Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-12

peared? The causes must be considered in
order to appreciate the actual condition.
Two causes have primarily contributed to
TINS result. In the first place, the transfer
nation of the marine by the substitution
of iron for wooden vessels and in the sec
ond place. the economic isolation created in
the United States by a protective policy.
The first placed American maritime con-
struction at marked disadvantage; the
second tended to drain the very source of
maritime commerce.
AT the time Of the wooden vessels the
united states could build under better con-
dltions than Europe In 1873, according to
the Packet of PHILADELPHIA the cost of an
oak vessel was in New England twenty
four Mexican dollars per ton, while in the
ports of the Baltic,the cost was thirty -five
mexican dollars. This is without consider
ing the better quality and longer duration
of the American vessel. In 1S49 England
and America assured to each other COM
plete reciprocity for their maritime trans
portation. They had an interest in main
tanning an equal competition with the other
nations of the world Their own foreign
commerce did not then reach a considerable
amount, but large amount of their tom
mage was employed in serving the COM
merce of other countries. Many American
vessels carried cargoes of foreign origin to
foreign ports. 1t is. estimated that in 1856
more than GO per cent of the American fleet
lved on foreign maritime trade
Celebrated American Clippers.
The celebrated American clippers date
from this period of prosperity. The Great
Republic" the largest of all, was 235 feet
long and could carry 1900 tons of merchan-
disc. These figures appear modest at the
present time, but astonshed the world
fifty years ago. But the clipper, notwith-
standing her excellent qualities found a
redoubtable adversary in the iron vessel
which made its appearance about 1913 in
England The superiority of the latter be-
came quickly evident and from 1855 the
large British builders, convinced of it's
superiority. began the final change of their
yards and docks. The English metal in
dustry was ready to facilitate their task
The necessary quality of iron could be fur
nished cheaper than by any other country.
On the other hand, the building of iron YES
sells opened to the metal industry an i'm
mense and entirely new field which facili-
tated it's progress and development.
At this time the United States could not
dream of competing with England Her
iron industry was in its infancy She could
not secure the necessary raw material
ed wOrkmen necessary. Thus the SubSti-
tuition of wooden vessels by iron vessels
caused her to lose the high place she had
attained due to the abundance of her woods
and the ability of her builders. Thereafter,
until the American metal industry passed
its infancy, she was obliged to get her YES
sells from England. This was the first blow,
a serious one, to the American merchant
| marine. But soon a terrible national crisis
gave it another blow while new economic
policy prevented it from repairing the dam
age done.
The war of secession surprised the Amer
lean builders in full prosperity. The year
1861 marks the highest point of the ascend
ing curve, as we have seen, but in 1865 the
tonnage of the American merchant marine
had diminished 900, 600 tons. One-siXth here
of had been destroyed, the remainder not
feeling safe under the American flag passed
into foreign hands, especially to the Brit
ish
The war of secession had still more ter
| rible consequences for the American ship
| per. He could have recovered from tenn
| porary blow and bought vessels of the new
| type from England; but the law prohibited
! the registration as American of any vessel
| built abroad. Furthermore, a protective
| policy being adopted, 1t became impossible
| for the builders to purchase English irons.
New Merchant Marine Demanded.
| At the present time this era of isolation is
| closing; an era of commercial expansion is
| opening The foreign trade of the United
States demands the creation Of a merchant
marine. The protective laws which have
contributed to the disappearance of the
American merchant marine appear to be
| on the point, If not of disappearing COM
| pletely at least of diminishing their rigor.
| The bars are being let down, at the same
| time that the need therefor is affirmed.
! 1t can be said truthfully that the Ameri-
| can. merchant marine IFS on the eve of a
| real revival What are the best means of
| encouraging this srevival is the object of
! the discussion raised In Congress by the
| introduction of the1Hanna-Payne bill. The
! spirit of American enterprise has already
J discounted the vote on the bill and on all
I sides OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES may be observ-
| ed In marine construction, the establish
| ment of new yards, the formation of new
| companies.
The tonnage of vessels built in the United
States and registesed during the fiscal year
| 19O0-19O1 exceeds shat of the previous fiscal
| year by 80 per cent. OF this 60 per cent
| was steel construction With regard to
| shipyards the increase is very notable.
Increasezan Ship Building.
| On the AtlanticGoast. the New York Ship
| Building Company is constructing ship
| yards at Camden to cost six million dollars
| and which will give employment to five
thousand workmen; the Eastern Ship Build
! ing Company of New London Is establish
| ing another plant in Connecticut; the
| Chesapeake bay canal is being deepened
| in order to permit the yards of Baltimore
| to build larger vessels; finally, it is an
| nounced that syndicate has been formed
| for the building of vessels of the turbine
| pattern and that 1t has purchased land in
yards there. The syndicate has capital
| of four million dollars, and il is said that
Andrew Carnegie has a large interest in it
On the Pacific coast the Risdon Iron
| Works are being established in San Fran
| cisco; the Pacific Ship Building Company
was established last year in Coos bay,
near San Francisco: on the Gulf of Mexico
| the Gulf Coast Ship Building and Dry Dock
Company is spending four million dollars
| on its plant at Alabamaport, thirty miles
south of Mobile.
And the yards on the great lakes desir-