The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-11-16
HE WENT AfIELO AT BOAT BUILDING
Great Impetus Given to
Construction in States.
brought About by The War Old
Yards Busy and New Ones
Established.

The Spanish-American war proved a
| great stimulant to the American ship
building industry in bringing about,
as it did, the scarcity caused Y gov
eminent purchases of available tonnage
for the auxiliary and transport fleets
1t was necessary to replace many ships
mercial pursuits, and this fact, added
to the revival of activity following the
war, threw more business into the
hands of American shipbuilders than
they were really able to handle This
is proved by the reports received from
time to time of great activity in the
building both of deep-sea and lake and
river vessels, and the reports that new
work in this line is only limited by
the ability Of existing yards to handle
the business offered. The naval pro-
gramme adopted by the last Congress.
too, was the most liberal ever enacted
and insures particular activity to those
concerns receiving contracts for this
class Of work. 1t is not strange, there
fore, to hear that the report of the
Commissioner of Navigation for the
fiscal year now drawing to a close will
show growth unprecedented in the
history Of shipbuilding in this coun-
q
by the Marine Review, of Cleveland.
that there are now building in United
States shipyards for home and foreign
account more than fifty naval vessels,
valued, exclusive Of armor and arma
ment, at over $4O,O00,000, and more
than 200 merchant vessels, exceeding
$50 600, 900 in aggregate value.
1t is pointed out as illustrative Of the
activity, SO noteworthy feature of the
current years business, that an At
lantic coast feet of steamships Of very
respectable size has been turned out,
nearly all the principal coasting lines
having been represented in this re-
spect and there are said to be build
ing on the Pacific coast more modern
steel steamers than were constructed in
any three previous years. The largest
merchant vessels and vessels of war
and the principal steamship company
of the country is reported to have been
compelled to place orders abroad The
announced expenditures at the various
yards are symptomatic of this great
demand. improvements now under
way, it is said, necessitate the expendi-
ture of $4,000 900 at two yards, and
more of the same sort is looked for.
Old yards have been reopened and new
ones started On the lakes and inte-
rior waters generally the rush of work
is fully as great in proportion, point
ing to the current industrial activity
at the interior taxing all available
facilities Of water transportation. The
| largest lake freight-carriers ever built
are projected, the total value of lake
! tonnage contracted for is placed al
f! Sc, 100000 and equally active condi-
tons are looked for Notwithstanding
| the rise in the prices of material, labor
and supplies generally. Even the old
| wooden shipyards are witnessing or
| sharing in the revival, and sixmasted
sailing ships are among the craft or
dered The construction Of ships ac-
companies fair progress in the improve
ment OF docking facilities and in the
channels of leading harbOrs. Naturally
the advocates of the building OF the
Nicaragua canal are particularly hope
| full that the coming session of Con-
gress will witness necessary action
taken to develop this great project, and
thus offer an additional stimulant to
the maritime and shipping interests OF
| the country generally, while the advo-
Gates of ship subsidies will bring for
ward their plans for still further stimu-
lating the country's foreign commerce
It is questionable, however, whether
the general expansion of American in
terests in the worlds markets will no.
be found the most powerful stimulan'
to this country's shipping interests, anC
the year which witnessed the entry OF
the United States into the great con
cert of nations may be regarded hence
forth as marking the distinct rise OF
our country as shipbuilding and ship
owning nation.
Here is a Georgia boys composition