The evening times., 1899-07-03

In the history of the American Merchant
Marine, the fiscal year just closed has been
an exceptional period in many respects.
With the exception of 1891 the total outpu:
OF American shipyards was the largest OF
any year during the last quarter century.
In 1891 1884 vessels OF 3s9, ,S02 gross tons
were built and documented in the United
States.
During the fiscal year that has just end
ed the Official returns on the construction
OF merchant vessels state that l.429 were
built, having an aggregate of 320,Sz6 gross
tons. Besides these % vessels of foreign
construction, aggregating s0.lsl gross tons,
have been admitted TO American registry.
1t is also reported from Manila that since
last August 141 vessels have been trans
ferred from the hands of the Spanish, Ger
man, and British subjects TO Americans,
indicating the confidence of the business
men OF Manila in American Government
Had the Senate passed the House bill for
the registry Of Hawaiian vessels, The total
additions TO the nations merchant fleet
during the year would have reached 400, 600
tons. The largest annual production was In
1885. when 2,027 vessels OF $50, 450 tons were
built and documented.
During 1888 Great Britain built 1549
vessels of ], 1,390, 1l6 tons. The difference In
the kind of vessels built is indicated by the
average size, American construction aver
aging only 225 tons, while the British aver
age 800 tons. Nearly all OF this country s
new tonnage is built TO navigate in the
coasting trade reserved TO American ves-
sels. The only steamships built directly
for the foreign trade were the Havana ana
Mexico of the New York and Cuba mail.
and the four admiral steamships for Cuba
and Jamaica, aggregating 1870 tons,
which were built under The postal subsidy
act.
In anticipation OF legislation at the COM
ing sessions, construction has begun or
been contracted fer On about 100000 tons
OF steel steamships for foreign trade and
trade with Hawaii and Porto Rico. inyoly-
ing an expenditure OF about Sl5,0O0,e00.
For the first time in American history
on June 80 the total tonnage of this coun-
trys steam vessels, when tabulated, viii
exceed the total of all other kinds Of doc
umented vessels. During the year 400 sail
vessels OF sc. ASS tons have been built.
compared with 426 OF 42,502 tons for the
previous year, while the steam vessels built
number AIS Of 167, 85l tons, compared with
4iS Of 110.l2S tons for the previous year.
In certain trades Americas large sailing
vessels endeavor 10 compete with foreign
cargo steamships, and doubtless viii con-
tlnue 10 do SO, at all events until the con-
struction of the Nicaragua Canal. The
most notable vessel is the John Smeaton, q
steel schooner of 5.O49 gross tons, built al
West Superior, Mich, probably the largest
fore and aft vessel ever built. The larg-
est geagoing sailing vessel built in Europe
in 1885 was the Ernest Siegfried, CT Havre
S2l4 tons
For the first time in the country's his
tory steel has become the principal materi-
al in the construction Of rugged vessels
the steel tonnage for the year being 1873 9g1
tons. Iron has ceased to be a shipbuilding
material. During 1898 in Great Britain IS
per cent. or practically the whole construc-
zion except small fishing vessels, was OF
steel.