Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-07-21
NOTES Stripping.
tslns of Interest to Mariners Gathered
from Everywhere.

from Everywhere.
Says the American Shipbulder in it's
current issue:
Foreign shipbuilders are becoming
worried for fear that the United States
government will eventually aid in re-
facilitating its merchant marine a
sample of this was shown in a recent
issue of the New York Herald a cor
respondent Of that paper. writing from
Glasgow and signing himself "C,lyde
Shipbuilder" kindly and gratuitously
mind you generosity parsonitied) gives
Americans advice CD and perhaps the
same absurd suggestions as our free
traders systematically do. on Il par to
what the spider said to the ambitious
fly our Tlyde Shpbuilder" says:
'AWhy square headed folk like the
Americans. with the finest Seaboard in
the world and With more than the aver
age brains hnd inventive skill. should
submit To things they are has long
been mystery on this side CLYDE ship
builders believe that protection in ship
building is mistake. and that Ameri
cans will find it out before long. When
they do we shall be the sufferers We
know they have enormous mineral re-
sources, including coal and excellent
iron ore. The coal is brought to thu
ours. and the iron is delivered at
the steel works much cheaper than we
can get ours from Spain. They are
making good steel in Pittsburg at a low
er price per ton than in Scotland or
England. We know that during the
last twelve months they have sent to
the Clyde and Belfast some 10000 or
10000 tons Of this mild shipbuildinS
steel at a price which completes favora-
bly, with our home prices. They doubt
less charge their own consumers a
higher and very different price. but in
its manufacture I believe they are
ahead Of US because they employ less
tnan half OF the men per ton output
The secret is in the excellent machin-
cry used for doing what in this coun-
try is done by hand" II know
something of American shipyards from
personal inspection and of the energy
and ability of the men to whom the,-
Delong. by nature they are both clever
capable and inventive, but prot ected
shlpbullding in country now grown to
manhood is not conducive to the best
brains of those engaged in it, as com
pared With facing onep competition ana
the natural survival of the fittest d.
not think these gentlemen are ahead Of
us either in ways or methods. and
question If even they are abreast of our
leading home firms Protection with
regard to shipbuilding also works to the
decided disadvantage Of the country
protected not only commemorative. bur
as far as its defence in war times is
concerned. Although your Congress
has appropriated money to build bartle-
ships and cruisers, it is impossible to
bcSin the construction OF these vessels
1or some time if it is true that all the
Hhlphuilding yards in the United States
are filled with government vessels. sup
pose War were to break out in the
meantime? The limited number Of your
yards, due to overprotection, would
then be 4 serious calamity What I
think would be helpful in American
shipnulldins would be Wholesome, hon
est and independent supervision, so far
as the construction and scantlings are
concerned They should have some
standard CT classification, such as
Lloyd's Registry or the British Corpor-
alton Registry TO help and. keep them
on the right track. Curiously enough
was in correspondence recently with
one OF our most noted shipbuilding at
thorltlcs on this subject of American
versus home shipbuilding. Mr. friend
mas visited all the leading shipyards in
America, and his opinion is worthy or
note. He says: I believe in the posi-
blities of American shpbuildinp and
have little doubt that if protection were
Knocked over. all around, their prices
OF food. clothes. house rent, etc. wo,,ld
IAN so much as to enable wages 10 bn
lowered and then they would have \
chance for share Of the worlds shin
oulIulns If protection on ships only
We're done away with, so that they could
huy their vessels in the cheapest mar
KEEL they would soon get a big share OF
lhe worlds carrying trade on the seas.
IL theS nave TO wait until their superb
or inventive skill puts them on a level
with us at home. despite protection.
time"
The cruiser sfax. which fsayed so
prominently in the return ofAprevf,,s
70 Franco. was considered one If INA
1nest vessels of her class in the French
navy when she was launched in 1SS4
she is 2SS.G feet long. 1912 feet beam
=, feet drausht and Of 45oo tons dis
pl.cemcnt Her compound engines
c q -n, twin screws. and have developed
OBJ horse power giving the snin n
rpeed of 1851 knots The chief nrorac-
ton consists Of an armored deck Of
steel ].6 inches thick. extending the
whole length of the ship. The arma
nsent consists of six 16-cm (6.3 in.)
guns, ten revolving cannon and five tor
pedo tubes. The Sfax is heavily mast
cd. can carry a considerable area Of
SAILS. Her crew numbers 473. officers
and men.
The principal ports OF France. all
showed an increase of shipping in 1899.
Marseilles showed an increase Of 974. O26