The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-03-27


he to %O,oOO,OOO, The total ASSESSED
valuation OF all the real and personal
property within the limits OF the city
Of Bath is in the nelghborhooi Of S6,OOo,-
600. Taking one contract with another
It is nrobable that the length of time 1t
viii take 10 build each vessel averages
about eighteen months, On this basis
this single plant will annually disburse,
and very largely in wages, an amount
equal to the whole assessed value OF
the real and personal property in the
community in which It is hca,ei
Y: this grea, plant is the growth OF
very few years, and WIS built UP ale
most entirely by governmen; contracts.
The first Of those contracts were for
the two little suuboats the Cas;ins and
Machlas. conmoacei in 1899. Its sue
cess with this contrac; brought 1t a
considerable volume Of privlte business.
ana it has grown To such proportions
that it can handle contracts of the mag
nitude which it now has on hand
At various points along the seaboArd
Of both coasts like plants are growing
up, equally valuable TO the communities
in which they are operated ami possibly
TO expand TO even greater proportions
with succeeding years, II is the govtrn-
ment business Of the country. the con-
tracts for the construction Of the gree
warships, which has led TO the esiab-
lishment Of these great yards on ;hs.r
present scale; but it is 10 the building
Of vessels for the merchant marine that
they must look largely in the future.
if they are to continue 10 disperSe mil
lions annually in wages. This country
is no: committed to building up a great
navy to rival that OF Great Britain.
The amount Of naval shipbuilding which |
has been done in recent years IS eX-
raordinary, because it has been neces-
slry TO entirely create a navy; for the |
warships Of twenty years ago were even |
at that time obsolete and practically |
useless. Since then a navy has beel
completely built. 1t is ALREADY fairly |
efficient and has given the country good
rank as a naval power. It is rapidly ap-
the limi, Of the size to which
the people Of he United States are will
ling to see it expand. 1t is likely that
after a few years more there Will b.
no more elaborate program for new
found in the naval estimates.
The appropriations for the future viii
D largely confined to the keeping Of The
navy in state Of efficiency. anu to the
'eDlacinS Of such vessels as may be-
'onle worn OH; OF obsolete. ra,her lhla
% the increasing Of the actual or rel
alive strength Of the naval force.
This is why all who are desirous Of
SEEING these great industrial enterprises
'ontinue 10 grow and prosper. and to
oour a steady stream Of money, through
wages, into the channels Of business,
ook hopefully forward to legislation TO
,estore to the American marine the car
wing trade upon the high seas. W. are
apidly reaching the point when the
Of this country can COM
,ete with those Of the world in the :
Of vessels Of all kinds, as they
an now in the building Of wtrships
f the highest class. We are still as
ar away as ever from tn p1in. when
he American shipown-r can success
ully compete with the bounty-f-d and
haaply-manned merchant ships Of I
europe. The hope IS that congress Will