The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-04-20

even II wages were on the same scale
in both countries, are clearly set out
in a recent article by Eugene t. Cham
berlain. commissioner OF navigation.
in the I.eslie's Weekly.
These reasons are identical with
those which account for American su-
premaey in railroad bridge eonstrue-
lion and locomotive building. Mr..
Chamberlain points out that the rela-
tive cost Of material and relative
wages are not the only elements
to be considered in forecasting our
future as a shipbuilding ration, but
that the scale on which the industry
is conducted is OF even greater i'm
portance. Great Britain can build yes-
sells to sell to other countries because
she manufactures on q scale fifteen TO
twenty times greater than the United
States. A shipbuilder who has ten or
fifteen vessels to construct, all on iden-
ieally the same model. using the same
molds, and the machinery in one being
an exact duplicate Of that in the other.
can naturally build them very much
more eheaply than the man who has
but one vessel to build on the same
plans Hundreds Of English tramp
steamers have been put ahoat from
single British shipyards, one being a
substantial duplicate Of the other. The
instances are rare where an American
shipyard has ever had an opportunity
to build two vessels on Identical lines.
During the year 1899 Great Britain
not only built practically all her own |
vessels. but also sold to foreign nations
|+5.OoO.Oop OF shipping. Two British
shipyards. one with an output OF 1891 |
gross tons. and another with an out
put Of s2.sSI gross tons. each built more
steel steam vessels during last year
than all the shipyards in the United
States put together; yet the construc-
ton Of vessels Of this description was
the largest in our history. On the
other hand, the railroad system Of the
United States is eight times as great
as that Of Great Britain. our manufac-
tories devoted to the production Of rail-
road material are on a commensurately
greater scale than hers, and conse-
quently this country can export sue
locomotives, rails and bridges
in competition with British manufac-
turers. Notwithstanding the higher
wages paid in this country. The econ
OnIy in production on the large scale
more than offsets the enhanced price
paid to the individual workman.
1t would hardly require extended ar
gument to prove that no ordinary ma
chine shop. no matter how well equip
ped, could manufacture successfully a
single sewing machine, typewriter, BIZ
cycle Of agricultural machine at q cost
less than or even equal TO that at which
the factory turning them out by thous-
ands can sell them. The same condition
precisely exists with relation to ship
building. save that the latter is on
arger scale. II under proper legisla-
i've encouragement the shipDuilding
is built up to the proportions
which exist in Great Britain, It will be
found that the American genius for
and economizing in pro-
1uction will more than offset the Brit
sh advantage Of lower wages, and that
his country can not only furnish ships
o supply the demands Of our own COM
nerce. but can ultimately compete sue
with Great Britain In build
ng ships for the rest OF the world.