The Seattle Republican., 1900-12-14
MORAN'S
LARGE Bid
To Build Government Man
of-War.
Brief Sketch of Ship Building on
Pacific Coast During Past Year,
Which Was Unprecedented
With Many More for Next Year.

With Many More Tor Next Y ear.
For the first time in the history of
the state of Washington one of its
citizens has perhaps successfully bid
to the United States government to
build one of its proposed men of war.
The firm Of Moran Bros, who some
years ago began operations in this
city, has steadily grown and kept
5 pace with this thriving city, and their
$ plant is now equal in every respect to
many of the plants to be found in
the East that are yearly receiving
contracts from the government to
build large vessels for its service.
Bids were advertised for for the
building of men-Of-war by the gov
erament within the past few months,
and it occurred to the Moran Bros,
as well as their friends, that they
could successfully bid for such work,
and therefore the necessary papers
were drawn up, bonds prepared and
all other preliminary work carefully
prepared and the Moran Bros.
filed their bid along with others from
the Eastern states. But recently
these bids were opened by the gov
ernment authorities, and it was
found that the Morans' bid stood
third on the list, which may after
due consideration be found first
on the list, and that a great
man-of-war that the government is
soon to build will be done at this
port. If this be true, Seattle will re-
ceive from the government at least
one million dollars. The bid from
Moran Bros. from Puget sound, has
moved the Scientific American to
make the following observations re-
garding ship building along the Pa
cific coast during the past year:
Pacinc Coast Ship Building.
The ship building industry on the
Pacific coast for the past three years
has enjoyed a period of extraordi-
nary activity. From January, 1898.
to September, 1900, thirty-two
months, the number Of new ships
built aggregated seventy-four, with
a total tonnage capacity of 37,91O.
Government vessels are not included
in the list. Of the new craft, forty
five, with a tonnage Of 1929 tons,
were schooners, five were barken-
tines of 4,597 tons, one was a barge
OF 6S2 tons, and twenty-three were
steamers having a tonnage of 49, ,452.
The largest of the schooners rated
985 tons, and of the steamers, 4 4,597
tons
OF the latter, three, aggregating
1898 tons, were built of iron, the
others of wood. San Francisco build
ers were the constructors of the larg-
er number of both iron and wooden
ships; but almost every port on the
: coast, from San Pedro to Puget
sound, wherever the necessary sup
plies OF lumber were to be had, con-
tributed to the total result. Credit
able as the exhibit is, the outlook is
even more fattering. There is not a.
ship builder along the 1000 miles
of coast who has not all the work
contracted for that can possibly be
handled, and who could not easily
duplicate his present undertakings if
the supply of labor warranted it.
The cause of this prosperity is
easily explained. For many years
prior to 1898 the industry languish-
ed, and the carrying trade, which
had been stimulated by artificial
''booms," was greatly depressed.
Dividends on marine property were
small. The earnings were swallowed
by heavy expenses. Losses at sea
were not made good, and the actual
number of coast ships considerably
decreased.
Just at the time that the maritime
prospect seemed darkest, the extra
ordinary development of Alaska be-
gan. 1t was found that the number
of vessels available for this profit
able traffic was far below the de-
mand. Every vessel that could be
procured was chartered for the Alas
ka trade. High charters caused
many to be withdrawn from the
coast carrying trade, and a consider
able scarcity Of vessels for ordinary
requirements began to be felt.
1t was thought that the Alaska de-
mand would be but temporary; but
the contrary proved to be the case.
1t continued to increase, and is
bound to be permanent. The Cape
Nome traffic Of the present year
withdrew at least a hundred vessels
of all sorts from available supplies;
and with new discoveries along the
rlaska coast, and the location OF
mps that indicate every sign Of
permanency, the demand for 9
greater number Of craft than was re-