: there is an increased cheapness of
plates. because of the incresed competition
among the makers, and also because of the
saving in carriage.
Only one American firm is mentioned,
that OF William Cramp & Sons, OF Phlladel-
phia. who are credited with five vessels
under construction at the time of the report,
aggregating 4369S tons, with value OF
e.. SSS, 600, in which is included two war
vessels.
Fears of American Competition.
Notwithstanding the fact that Great
carry the worlds trans-ocean and much of
its coastwise trade, a paragraph quoted by
Consul Metcalf from his chief authority
shows that they are not only not sure OF their
grip, but that America is looked upon as a
verv dangerous competitor.
"There is the probability" SAYS this au-
thority, "of coming competitor in ship
ping, for the United States is becoming
restive at finding that all its goods are prac
i H. ! h. IF
other nations, and in some way or other 1t
will try, it seems, probably to raise feet
of merchant vessels, just as it has been
building navy Possibly the coming cleo
toral disputes in that country may postpone
for q wear or two the decision, but it seems
one of the things that loom ahead, and that
will force us to consider how our steamers
can work chesply enough to compete with
the vessels that the United States Will seek in |
some way to protect There is open COM |
petition on the seas and the bounty system
has failed with France; but America ap-
proaches in another fashion, and the ship
owners of Great Britain will need to watch
how every move made on the chessboard of
the politics of the United States is made.
rPays to Watch Politicians. I
'It is difficulty that is ahead, that has
been clearly indicated by the passing of the
postal subsidy act bv the last Congress; but
one which is lessened by the fact that the
surpluses of the United States have been
frittered away by lavish pensioning. Still,
the temper OF the politicians of that great
country is shown, and, to meet competi-
tion that seems TO be coming. the ship own
ers will need cheaper working There is a
continuous growth in the oversee traffic of
the world, and the competitors who can
carry cheapest and quickest have the great
est likelihood OF being able to secure the
largest share of that trade which has been
SO valuable in the past and is still of such
importance TO this country"
Possibly, if the writer had been aware of
the great movement in America, to which
so great an impetus has been given by The
DISPATCH, to construct ships canals which
will bring ocean-plowing vessels from the
great lakes to the sea, he would have spoken
still more forcibly in regard to probable |
American competition. 1t is not to be dis |
puted that if this could be done, the great |
lakes, which have upon their very shores all |
the material to be used in the construction |
of vessels, would soon Danish from Great |
Britain supremacy of which it is now so
justly proud.