The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-05
AMERICAS OPPORTUNITY.
Carnegie says There Is No Reason Why
tho United states should Not
Build ships for the World.

Cleveland. Ohio. March 4.-This
weeks issue of the Iron Trade Review
has the following important letter from
Andrew Carnegie, dated at Cannes,
France, Feb. 10. 1898, and addressed to
the editor:
May ! call attention through your
columns to the field which is open for
a first class shpbuilding yard upon the
Hudson. east of the bay. near New
York. The prices paid for steel by Ger
man and English shipyards are 50 much
higher than shipbuilders in New York
would be required to pay that the diff
ference would make in itself an excel
lent profit Plates are worth about S22
or $23 per ton in New York The quoted
price at Glasgow is nearly $50. Other
prices are in proportion and all the
woodwork of ships is also much cheaper
in the United States.
IF yard We're built to-day with the
newest appliances the total cost of Ia
Dor. even at much higher wages. would
be less than In any shpyard ] know Of.
either in Great Britain or Germany. |
name New York as the best for several
reasons.
"First-A shpyard there would get
repair work, which is always profit
able.
"Second--A dry dock could be part of
the equipment. which would also be
highly profitable.
"Thrd-Two years hence, the cost of
transport upon steel, delivered at the
shipyard at New York from Pittsburg.
viii not exceed 81 per ton via Conneaut
and the deenened Erie canal Indeed
1t will be less. since 1t will cost nothing
to send steel to Conneaut In ears which
must otherwise return to the lake
empty for ore. Present seaboard ship
yards are SO usefully occupied With
IapapG ffp hl1GlnaGS that IhaN nnOt uiVn
foreign business proper attention. The
New York yard should be constructed
on large scale and with special refer
ence To the foreign demand.
Il am satisfied that the United States
can readily regain the supremacy In
shipbuilding II had when wooden ships
were in vogue. II only needs an enter
prising Western shipbuIding concern
TO establish yard near New York and
manage II with the skill and energy
which have characterized those on the
lakes This Is the only prominent de-
partment of manufacture in which our
country is behind. and IL is one in which
Ii can easily obtain front rank. Ii would
justify steel manufacturers TO guaran-
tee to such "A shipbuilding concern a
continuance of the present extremely
low rates upon steel for term of years
and also that steel of all kinds and
armors and guns should always be fur
nished at the lowest price paid by
European shiphuilders. But there Is
nothing TO fear from the prices of
steel. for these henceforth are to rule
lower in our country than in any
country of Europe. 1t viii not be long
before large portion OF its steel sup
ply must be drawn by Europe from the
United States. :.
IF | were a younger man. or rather
| IL | did not belong to a concern which
employs all my capital. | should be
] greatly incliged to enter upon the build
ing of ships somewhere near New York
harbor. There would be no warships or
Atlantic liners open for bids in any
part OF the world which the New York
yard would moi have something TO say
about. Every needed element Is pres
| ent for regaining our supremacy as the
| principal shipbuilding country Surely.
| some of the successful Western con-
Germs will consider the ACCESSIBILITY OF
establishing a branch yard near New
! York-a branch which. | predict. would
! Very soon grow To many times the ca :
pacity of the original works and give n
much higher return upon capital, he
sides rendering its originator ia
| NOUS.