The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-05

upon the Hudson. East river or Lower
bay, near New York
The prices paid for steel by British and
German ship yards are so much higher
that snip builders in New York would be
required 10 pay that the difference would
make. ii itself, an excellent profit Plates
are worth about 81 or $23 ton in New
York. The quoted price at Glasgow IS
nearly $50. Other prices in proportion and
all the woodwork OF ships is also much
cheaper with US. II a yard were built to-
day with the newest appliances. the total
cost Of labor, even At higher wages, would
be less than in any ship yard I know OF
either in Britain or Germany.
name New York as the best, for sew
eral reasons:
L \ ship yard there would get repair
work which IS always profitable
>. y dry dock could be part OF the equip
menr, which would also be highly profita-
ble
5. Two years hence the cost OF transport
upon steel delivered at the ship yard at
New York from Pittsburg will not ex-
coed 81 per ton via Conneaut and the deep
ened Erie canal Indeed il will be less.
since II will cost nothing 70 send steel
TO Conneaut in cars which otherwise re-
turn TO the lake empty for ore. The pres
ent seaboard ship yards are so usefully
occupied with domestic business that they
cannot give foreign business proper at
Jenton. The New York yard should be
constructed on a larger scale and with
special reference 70 the foreign demand
1 am satisfied that the United States
can regain the supremacy in shipbuuding
il had when wooden ships were in vogue.
II only needs an enterprising western ship
building concern 10 establish yard near
New York and manage it with the skill
and energy which has characterized those
one the Lakes This is the only prominent
department Of manufacturing in which
our country is behind, and It is one in
which it can easily obtain front rank. II
would Justify steel manufacturers TO
guarantee 10 such a shipbuiIding concern
a continuance OF the present extremely
low rates upon steel for a number OF
years, and also thar steel OF all kinds and
armOr and guns should always be furnish
ed at the lowest price paid by European
shipbuilders. But there is nothing TO fear
from the prices Of steel. for these hence
forth are 20 rule lower In our country
than in any country of Europe. II will
not be long before a large portion of its
steel supply must be drawn by Europe
from the United States
If I were a younger man. or. rather, II
I did not belong to a concern which en-
pIoys all my capital. I should be greatly
inclined 70 enter upon the building Of
ships somewhere near New York hsrbor.
There would be no warships of Atlantic
liners open for bids in any part OF the
world which the New York yard would
not have something 70 say about. Every
needed element Is present for regsining
our supremacy as the principal ship
building country. Surely some one of the
successful lack concerns will consider the
advisabiHty Of establishing a branch yard
near New York-a branch which I pre-
dict would very soon grow to many times
the capacity Of the original works. and
give a much higher return upon capital
besides rendering its originator famous.
Very truly yours,
ANDREW CARNEGIE
WHAT SHIPBUILDERS SAY
Cleveland. Ohio. March A represent
alive Of the Associat ted Press today in
terviewed officials OF the Cleveland Ship
building company and the Globe Iron
company, which are among the largest
concerns Of the kind in the United States
in reference 70 the letter written by Mr.
Andrew Carnegie regarding great ship
building plant nea New York. and the
possibility Of the ships OF this country
again becoming supreme upon the seas.
Mr. Robert Wallace, president % the
Cleveland Shipbuilding company. said.
Notwithstanding the difference in wages
between this country and Europe, there
ie. I believe. not the slightest doubt but
that modern steel or iron vessels can be
constructed fin New York or vicinity
much cheaper than in any foreign coun-
try. Owing 70 recent great improvements
in machinery used fl building boats. and
the cheapness Of steel the cost has been
reduced until there Is TO longer a ques-
tIon as 20 our ability 70 build ocean-golnz
vessels az any class az a price which
would defy competition
II consider shipbuiIdfug yard n New
York OF vicinity. backed by 4 company
with ample capital. one q the safest in
vestuents possible and with assurances
OF large returns
I believe IL vtu be only a matter o.
short time E1sn AneTIrs1-O-nit SHIPS
VIII again be supreme On the seas"
Mr.. Luther AIen. treasurer q the Globe
Shirbull1lzE company said
"SEirhEflders have realized for some
tine past THAI there IL q great field for
the location % g lzrEe. uoderaly equ{p2=d
salryarl On the Atlantic coast. "a TIE ST.
ci-ity q New York CItT. That sEca e
rla1- could construct sas-Eoilg vessels
~ Isss cost ;ta1 q possible 81 Europe
.zee- Is lut l-r-s doubt. even taking .ato
consideration tsa psuPer wages pad FL
roueau wcrkU@1-
az We cz1 ssI steel -aTs a-E otae- Steel
u-o.zue-z 20 F-lrore s-scs as s. zo~ being
5r-s ~ @ prcf-, tae-e s. no good rsaa5z
WY Ea cannot s-serassfzlty compete E.ts /
Europe IL s1lg5lE1irr
TIE vessels - -he merchant rzzr,-s e
mary foreign countries. however. are
granted sZtssss ard uzt8 CTR govern /
r~ars extends O re-er--zl Aa11 81 t5e sane +
sf-srrt-r f-r A-a-icar-h--lt sssps a.
Industry VIII aa9- u11ss a elsz1vaa1- /
ara
Bids " anted
TIE lard - trustees - the wses; a 1
hgs1iral z-llI receive seeie5 IDS f-C- 1
March = uncl MarcA : to- Eork and 4
materials Eo- the attentions AID lzs- /
-rsqa-se--s proposed IL TIE Martha I
bulld-rE azaer ere toEsziag e-viE,azs.