American Marine; The Shipping Question in History and Politics (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 Excerpt: ...ships in order to compete with the world in efficiency is one of the best results of our investigation. It is to be borne in mind, too, that some of the vaunted steel ships of recent build in England are included in her fleet of "iron," as several of her famous composite ships are included in her fleet of "wood." The following table will show the averages of efficiency for the large fleets in each of the four years of the term: --From this statement it appears there has been a general decline in average efficiency, slight for the two wooden fleets, but considerable for the iron one. In the last two years of low freights, there has been less overloading and reckless sailing, fewer disasters and accidents to British, and particularly the iron vessels, than ever known before in the California trade. In the monthly statements, omitted here for want of space, the figures vary more than in the yearly tables. But taking the performances of the sail vessels of Great Britain and the United States, in large fleets for a considerable length of time, there is no warrant whatever for the pretensions set up by British naval and commercial authorities, and foolishly repeated all through the American press, that the iron ship built in Britain is "the most efficient vehicle of commerce." On the contrary, it may be fairly and truthfully claimed, as proved by experience in the grain trade of California, that, for efficiency with safety, the wood ship built in the United States is entitled to hoist the colors. Unfounded British Sentiment. America may boast from many victories won, that Neptune subdued is not Britain's palm alone. It is therefore discreditable that any portion of our people should take up the hue and cry of a British trade interest, ...