Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-25
BUILDING BIG BARGES
Baltimore and Ohio Road Gives a Contract
to a Baltimore Firm.
The Growing Use of Big Lighters for
COastwfse Trade-Cheaper to
Build and Hold More.

ne bdltlnlOfe ana OnlQ railroad Com
pany mas just adopted system of giving
out contracts. at least far their
new work for water transportation is con-
cerned, that is not only a revolution in
the manner of transacting their own bus
mess In that department, but may lead to
a revival of the almost defunct shipbuild-
ing industry of Baltimore.
According to statements made to a Star
reporter. the receivers of the b. and o.
determined some time since to have built
ten large barges the cost of which would
not be less than $4,000, and PROPOSALS
for the construction of the boats were in
vited from number Of shipyard owners,
among them being Messrs. William Skin
ner & Sons of Baltimore.
AS matter of fact the receivers We're
anxious that the work to be given out by
them should be performed in Baltimore,
but 1t was out of the question to have this
done unless Baltimore parties were the
lowest bidders.
An investigation Of the subject showed
that in the Baltimore ship yards what is
known skilled labor alone has been en-
ployed in vessel construction, the wages
averaging s.. IS day. The northern yards
| make distinction. employing skilled work
| men and labcrers. A group of five or six
laborers, who receive 81 or 81 % day, are
placed under the supervision of a skilled
| workman who earns $50 or $275 day,
and this group, under careful and watch
full guidance, Is said to be capable OF turn
ing out satisfactory work of the rougler
kind. 1t will be seen how greatly this diff
ference between 81 a day for the majority
of the men employed in northern yard
and 81. 80 day for skilled workmen en-
ployed in the Baltimore yards has operated
against local firms in bidding on contracts.
When the large b. and o. contract WAS
about TO be given out, Messrs. William
| Skinner & Sons determined, If possible. TO
| secure the work for Baltimore, but 1t was
| first necessary to reach satisfactory
| agreement with their men. who were con-
erned by their laws. The firm. 1t is said.
| held conference with the men and placed
! the entire matter before them. They stated
| that under existing methods they were not
likely to secure the contract against north
| ern competition, but could do SO with the
| cooperation of the men, proposing to work
| somewhat on the plan Of the northern
| yards. This proposition was carefully con-
| sdered by the men and submitted to their
| organization. 1t was determined to try the
| experiment in Baltimore, and upon the
| strength of that decision the firm made
| successful bid for the work. The general
| features of the New England plan, il is
| understood, will be followed, with prob
| ably some notifications, to meet local con-
| ditions. The experiment will be watched
| with considerable interest, not only by the
| workingmen, but by other shipbuildinS
| firms, as upon its success may largely de-
| pend a revival and boom Of work sn Balti-
| more snip ydTOs
Use Of Barges.
The rapid inclina ton recently of the use
| of barges toward coastwise trade has ex-
| cited considerable discussion in marine cir
| cles generally. as for several years there
has been a decided drift toward the con-
| struction of barges for this trade.
| For this preference several reasons are
given. The principal argument is to the eff
e L., 4taz l.ars
| and that no skilled crew is required to nav
| igate il. The second reason is because a
| barge can usually carry at least three times
as much freight as one of the scnooners,
which have hitherto monopolized almost all
| of the coastwise trade.
| The barges as now constructed carry
| coal, sugar, oil and general merchandise
| from point to point along the seaboard in
tow of tugs. and deliver the cargoes with
| absolute safety. Within the past few years
barges have been utilized frequently by the
| leading shippers, and they bid fair to run
the familiar schooner Of other days out of
| the business.
| 1t is by no means unusual to hear ship
| ping men say that the schooner will be-
| come as scarce as the Baltimore clipper.
| which at one time ruled the sea- The re-
suit Of the barge development will be 10
| drive out Of the coaStwiSe trade many OF
the shippers who, in older days, used 10
| practically reign supreme along the coast
Relatively, the change will injure the trade
as far as the men go, for it will remove
one of the mediums by which mariners
were trained into the mysteries and pecu-
liarities of the American coast.
An instance of how the barge trade is
growing in Importance is the fact that a
schooner-barge was recently launched al
Bath Me, the dimensions of which were
as follows: Length, $50 feet; beam, 43 feet
depth, 10 feet. The capacity of this barge
is set at 5000 tons of coal The cabin will
be forward instead of aft, an innovation in
the construction of such craft.