New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-12
SHIPBUILDING IN AMERICA
BE DONE AS CHEAPLY AS
IN EUROPE.

Washington. March II (speciaD.-The atten-
ton of Senator Frye called to a series of
questions propounded in an editorial published
IN THE Savannah News" and. the editor SEEM
ing TO be sincerely searching for information,
the Senator was asked to crafty him, especially
as the editors questions addressed TO
Senator Frye. To this request, the latter re-
sponded follows:
II am always glad TO impart any information
/ have public questions any who seeks
II in q respectful way. The Savannah News is
paper that doubtless exercises a wide infiu-
ence in Georgia, and It's readers ought TO be in
formed upon these points concerning which its
editor seems TO lack exact knowledge. For
instance, The Savannah News asks
why is it that contracts for warshps
given to American shipbuilders by foreign Gov
ernments if ships can be built for less money
in the shipyards Of other nations?
Il presume the Editor of The Savannah News
would scarcely think il fair were to answer his
inquiry by propounding another. TO wit: Why
is 1t. IL ships can be built in the United States
IS cheaply they can be built abroad, or
more cheaply. that there is record of
a foreign steamship line having had a ship built
in the United States, in the of lines
running directly in our trader Nevertheless.
the question is fair the other. An
swering the question asked I should say: 1t
might be that the warships could be built in
the United States in a shorter period than they
could be built abroad; shipyards might not
be so busy foreign yards Again, the pres
tige of the American Navy since with
Spain would unquestionably influence a foreign
nation seeking its warships abroad.
DIFFERENT CASE ALTOGETHER
1T is quite likely that we are able to build
warships in the United States as cheapIy as
they are built abroad but that by no means
cheaply, and the fact is. cannot. The reason
build warships cheaply is because the
Government declared, fourteen years ago, that
all of the designs materials and workmanship
warships should be American. Thus
combining the demand for Navy to
American ingenuity and skill money was put
into expensive plants and competition was en-
gendered between our own people alone. with the
result that in about ten years we were able to
build warships approximately as cheaply as
they can be built abroad But warship is a
very different construction from a merchant
ship II a similar demand should be created for
American merchant ships, covering a similar
period, doubtless at the end of that time we
would be building them as cheaply here as else
where
The Savannah News further asks:
why is II that ships can be built in England
or Germany cheaper than they can be built in
this country, where all the material can be OBJ
tanned at prices below those which prevail in
Europe?
The materials cannot be purchased as cheap
ly here as in Europe We are rapidly approach
ing the time when that will be true, but It is not
true now. A year ago more just at the close
of a long strike in Great Britain during which
British rolling mills had been shut down for
months. and when they were working night and
day in order TO supply the accumulated demand
naturally prices scared. but even then it was
impossible promptly TO supply the home de-
nand; at that time the boom had not be-
gun in steel manufacture in the United States
and for short time a result, we shipped to
Great Britain about hundred thousand tons
of shipbuilding materials at prices slightly be-
low British prices. But not doing so
now. and have not for over a year
Prices of steel much higher in the United
States now than they are in Great Britain
but as soon as the abnormal demand has been
satisfied prices Will doubtless fall to a normal
rate. But it should be borne in mind that
American shipbuilders are not dependent upon
American steel makers for their shpbuding
materials. in the case at least Of ships designed
for the foreign trade, such materials ad-
mitted TO the United States free of duties and
have been for several years. The materials en-
tering into hrstclass ship never represent
more than 30 per cent OF the cost of the COM
pleted vessel. fully 30 per cent representing
labor in the shipyards.
NO CONSTANT DEMAND HERE.
Another thing: In England, Scotland and
ireland the constant demand for ships keeps
the men steadily employed. and thus their
maximum efficiency is utilized. The same is
true in the modern German shipyards Labor
in those shipyards however receives only about
half what is received in ours. In our yards the
majority Of the have come from Great
Britain. their efficiency in yards is little if
any, greater than in foreign shipyards The
intermittent character Of the employment in
American shipyards does not permit Of the eff
cheney and economy in construction possible in
those countries where steady employment is
assured. Take the of the Clyde for in
stance There ships are duplicated over and
over again, from the same designs and specif-
cations: this has been going on for many years.
and IL accounts for the celebrity and the cheap
ness Of their construction, especially in that
character of vessels-the slow going so-called
tramp variety-in which changes in plans and
specifications unnecessary.
This is not the case in the United States
There are new plans and specifications for
each different ship. I recall that one of the
firm Of William P Clyde & Co. put out plans
the order with the lowest bidder After the
9rder was placed the Clydes We're informed by
their builders that If they would duplicate the
order a reduction OF $4,000 per ship would be
made; and had the order been quadrupled
have doubt reduction of $40 900 per shin
would have been possible. The passage of the
shipping bill is designed to all of these
unfavorable conditions, and the belief is espe-
cially among shipowners and shipbuilders
that with the then probable reduction in the
price of materials there viii be increased
efficiency and economy in construction. due 10
q long sustained and steady demand for new
ships that will bring the price of their con-
struction at the end Of a decade so. as low
foreign prices
THE Editor OF The Savannah News falls into