The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-28
SOME NEW ROCKS.


tons aggregate burden. At the close
Of the year 1883 the United States haj
1883 tons of shipping in deep water
commerce, carrying II per cent. of the
country's imports and 30 per cent. of
its exports. by December 81, 1894,
say WILLIAM BRowN MELoNET in The
Heritage OF TIRE CMacmillans), the
tonnage had increased to AIS. 500, ana
the percentages on imports and en-
ports to 81 and sc. Two years later
the fleet measured 1878 tons and nj
the aggregate ommerc of the coun-
try not mere than 16 per cent. was
being carried in ships flying other fiags
thar the American. THE growth VI
tho American merchant marine du"-
ing this period and up to the Long
Embargo Is without parallel in the
history Of commerce.
IRE war Of 1872 was won, in SO
far as II was won at all, by our
merchant marine. The seamen bred
In that service manncd not only the
ships Of the navy but also the still
fnorc effective harrying fleets Of pri-
Natcers that destroyed $4,000. 900 Of
British shipping. But in 1915 Ameri-
can shipping was in "A bad way; our
ports. from the Tenobscot to the
Chesapeake. were clogged with idle
fleets. In 1889 aud 1892 Congress hal
passed laws giving American built and
owned vessels great advantage, in
tonnage duties. over foreign ships, and
granting certain bounties. 1t was that
legislation that gave our merchant
marine its first great impetus.
La -1sa-.s .-.s ,--. -.
OF Congress in 1915. our peace COM
missioners. or obstruction commits
h.oners." as MIR. Meloney calls them,
at Client. solemnly contracted that the
United States would repeal the tariff
laws of 1893 and 1872: and In Marcn,
1915. they were accordingly erased.
In 1916 We engaged In competition,
not ut all friendly, with England in
the North Atlantic trade. In 1917.
under Monroe, we closed our coast
wise trade to all foreign flags and all
foreign built vessels regardless Of own
ership: And. marvellous to relate.
that law has been permitted to re-
main on the statute books t this
day"
In the '20s and '30s American ship
ping thrivcd. Larger and faster ves-
sells were needed. and builders copied
the Chesapeake model. Goldfish head
and mackerel tail. American ON
manders and men were the best in the
world. where a foreigner spread n
running DOT of dirty hemp or fiaXcn
canvas. "A Yankee spread a square
yard of snowy cotto.I duck. Where "A
Britisher mounted nothing higher
than ~topgallant sails IN stumpy. los
like masts. an American stabbed at
tho stars with lances pennoned of SKI
sails and moonsails. Where the Brit
Usher clewed up and furled. we hung
on or loosed still another kite ard
sheeted II home to 1.-THE tune of billy
Taylor" Where they snuggcd down
a. night, the Yankee skipper drove
on. British craft had n powerful navy
To protect them: for the Americans
safety lay in speed. In 1897 tho Lon
don Times said: americas starred
flag is now conspicuous oi. every sea.
and will soon defy our thunder" Thcy
closed the West Indies against us. AMI
we cut a slice out of their East In
dia trade.
Congress threw American trade open
I u european Sill'pllE without StiHt-
ing out for such reciprocal conc"s-
sions as seIf-ipterest should have
prompted. ana In two years our ton
mage fell OF 22O.3i5 tons. But Com
Gress could not legislate out of ev.
istence the great forests that enabled
us to build ships more cheaply than
Europe could. or the hearts of oak
that manned and Differed the vessc!s
american sAanien Received higher pay.
nut thelr SIKH abl them to sail
with smaller crews. Their speed gave
thehi, say hVe voyages 10 a compet.-
tors four, and commanded better
freight and insurance rates. Officers
were specially trained. not pushed mp
from the iocs!e; they graduated from
TO ownership. and hoped III
timateiS 10 become
In 1871 a young New York draughts-
man John Wills irlN,ths' gave II Jolt
10 the shlpbu!ld!nS industry and The
complacence II conservatism that
success was breeding n theory
was then held mat 1t did not matter
now roush!y "A snip entered the water
so ions as she LETT 1t smoothly behind
Baltimore ciippers fuIl round bows
practically nat forward floor II ma.
row stern, Grlihths proposed n model
with khiieIIke, concaNe entrance. WIN
the greatest beam am!dships, ana hne
after lines, Sail"rmcn scoifed; such "A
shin would not stand IN AT the pier.