The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-05
OPENING FOR CAPITAL
ANDREW CARNEGIE MAKES A SUG-
GESTION TO SHIP BUILDERS.
saws Americans Cam Regain Suprem-
acy I'm a Great Industry by Con-
structing Yards at New YoWk.

CJ, EVEI,AND, o. March 4.--This weeks
issue of the Iron Trade Review has a letter
from Andrew Carnegie, dated cannes,
France. Feb TO- calling attention to the held
which is open for first-class ship building
ward on the Hudson, East river or lower
bay, near New York. THE prices pald Tor
steel by British and German ship yards,
Mr. Carnegie says, ARE so much higher
than ship builders in New York would be
required to pay that the difference would
make, in itself, excellent profit. Plates
are worth about So or $23 per ton in New
York. The quoted price at Glasgow is near
IN 800 Other prices are in proportion ana
all the wood work of ships is also much
cheaper with us. If a yard We're built to-
day with the newest appliances, the total
cost of labor, even at much higher wages,
would be less than in any ship yard know
of either in Britain or Germany. name
near New York as the best for several rea-
sons: A ship yard there would get repair
work. which is always profitable. A dry
dock could be part of the equipment, which
would also be highly profitable Two years
hence the cost of transport of steel, de-
Iivered at the ship yard at New York from
Fittsburg, will not exceed 81 per ton via
Conneaut and the deepened Erie canal. In
deed it will be less since it will cost moth
ing to send steel to Conneaut in cars which
otherwise must return to the lake empty
for ore. The present seaboard ship yards
are so usefully occupied with domestic bust
ness that they cannot give foreign business
proper attention. The New York yard
should be constructed on larger scale and
with special reference to the foreign de-
mand. ! am satisfied that the United States
building it had when wooden ships were in
vogue. If / were younger, or rather il 1
did not belong to concern which employs
ali my capital, should be greatly inclined
to enter on the building of ships somewhere
near New York harbor. There would be no
war ships or Atlantic liners open for bids in
any part of the world which the New York
yard would not have something to say
about. Every needed element is present for
regaining our supremacy as the principal
ship-building country"
When Mr.. Robert Wallace. president of
the Cleveland Ship-building Company, was
asked about Mr.. Carnegies letter he said:
Notwithstanding the difference in wages
between this country and Europe, there is,
/ believe, not the slightest doubt but that
modern steel or iron vessels can be con-
structed in New York or vicinity much
cheaper than in any foreign country. Owing
to recent great improvements lii machinery
used in building boats, and the cheapneSS
of steel the cost has been reduced until there
is no longer question as to our ability to
build ocean-going vessels of any class at q
price which would defy competition. / con-
slider a ship-building yard in New York or
vicinity backed by a company with ample
capital one of the safest possible invest
ments. and with assurances of large returns.
believe it will be only matter of a short
time when American built ships will be
again supreme on the seas.
Mr.. Luther Allen. treasurer Of the Globe
Ship-building Company, said Ship build
ers have realized for some time past that
there is q great field for location of large,
modernly equipped ship yard on the Atlantic
coast, in the vicinity of New York. That
such a plant could construct sea-going yes
sells at less cost than is possible in Europe
there Is but little doubt. even taking into
consideration the pauper wages paid Eu-
rODean workmen. If we can sell steel rails
and other steel products TO Europe, such
as is now being done at profit. there IS no
reason why we cannot successfully COM
pete with Europe in ship building. The
vessels of the merchant marine of many OF
the foreign countries. however. are granted
subsidies and until our government extends
q paternal hand i'm the same direction for
Asnerican-built ships the industry VIII labor
under q disadvantage.