New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-07-03

A Surrey of Its Development d
America.
rHE sroRy oE rHE AMERICAN MERCHAN

THE STORY OF THE AMERICAN ME-RC4ANI
MARINE BY 5ohn r Spears, n l1as5-,1s9
Mr.. Spears. who needs no introduction rs .
popular historian Of American matters. naval
nautical and maritime, gives in his latest
volume a survey of the origin. growth and de-
cline of our merchant shipping. with, at The
close. a consideration OF the problem OF its re-
vivaI This is distinguished by UncomproIns'ns
opposition to government subsidies, based on the
long familiar economic arguments. the moss
potent of which are. Of course. the fact that u
worlds tonnage already far exceeds It's com
mercial requirements and the small dlvloen~
paid by the great European steamship Ines
American shipbuilding originated IN the "Oh
Colony" cod fisheries. The first vessel oul"
within the limits Of the United States was Ia's
down at a settlement In the Kennebec Rv~
Maine, in the fall Of 1907. It was pretty pin
mace Of thirty tons. The profitable fur u3~
with the Indians TO the eastward" served a.
stimulus to the Pilgrim Fathers. who has
learned many things from the Dutch. amons
whom they had lived The first American Sn'V
yard. properly SO called. was established
Medford. on the Mystic River by the Puritan
in 1e29. This yard launched its first seasoh
vessel a bark of thirty TONS" the Blessing
the Bay. on July 4. 1851 This boat, not oA>
in the modern sense Of the word, as II had 0"'
one mast appears to have been the first Nes
England vessel to open trade with the D0'1
at Manhattan Island She was owned oy Wv
ernor John Winthrop The date Of the ouilo's
Of the first ship in America for European ~
count is uncertain. but there is record OK -
laying down Of u vessel for English rerenAH~
at another shipyard established in the So
year on Richmond Island (near the site OK !"
modern Portland). Me
Henceforth the narrative is one Of contnu"
growth and expansion. with intervals OF
preston during the War for Independence
War of 1872 and the depredations OF the Ffsn1
and English in Revolutionary days New ~
sterdam enters early into the account out W.
ginia Jagged behind: the tobacco crop "as
valuable that English merchants were me
than willing to provide ample shipping ta'
tiles. and in coastwise shipping the Ne" Hn
landers especially maintained their s'A
Toward the end OF the seventeenth century
New England shipyardS were ousily enlp''
building for English account the differe"S
cost in their favor being from - to ~
burden. The slave trade was now III ~
operation. and the English navigation
framed to secure for the mother country
monopoly of Colonial trade. made srnusshne
irresistibly profitable venture. The Whale y"
cries. too. yielded enormous profits. MI Sie
invites us to look at piracy from the coh'e
rary point Of view. and defends the memoi'
Captain Kidd. who has quite unjus1ly
made the arch-type OF the brotherhood u
black flag
1t was in the chaotic days Immediately
ceeGng the War for Independence THAI A" =,
can merchants resolved to reach Out I''
Far Eastern trade. The Empress OF Jim
vessel of $50 TONS left New York for Cnins
February 80. 1874. loaded chiefly with s'"....
and returned home May H. Is>S ~
profit on the venture was $4,000. WHICH,
only a little more than % per cent on ~.
vestment. was considered small" Shops Oh -
and eighty tons did not hesitate TO roon~
Horn in search of the China trade The hiso.
the clippers. the period of the great glory
American merchant marine. follows !" -
course. Then came the Civil War: at Us