The Washington times., 1903-07-14
VALUE OF AMERICAN
SHIPS AND SHlPYARDS
Figures Compiled From Recent Census
Report.

Figures Compiled From Recent Census
Report.
n our entire foreign commerce were
carried in vessels built in the United
States the total value OF American ship
ping and shipbuilding would be about
double what il is today That is to
say instead Of having $50. .ocO, 600 invest
ed in our shipbuilding plants, employ
ing $4,000 men. and producing vessels
and repairs thereto valued at about
$75. COO. 900. there would be $3.50, 100000 so
invested. employing 100000 men. and
their products would be worth 5o.Oo0.-
0C0 annually. And instead Of the value
OF American vessels being sS5o.oO0. GOO.
earning s2s6 S42 .C42, and employing fss.-
57s men, their value would be nearer to
| 500. coo O00. their earnings would be
nearer 10 $500. .oOO. 600 and the number OF
men they employ would be nearer to
| 3s7, 600.
These figures have been compiled from
I q careful study OF the statistics OF the
census report on water-oorne transpor-
tation for the year 1899. the census re-
port on shipbuilding for the year 1890,
the reports Of the commissioner OF navi-
gation and estimates and approxiua-
tions based thereon. In 1899, the last
year the figures were officially gathered,
there were 32,O59 vessels OF all kinds.
sail. steam. and unriEged. documented
and undocumented, OF S603, 4s9 gross
tons valued at 500 ia 90
Heavy Tonnage.
| The commissioner OF navigation re-
ports in 1902 that there were 2.s21, ,O2s
tons of sailing vessels. inclusive OF
canal boats and barges. an increase OF
/ but 79.104 tons IN thirteen years, while
there were 3.176.s74 tons Of steam yes
sells. an increase Of 1.52s. .So4 tons
| Assuming that the value OF sail and
steam vessels per ton was the same in
1902 as IN 1889. which was. respectively,
S31.S7 and $77-O7. we have a total value
of $50, ,5s2. .162 for sailing vessels and a
total value of s244. 4.siI.GTs for steam
vessels.
Allowing no increase in unrigged
craft. regarding which later statistics
are unavailable. we place their value
in 1902 at the same amount as in 1889.
namely. $22.2S1. .95S. making q total sp-
proximate value OF $3.50. 794 for the
vessels owned in the United States in
1902.
Increase Shown.
This shows an increase OF sixty per
cent in 1902 over 1889. N the latter
year the gross earnings OF these ves-
sells were sl6s, s,s3s.77s. their expenses
were s130.257 $40. the net earnings be-
ing $50. $50. SOC. Assuming that the
gross earnings and expenses OF these
vessels retained the same proportion to
their value in 1902 that they did in 1889,
SO per cent, they would have earned
last year s266. .s42. .O42. their expenses
would have been S20s, ,4I7.752 and their
net earnings s.524. .290.
The men IN the ordinary crews en-
| ployed on the vessels in 1889 numbered
ia. 73s. who earned $41. .72s. s42. in most
cases being fed at owners expense as
well. II they increased sixty per centum
| in 1902 there were then 1S3,57S men en-
| ployed. whose wages amounted TO $685.
1914 besides their board.
The capital invested in American
shipyards, apart from those owned BY
/ the Government, in the year 1900
amounted TO 81 1862. .7O1. employing as
2ss persons. whose salaries and wages
amounted to S2s. .s47, 200, the value Of
whose products, including repairing,
amounted to s74.57s. .15s.
The Commissioner Of Navigation in
1900 estimated that !, ,0OO, goo tons Of sail
and 3.571. .2s4 tons of steam vessels would
be necessary for the carrying OF our I'm
ports and exports in 1899. In that year
We had 4ss.216 tons OF sail and $50. .OsO
tons OF steam vessels under our flag in
the foreign trade
Could Have Been Higher.
Giving them the average value OF sail
and steam vessels per ton as placed by
the census returns for 1889. the total
value OF the vessels engaged in our for
| eign trade in 1899 would have been 1907
| los, S5S. The actual value OF the YES
sells engaged in our foreign trade would
have been very much higher than We
have estimated, but We wish TO be on
the safe side.
The American vessels engaged in our
foreign trade. on the same basis OF es-
! innate. would have been valued in 1899
! at 43,306.954. II American vessels did
our entire foreign carrying their value
in that year would have been S263, SOL
904 more than was actually the case.
Their gross earnings. on the basis OF the
earnings OF American vessels in 1889. a.
aseertained by the census, at 6s cents
| per ton would have amounted IN sf-a :
$50. 295.
1t is upon the basis OF these figures
that as stated in our opening paragraph.
We assert that il our foreign commerce
I we're carried wholly by American ships
their earnings and the number OF men
! employed in running and In building
them would be double what they now
arc.