New-York tribune., 1901-02-11
THE sHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY.
ITS RELATION TO THE FOREIGN TRADE OF
THE UNITED STATES

Washington. Feb 10 (SpeciaD.-"The Shipbuilding
Industry Of the United States and Its Relation TO
the Foreign Trade Is the title OF document Just
issued by the Treasury Bureau OF Statistics II
discusses the economic conditions which surround
the present state OF the shipbuiding industry in
this country in both their historical and their In
dustral aspects Historically il finds that the use
Of ironclads in the Civil War sounded the doom
of wooden ships instruments of National de-
fence and thenceforth turned over maritime as
tendency the iron producing nations, in which
Great Britain then held the leadership. But with
the ascendency of the United States in iron and
steel production. and the advent of this country
into the new OF oceanic responsibility, both
commercially and politically. the present period uf
our maritime progress is clearly marked off from
all that has preceded it, Historically devel-
opment I'm shipbuilding has reached the point at
which the economic outlook is based the most
favorable industrial and commercial conditions
ever known in the history of our merchant marine
These conditions shown first in the internal
development of the shipbuilding industry. The in
huence of the naval policy merchant shipbuild-
Ing has developed shpbuildng plants to point
OF equipment with tools and machinery and 10 a
scale OF production which, with larger demand
for ships. would almost put the best American
shipbuilders the plane as British ship
builders TO cost of production The use of eec-
triciy in the operation of shipbuiding plants the
employment of pneumatic tools, and the services
of cranes and derricks in handling heavy materials
at every stage. have revolutionized shipmakl
methods In the United States 10 such an extent
that the best shipyards in America even better
equipped than those of Europe. The chief obstacle
To shipbuilding in competition with foreign ship
builders is the lack of sufficient orders ship
| yards keep them busy a sufficiently uniform
| volume of work.
foreign and American shipyards is conceded TO be
about o per cent create the hull and 80 pei
| cent greater on the machinery in the American
yard This difference II accepted correct, IL Is
| held. must be overcome by the introduction o.
piece work methods of labor and the standardizins
| Of types and parts The report finds that com
pared with British ships comparatively little prog
| ress has been made in this country In either Of
| these respects. except In those on the Lakes Th'
! Lake shipyards have turned volume of ton
| mage which has enabled them 20 utilize European
| methods OF reducing cost generally than =
the case on the Atlantic seaboard.
les has arisen largely from consolidation OF plants
sIeeG s f6r GIulG n o9 more seonsfrcto
| introduced. The consolidation Of shpbuildtni
| plants with steel making establishments seems q
be another direction in which economics in pro
| ductive cost OF ships must be realized Shiphuild
steel market has been among the greatest hind
| RANGES 10 ,he development Of steel shipoqidlng y
prices. which more stable.
| The second part of the inquiry is devoted 10 III
| study of the merchant marine as part OF III
| National distributive system IL cites the fact
| volume OF ocean commerce an increasing proper
sea so thar the National interest has been force
| 10 avail itself OF agencies not oil its own contrc
! in order reach and maintain foreign market
subject 70 the discrimination of shipping lines or
| ganIzed in the service of our competitors IN
| growth IN the volume OF foreign commerce
mainly responsible for the fact that American cap
ital has practically overcome It's timtdity for In
| vestment In either Sh!pbuilding or shipping tnde
! existing conditions however, distribution by Sc
| between the United States and the outside worl
IS IN foreign control. For the fiscal year endin
June 30 1909 imports and exports by sea aggre
IA ted s. 52s go only 90 per OF which valu
| was carried in American vessels Numerous table
| are given. showing the growth in our foreign com
/ nerce and rhe decline in our foreign shipping.