The sun., 1903-11-17
THE AMERICAN BUILT SHIP.
Remarks Upon the Letter Of Prof. Tro"-
bridge Of Columbia University.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: AS a
| friend Of American shipping was delighted
to read the letter in this mornings Sun OF
Prof. Amasa Trowbridge Of Columbia Uni
versIty, 80 heartily advocating American
built ships" for our foreign carrying trade.
! When the faculties Of our universities realize
the extent OF American dependence upon
| foreign shipping, and consider that we have
| an export trade valued at 81. 900, 600. .O00-the
| greatest Of any country-but per cent. OF
which Is carried In American vessels. We may
| hope for suggestions OF such value and prac-
| ticability as will lead to permanent bettering
| OF our maritime condition. Moreover, II
| the minds OF our young men about to enter
into commercial and professional pursuits
are directed to a consideration OF this great
| national problem. there IL reason to hope
| that the next generation OF American citizens
| will never rest content to see foreign ships
| all but monopolize our foreign carrying.
| as the past one has SO suplnely done.
| Prof. Trow bridge strikes popular chord
| In suggesting the need OF building UP a great
| mercantile marine Of moderate -speed-cargo-
| carrying ships, and he will find. as you will
| find II you will look further into the subject,
| that the middle West, which has seemed to be
| 80 opposed to subsidies for American shipping.
Is almost unit in favor OF subsidies for
| moderate speed cargo-carrying American ves-
| sells and tho establishment Of new lines.
If a plan can be devised for permanently
building up and maintaining our deep sea
shipping, other than by, the subsidy system.
until 1850, when our shipping was greatest.
when y was most PROSPEROUS, and when its
so sh and ap k.ys
subsidies, but by policy q preferential
a and fqss Ss hs pSSiy snS
y q sSs sad sscsss Doey
prof. Trowbridge suggests, rs remedy,
foreign vessels, the duty to be omitted when
those products are carried In, American YES
sells spd he names s0a Land, and oil as TWO Srtieles
think that this suggestion is made somewhat
cost rSd o Pqns Tega out sh as
he correctly believes. to the much higher
wages pa id to labor IN American than is paid
to to- compete In the building Of looomotlves
bridge builders. and vet unable to, compete
in the building, OF ships, He points out:
tS ths' tbs the Of
huls and the building Of railroad locomotives
with the building Of engines OF ships and. by
prosimateiy 1Tos mattel common plane, he draws an
invdious comparison between the enterprise
OF our shlpbullders and our bridge and loco
Nut But the professor should reflect that the
| building OF locomotives and bridges In the
dus,ry witt WIZ our eo miles mile OF Of rairoads
dsnanS eT mot Sss
TIE const r,,ct ion Of hus and marine engines
and bridge builders is due to the perfection
Of their system, OF construction. the regu,
nd .sa sey ysondon St 2asT a snf Ho in
fh"H fh"uHs .fEtT sna Sar%s eHsinss ~ssgc the denand
mittent The ship, and engine building es-
tnbl lshments must be ready to TAKE, contracts
Cat AZ ear tes Nes hSas snlp The small prodcs
that is turned out, ,nnd. which accounts for
the copaTatvG high pr prices Of or shhips ind
these fixed charges are distributed over a
product 81 larger as to make the cost eS-
Let the demand for American built ships
once he created and steadily malntainrd. ms
long has b"en for ocomoiThcs and hrtdSHF
moss and effectiveness. of American. hnt ships
will comno,e quito tavorably, with that of
and effectiveness Of American locomotives
and bridges compare with those OF foreign
| construction.
Vow to crentc the demand for American
built ships is the. ,nll-absorhng problem
that, is the kernel OF the mt that has got 70 be
or ho,,nties. or by dlrercntial Tonnage and
tarir dues; or by export duties or bonntlcs.
! aoubt: the American people will never be salts
! 1ci until tho problem is solved, and tho friends
! OF American shipping vel come the discussion
bridge, declare themselves in favor Of Amer
cen bnilt ships. The more the subject Is
intnrost displayed by Prof. TrowhrldRe.
without nreiudico ns7nst. but rather in favor
| Of American built vessels. the nearer We ap-
! pronoh discovery of a method at once prac-
ticable and effective.
| ALryASpER r. SMITH,
Superintendent OF tho Maritime Association
| OF the Port of New York.
| PRLHAM, n. Y, Nov. IA.