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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1881)
March, 1881. THE WEST SHORE. 63 SHIPYARDS ON THE COIX'MMA. Hitherto the currying trade of the Columbia and Willamette rivers, so far as sail vessels me concerned, has Wen entirely controlled by bottoms built at Coos Hny. Those shrewd and ener getic Yankees, the brothers Asa and Rolicrt Simpson, did more in two years to noise abroud the gocx! fume and name of Oregon than any other hundred men in the state. Their ship, the beautiful and ill-fated M'eskrn Sliort, was a me chanical triumph for any state to be justly proud of, and it is doubtful if a better paying piece of ship property was ever built. And, without unkind feelings toward these worthy gentlemen, let us here take occasion to say that we believe the time has come when Portland ought to assert its own supremacy by sustaining a home-built fleet of sailing vessels, built and riircTi-d nm... il,.. fi i Ti "7 "i 11 vwiuiiiiiiH river. 1 he timber for construction of hulls is jusi as goxi ncrc as at Coos Hay and, with equally good work in the car penler's and blacksmith's departments, should turn out just as good vessels. Messrs. Stephens & Richards, of St. Helens, twenty-two miles below this city, have recently commenced what they should be encouraged in by our wpitalists the building of schooner They are about to launch their new ves-ncI- the Gtntral Gmfitldvi 300 tons Imrthcn, and we only regret Hint she locs not measure j.'y. She is pro nounced by Cupl. Nat. Ingersoll, and several oilier competent judges, to lu n excellent vessel in every respect. They employ a large number of men, and have materially aided the prosperity of St. Helens since locating there. They are willing to build a ship of 1000 tons if Portland merchants will only furnish the needed capital. She will cost $50,000, and will employ men at from $75 to $So per month'.' One third of her cost and outfit could be cleared at the very first outward char ier for the United Kingdom. Our own belief is that ships can he built at St. Helens cheaper than at Coos Hay. The only obstacle that we know of in the way is thf want of capital. Just long as men can get 10 per cent, per annum on city procrty in Portland ami East Portland, jnsi so long will they 1 11 111 a blind eye to shipyards, and allow Liver)ool and London capitalists to absorb the carrying trade of ( )rcgon vat grain garden. The time lias cmiiv now when our capitalists must take the bull by the horn and endeavor to check this tide of financial output wilh no reflux. Oiejon must furni.h the OKI W01KI with grain, ond why should l not as well mak the profit on tar tying it to markit V mm b ; km nrrf s in ! o 1 31; . "... 7 . .