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
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