The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-05-14
LESsON OF TEE SRENANDOAR.


]
survivor % four ships % the same type
built By the ssWalls Of Bath. Ne. ell Of
which achieved fans a. fast sailars and
great carriers: they were engaged chiefly
In the grain trade between Pacific and Eu-
rOpean ports. or the ihPes sister ships
two Wsrs burned and one was wrecked;
and the Shenandoah comes here 10 b
stripped Of her spars and canvas and 10
end her days ~ a towing barge. A. de-
sCribsd IN the clrreut ssne Of ShiBTfHg
Illustrated. she h 20 feet In length. beam
20 feet and depth 10 feet: she measures
s.e07 gross tons and s.i'S net; she has
spread Of shout u go square yards Of can
vas. has frequently logged over 800 knots
In a day. aud once made the voyage from
the Golden Gate 10 sandy Hook In ninety
ak days: In a race against i've foreign ships
between San Francisco and HaVre IN 1891
she beat them ell. making the run from
anchorage TO anchorage In 100 days ana
carrying ; no tons OF wheat. the largest
shipment Of Grain ever taken from Cali
iOrnia 10 a French pogt The Shenandoah
was built In lSaO and cost about tiI'.0oo'
she has probably paid for herself many
times over. but was sold recently for only
~. 600. 70 be delivered In New York.
Why u this exceptionally flne cargo car
rier and saler. with her great record Of
only twenty years Of life. to be converted
Into lOWly coal barge aud do service alOng
the coast when she has sailed every sea and
h still capable Of repeating hor past per-
fOrmancesP why are her owners willing
10 take SEQ for her when she has made
quite a. much a. that, perhaps more. on
q single voyage. and could do e again
under similar conditional The answer n
short. but the story leading up 70 h y
long one: The competition with FOREIGN
steam cpaft b 30 acute and the cost Of equip
ping. manning and sailing 40 American
ship h 10 much greater than for a foreign
One that q ship Of the Steamboats, class
oannOt be sailed nowadays with profit to
her owners. u was simply a choice be-
tWeen selllhE her or having her tied no Idle !
IN port. A. 70 the story Of how such .
has come about. here q . part |
u Il. a. told by one Of the builders and |
,wnsFs Of the Shenandoah. Mr. william d. |
iewall. In hs testimony before the Merchant |
Marine Commission az one Of lis hearings |
a this city six years ago this month:
In his connection Ire policy % our country Ia
we have Subsidized our ralifoada i
'ostsrcd our industries spent money iavishly On
1ur rivers and hhrhora. and you miFhi Ny uoirly |
Tor The bsnsht Of foreign shippinE. 20 far e. our
iortign trade Il Concerned and ye, We have dons
nothing 10 encourage our own merchant marine.
The completed ship, one Of the highest and
rFandssi forms % manufactured prod lection.
raehlng out 10 The various industries On which
4 draws and EiyinE employment 60 American
ahor throughout The country, IL not proteeted
his should be considered b. those unfriendly
o this form Of relief. and they should slso bear
q mind the great advantage coming 10 our
,eople IN opening M trade n foreign countries
trough our own agencies. why sh0,iid We h.
untent 10 simply raise our products and merely
ranspnrt thsm 10 our seseoasi when Ne can de
liver them 10 the markets Of The world. SAving not
MY the transportation hut receiving coun teas
rhe7is besides, IN The opening up 81 trade The
eW millions spent to save the trade will he ~
umcd 10 us many times over. n would rive us
merchant marine a. an ausIiiary 10 our navy
nd shinhalidlng plants We cOud deDsnd upon
! time Of war
We ask for relief on broad grounds. without
gard 70 party lines. a. rurens Interested IN
be- welfare Of our country. desiring 70 develop
nj maintain our shipyaras aud secure the trans
ortaton Of our products Or our hag. We ask
Tor maritime defence and for the supplying
: seAmen. 10 Insure our property on ne sea
nd lhe protection Of our coast We merely want
be placed terms Of fair con- pci on and with.
N reducing the standard Of living Tor American ,
bor We cannot meet the Disadvantages That
Sv confront Ne without Government aid II
want 10 say a word for san tonnage o. ,
'urss realize this Is en- age largely dependent
pom sieam. and u ue are 70 regain any consiier.
he proportion Of our Lost foreign trade We must
, ~ By steam. but believe there IL sun urFsnt J
ssd Of the sailing ship and any Increase 10 these
.sses that may come from such encOuragement
you ran give viii prove OF ihesumabie value
the country. They will always be needed for :
rtain cargoss and certain voyages. and upon q
n class Of vessels Ne are depsndent almost :
lureiy for Ire proper training Of our soamen.
&c can make theoe vessels prodtabis 70 that
pltai Will sask investment 10 them. then We shall
We our Oiicers aud ssamsn 10 essential 70 .
erchant marine. They are cargo carriers.
nitod In humber yet deserving o. your moat
reful consideration; and IN oomlnG 10 your con
isions. gentlemen. trust yOu VIII BE- disposed n
stroaEiy recommend most liberal encouraae- =
mt for bOth steam anS sail that win promptly b
store our aag upOa the Seas and regain our .
reign carrying trade. a
A. the time Of the Swing Of this testi- n
ony the Sswall shipyard had been idle
year. II has been idle ever since. al
ouEh equipped for constructing both q
lOdeu and steel hulls and IL probably q
n remain idle until Congress wakes IN -
the necessity Of extending Governments q
4 10 shipping. just a. the other maritime y
tions DO 10 theira. The sevalls favor n
rect subsidies both 20 steam aud aall
M. The pending ocean mail bill oMers
cOuragement only for the building and
ling OF fast steamships 90 ply bet Ween
nerican ports aud those Of South America, a
istFalasis, Asia and the Philippines. IT. "
sage would not result In the puttlnE b
q single dollar into new sail Tonnage for ;.
, cross seas trade or into steam tonnage 4;
the general ocean carrying trade. but u
Il good a. far a. it.EOes II amended In al
me particulars. But Congress IL paving n,
Iall attention 10 h. prrferring just nov n
mu"kIakc for alleged ship subsidy "
'andals n
The Shenandoah l. eiGhty-seven DAYS Il
J. She ought to show up "a the Hook 4.
lily In June. II the two houses Of Con- u
'ss would only make a small appropri-
on for an excursion over here by the anti
piping aid lawmakers 10 take a look At
the sight Of her great and graceful
] and Of her tall masts. tOpmasts and
'gailants piercing the sky ~ i 2IT feet "a
m her main deck TO her main truck, y.
ell 70 zoOn 10 b. degraded. might opef. ~
TO make them ashamed Of themssivra =,
metamorphOse them into subsidi.ts =,
ihwith ~,