The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-18

Common integer; It Ia then shown that,
since 1885, England has built a new navy
on modern lines which bears to the com
bined new navies Of the rest of the world
the proportion of 20 to "a.
What is the bearing Of these naval
statistics on the public value Of private
shipyards1 Mr.. Nixon tells us that a close
examination Of the successive annua nav
estimates discloses the fact that "a per
cent. Of the total displacement and OF per
cent. Of the total indicated horse power
ave been built by contract In the pri-
vate shipyards and machine shops of the
United Kingdom. 1t Is further pointed out
that at the average rate Of contract
prices since 1885 the "a per cent. OF
total displacement representa- the sum Of
1902, $4,000, and the OF per cent. Of
total Indicated horse power represents
the sum of 1915, 600, 900; thus we have a
total sum Of 1917, 1850, 900 paid to the pri-
vate shlpbuilding and engine building in.
dustries Of Great Britain during the twelve
years under consideration for hulls and
machinery alone. To this, however, must
be added the sums paid for armor and gun
mounts, which are all made by contract,
and for materials furnished by con-.
tract to vessels built In the royal dock
yards. In short, the whole sum expended
by England on her new navy has gone to
encourage, promote, and sustain the pri-
vate industries of the realm, excepting only
the wages paid to the workmen on the pay
rolls Of the royal dock yards and Of the
royal gun factories. A review of all the
data proves that out of the total sum,
$541 100000, expended since 1885, $780,
151,25O have rome to the credit of private
industries, and only $34,O99,O 900 to the
royal dock yards and gun factories.
We see. then, hat in English practice the
naval programme from year to year is
adapted to the needs and capacities of the
English shipbuilder; he is considered the
mainstay of the country, and his shipyard
is recognized as the keystone of the arch of
the British empire. Mr.. NIXON goes on to
indicate how the promotion of English
~shipbuilding resources through British
public policy has had other extraordi-
nary results besides the increase of the
British navy and the augmentation of
the imperial sea power In its warlike
aspects. To such an extent have the ship
building capabilities of Great Britain been
developed by the persistent and unstinted
aid and promotion lavished on them
through public policy that, in addition to
their output for British use, vast as that Is,
they have provided whole navies for Japan,
China, Chilli. Argentina, Brazil, Portugal,
and some lesser States, and parts Of navies
for Italy, Russia, Germany, Spain, Holland,
Sweden, and Norway, In short, for every
maritime Dower IN earth avrapf Erapca
and the United States, together with
merchant fleets for every flag except our
own. Summing W the results of his in
quiries, Mr.. NIXON submits that British
shipbuilding has created the British en-
pire as we see it to-day that. having reared
the empire, it upholds it, asserts it's suprem-
acy, and assures to it impregnability as
against the efforts Of other powers. II, from
the military aspects of the subject, our view
be extended to the commercial, industrial,
and financial features of the existing state
Of things, we find that British ships now
carry more than seven-tenths of the worlds
ocean-borne commerce., not merely in the
traffic between other countries and Great
Britain herself, but in the nternational
traffic of all countries with each other, IRE
spectively of British ports. This is a source
of absolute tribute from all nations to Great
Britain, amounting to nearly $500, 900, 900
every year.
What is Mr.. NIxoN's conclusion3 1t is
this: that II we fail to pursue the policy
entered upon by us when the rebuilding Of
our navy began; If We cease to continue to
encourage our %shipyards, FORCES, and ma
chine shops If we refuse to recognize that
the private s%hipyard is the keystone of the
arch of our sea power and Of our mercan-
tile marine, our lot hereafter will be little
better than that of producing cargoes for
British ships to carry, and of earning
money to pay British traffic tolls.