The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-10-29
TIME is OPPORTUNE.
An Urgent Plea for Marine Protec-
tive Legislation.
Abundance OF Capital stands Ready
Co Invest in American shipping
Provided Congress Accords
Fair Treatment.


for vigorously urging forward the
movement for the more effectual pro-
lection of American shipping by the
imposition Of discriminating duties
against imports in foreign vessels.
Influenced by the ending Of the war
with Spain. by the opening of the ports
of Puerto Rico to coastwise commerce,
and by the prospect that ere long the
ports OF Cuba will likewise be so
opened, shipping interests in the coast
wise trade are making arrangements
for the enlargement of their service
and are contracting for the building Of
new vessels at American yards. The
act of March 3. 1891, under which
American built ships may obtain mail
subsidies, for outward voyages, has
stimulated the construction of steam
ers for an important West India
trade, and one of the most successful
of our shipbuilding companies has re-
Gently launched a 2,OO0-ton 15-lnot
vessel which was built In the short
space of IL weeks. This firm has under
construction three more vessels of
the same class, work on which will be
rapidly prosecuted. New steamship
lines have been organized for the
Asiatic trade, and four American
steamers, of 5000 tons each, will soon
be completed on the Pacific coast for
company of eastern capitalists 10
engage in the trade between San Fran
cisco and Honolulu. Competition In
the Australian trade, which Is now
vigorous, will doubtless result in an
increase in the number of vessels en-
! gagged in that service. The few yards
on the Pacific coast will most likely
have contracts, either government or
private, which will keep them actively
employed for many months, and the
yards on the Atlantic seaboard are
already busy with similar contracts
and those for the government and for
Russia will doubtless be Of such com
paratively urgent character as 10
make undesirable, unless the industry
can be protected, the acceptance of
private contracts after those now In
process OF execution shall be com
pleted.
II may be asked: What need for the
against imports in foreign vessels while
the existing shipbuilding plants are en-
joying such comparatively high de-
gree OF prosperity? The answer Is
this: Conditions now prevail which
have never before been paralleled In
the history OF the country. We are
now producing the cheapest and best
shipbuilding material in the world;
our plants are equipped with the most
efficient labor-saving machinery that
can be devised; our skilled workmen
have attained a high degree OF pro-
fciency, and our shipbuilders have
demonstrated their ability to produce
vessels superior TO any that float.
But our wage scale is so high that
we cannot successfully compete as to
cost Of production with foreign ship
builders, and, moreover, though
equipped for the construction OF the
highest type OF vessels, this equip
ment is expensive TO maintain, and II
Is almost an effectual bar 10 the eco
nomical building OF cargo carrying
ships. Protection in the form OF dis
eliminating duties would cause such
an increased demand for ships as 10
attract capital for investment In the
shipbuilding industry, and the aug
mented inquiry for vessels would make
possible the adoption OF more econom-
ical methods, such as are In vogue In
England, for the construction OF mer-
chant ships.
The expansion of the shipbuilding i'm
ton would give steady employment 20
vast numbers OF skilled workmen and
laborers; IL would awaken into activ-
lty large amounts OF capital for the
production OF material, the construc-
tion and the fitting OF vessels, and II
would prove OF incalculable and far
reaching benefit.
One important fact, which should be
noted, Is that almost for the first time
In more than 80 years capital Is seek
ing employment In bottomry bonds
on ships. Money can now be obtained
In any desired amounts upon vessels
as security, thus enabling intending
ship owners 20 contract for the
building OF n vessel with as great ease
and on about the same terms as 10 in
lerest as an intending house owner
can contract for the erection OF an
ediflce. The complaint which was
made decade ago that there were no
ship buyers. and, therefore, that there
was little encouragement 10 build mer-
chant vessels, is no longer heard. There
are ship buyers, men who appreciate
American ships, men who want the
- a. a. ~
and who are willing 10 pay fair price |
for a ship bearing the American flag |
The protection afforded by the act |
OF March 3, 1891, above referred TO, |
which applies only TO American-built,
mail-carrying steamships, is sufficient |
only 90 overcome the higher cost OF
operating an American compared with |
foreign vessel In respect OF wages
and subsistence OF the crew. The mall |
bounty or subsidy ranges from four
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