New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-18
SUNDAY,
JUNE IS, 1899.
AMERICA BECOMING A SHIP BUILDING
AND sHIP-OwNING NATION.

RECOGNIZED AS RIVAL or GREAT BRITAIN
UNPRECEDENTED INCREASE IN coNsrRUc-
TON OF vEssELs-RAPrD PROGRESS
AND RADICAL INNOVATIONS
The chic. feature OF the blue Book Of Americans
Shipping" for 1899 is a review OF the development OF
the Navy and merchant marine for the year just
ending.
This article opens with the statement that no
single year in the third Of century that has been
consumed in the development OF iron and steel
ship-bulding in the United States has witnessed
progression rapid the introduction Of innoya-
lions numerous radical that which has
elapsed since the last issue OF the Blue Book Of
American shipping American triumphs in the for
eign trade field gradually convincing the peo-
pie Of the whole country that the development Of
shipping interests is not a matter that
only the ship-buder ship-owner."
Naturally the naval field attracts the first at
tenton. and is most prolific in results and lessons.
The Spansh-Amercan War taught forciby the I'm
portance OF freproof wood the necessity for ade-
quately equipped repair ships adjuncts TO all
squadrons. and the need OF regularly constituted
military transports. The also occasioned dis
cussions which likely lead to the solution OF
important problems by naval architects and marine
engineers. Thus" continues the article. I'VE have
the last meeting OF the American Society Of Naval
Architects and Marine Engineers concerning itseif
chiefly with the field OF usefulness OF the torpedo
boat the destroyer and the monitor. Just tho
Bourgogne and Mohegan disasters will make the
subject Of launching and manning feboats at sea
the topic OF paramount interest the gather
ing OF this representative American organization
Rear Admiral Melville has carried his idea OF
trple-screw propulsion into the foreign field where
It is now received with sceptcism rather than In
difference, and engineer force has declared that
II the battle OF Santiago taught nothing else Il
tainly made very clear the absolute necessity OF
water-tube boilers for modern vessels.
Finally the United States Navy Department has
gone forward with the contamination OF the most
extensive naval programme it has ever undertaken.
and Congress has authorized the adoption OF an
even more extensive for fulfment during the
next two or three years.
ENORMOUS INCREASE IN rP-BuILDrNo.
The development OF the American mercantile
marine and the American ship building industry
have gone forward hand in hand both stimulated
by the greater Industrial activity following tho
Spanish American War. The ship-buiding Industry
benefited especially by the severe drain made by
Government purchases OF available tonnage for
the auxiliary naval feet. The report OF the Com
missioner OF Navigation for the Treasury Depart.
ment for the fiscal year ended June 30 iss. will
show growth unprecedented In the history OF ship
building In this country, and the figures for the year
just opening will be even more interesting. There
are now building in shipyards for the United
states and foreign countries more than fifty naval
vessels. valued at upward of $40 900 ,ooo exclusive
| OF armor and armament and than two hun
dred merchant vessels mo small craft Of any kind
| Included, the aggregate value OF which exceeds
$50. 10000
There has been turned out in this single year an
Atlantic Coast fleet OF respectable size in which tho
! Cromwell. Morgan. Ward. Merchants and Miners,
Old Dominion. Plant Old Bay and almost all other
prncips! coast lines have been represented. For
the FacIhc Coast service there are building moro
Eodern s'eel freight and passenger steamers than
nave peer constructed IN any three previous years
combined. On the Western rivers steel hus have
mace their appearance, with promise Of the river
Meet tens gradually rebuilt along steel lines. The
snepys,cs or tie entire country have in fact orders
periods ranging from one to three years.
AMERICAN YARDS CROWDED WITH WORK
The largest merchant vessels and vessels OF war
ever constructed on this side of the Atlantic are
now on the stocks In American yards. The prhn-
cipal steamship company OF the country has been
compelled 10 place orders abroad by reason OF In
ability to. secure from any American builder
promise Of delivery in anything like the time re
Ing and expanding At Newport News Va. ssohe
the under way will entail an expendi-
OF establishment on the Delaware River, and
other with a capital Of s. 10000 is projected The
in obedience TO rush of work that enabled ~ six
months later to have seven steel steamers under
construction. Southern energy embodied m the
William r. Trigg Company converted Richmond.
%6n the great lakes ali the leading building
American Ship Building Company. This Compare
already has IN hand several orders for freight car
draagRt that are not to be delivered until May o.
but on which work must begin Immediately. as
they cost approximately 10000 each. A
total value of about 100000 is represented b. eli
great lahs ana tSere is eyey reassn te eIpe
that this aggregate will be kept up for a couple Of
years TO come.
WAR VESSELS FOR FOREIGN POWERS.
The Cramps OF Philadelphia and the Union
Iron Works. OF San Francisco. have completed thu
first vesses for foreign Powers turned out
from American shipyards In many years. The,
American tramp steamer has made its appear
anee New-England districts are again witnessing
quite little activity In the construction OF wooden
vessels, even TO the placing OF an ORDER for SIX
masted ship that is to carry 500 tons dead weight
light dra ught. stern-wheel type OF steamer, which
both coasts Tor service in Shallow Alaskan waters.
and the great lakes the steamer OF about three
which is suited % special trade SR ths lakes or
Lawrence canals to the Atlantic
Progress in the eonstruSsion OF pleasure craft
Bath. Me. Completed recently the most powerfully
engfned steam yacht ever constructed for private
most two score steam yachts ranging from % 10
500 feet In length completed or under construction
sian ice-crushng steamer Ermack. constructed In
England. marks the further advance of a distino-
lively American dea-
GREAT DRYDoCKs BEING BUILT.
plans have been made which will place at least
a few American drydocks. both floating and sta-
tionary at the head Of the worlds structures OF
this character The great timber drydock
building for the Newport News Ship Building and
Dry Dock Company. at Newport News. Va. win 80
far surpass all others OF its class that two ordi-
nary naval vessels be accommodated therein
simultaneously. while the floating dfydock for tho
Government TO be stationed az Algers La, wi!
surpass those other products OF its designers skill
the Stettn and Havana docks.
IAN event OF hrst importance during The year has
been the Introduction In Congress OF the Hanna
Payne bin. destined 70 secure the adoption Of a
opinion Of al well Informed shipping men, Offers
the solution OF the problem Of restoring our
merchant marine 10 It's former position on the seas
OF the world.
projects for extensive river and harbor improve
ments have had the support or such able statesmen
NJ Erv the Senaie and Chnlrman Hutton