Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-26
Latest ShipnuiIdinu Eiuures.

present rate Of progress the figures of
that census begin to seem somewhat
out of date. However they are the lat
est to be had and are of much interest
and value particularly for purposes OF
comparison with those of earlier years.
We have just received census bulletin
number 166 which deals with the sub
ject of shipbuilding. The tables and
statements in this bulletin emphasize
the unhappy decline Of our shipping in
the foreign trade and the imperative
need of government aid and protection.
The building Of craft for the domestic
trade mas proSpered in splendid fash
ion of late, and especially in the past
two years since these census figures
were compiled, and the building Of
naval vessels in recent years has given
our yards a great amount Of addition
al business.
Summarizing the new construction Of
vessels Of all kinds-steam, sailing,
barges, and canal boats, both iron and
steel and wooden-thcre We're con-
structed in American shipyards dur
ing the year ending May 81, 1900. POS.
vessels Of a total Of GS7, GS1 gross tons
For the corresponding year, 10 years
earlier 1853 vessels We're built. O:
these, built in 1900 80, of a total Of
2SG. 81 gross tons, We're steam; 652 Of
q total Of S0,376 gross tons, We're sailing
vessels: S44, of total of 2995GG gross
tons We're barges; ana a, Of Q total Of
21,434 gross tons, were canal boats. or
these POST vessels built during that year
only So Of them, with n total of 29,e69
gross tops. We're registered for the
foreign trade. The bulletin shows thar
in 1900 there We're in 1900, A establish
ments for iron and steel shipbuiIding as
against Is, decade earlier. The
capital increased in the 10 years from
$10.712o23 to $50 S29, 555. and the men
employed from $500 in 1890 to 31,S00 in
1900. The value Of the products IN
these wards was $130l2 PEG in 1890 ana
$50. 939 in 1900. In the yards 70"
building wooden craft there was no
such wonderful increase In the wood
en- ship and boat building business
there were 9SS establishments in 1890
ana 1912 in 1900. They used capital 70
the extent Of 81 ,523. 14G in 1900 about a
million more than in 1890. About 16,-
800 men were employed in 1900 to 15,1oO
i'm 1890.
Let US look at the figures given in the
bulletin as touching upon the ship
building industry III Maine. In 1900
there were III establishments reported
~ against IS in 1880. The capital en-
ployed was $2.Sl9,053. with about 300
wagc-earners, ana the value of the
products for the year was $j''rO'9.
In Maine the capital increased during
the decade 174.3 per cent, the number
Of Aagc-carucrs 52.S per cent, wages
apid 56.S per cent, cost OF materials
peed AL per cent. ana value OF
products "A per cent. This is a most
gratifying showing. ana We're the flS-
ures brought down to date it would be
even better. In the value Of its snip
building products. which is probably
the faircst way to estimate the I'M
portance Of the industry, Maine ranked
in 1900 eighth among the states Of the
Union. Those surprising it we're in or
der. Pennsylvania, New York, CALI
foruia. Virginia, New Jersey. Michigan
and Maryland. The mention of some
Of these states shows the vast i'm
portance of the industry on the
Pacific coast ana on the Great Lakes
In 1890 Maine ranked sixth Virginia
ana New Jersey were the states to pass
it during the decade.
III this connection Virginia deserves
sneolal mention. for during the decade
that state has advanced from a posi-
ton Of comparatively small Importance
to a place among the leading SNIP
huildin.. states. In 1900 this state was
frSt III the amount Oh Cdpitdl lilN''NNN
third in the number az wGge-earners
and in wages paid, and fourth i'll the
value Of products. Its capital invested
in shipbuilding has increased from less
than third Of million in 1890 to
nearly Si5 900, Go0 in 1900. and is two and
is two and one-thrd as great as tbs
entire capital invested in the industry
in New England. more than double the
entire capital 50 invested on the Pacific
coast. and almost equal to the entire
amount of capital invested in ship
building on the Great Lakes. When
the prolific development in the ship
building industry upon the Great
Lakes-a development that has chal-
lenged the attention of the entire ship
building world for more than a decade
lis taken into consideration, this COM
parison SENS to indicate the future de-
Nelopment and Importance of Virginia
as agreat shipbuilding center.