DOOM OF THE SAILING SHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15613, 20 May 1914, Page 8

DOOM OF THE SAILING SHIP.

(That only 32 sailing ships wore under construction in the .■■■United Kingdom at the close of the quarter ended March last . worts prophetic of the:- ultimate disappearance , of. the sailer from the high seas. In 1895, the returns of, British shipping showed the tonnage of sailing vessels Ito bo :. one-seventh of/the wholej!. in 1911 it had fallen to one-thirty-socond part, and to-day it is oven smaller. The figures relating to 'Ike employment of seamen point to the same conclusion. , In 1900 the number of men employed in British sailing; vessels 'of, under ; 300 tons was 42,721;' in 1900, 25,056; in 1903, 21,452; in 1906,' 20,002.' The features of modern shipbuilding are the elimination of the j sailing ship, and tho steady increase in the size \of steamers, the average ;vessel of to-day being sj. times .that of the vessel built 38 years'ago, when steel was not used. v Various economic causes arc at work producing those developments. The great markets of the ■ world demand almost the samo punctuality?;*in;; the; ■; vessels carrying their supplies as ■; are ;". required in passenger and-''mail services.' This; has ;: been disastrous to wind-drivon . vessels, on the, trade routes and consideration of economy in tho use: of v both' the human and mechanical ■ factors has caused shipbuilders to .design vessels of evor-incroasing size. The aggregate tonnage of construction for mercantile purposes 'is . still increasing "year ; by* year. •- At the present ;; time British and : foreign yards are nearly all busy and . steamship : owners 'anticipate profitable employment for -the \ huge and growing fleets, despite the' recent'• temporary depression of. the freight markets; which resulted; in the laying up o£ tonnage, :%tf } a»;.v J 'i. l '•■ .'V ■:■'..■ ..."'.' ,