History of New York Ship Yards, (e-book) (used book) | bookbook.eu

Description

The development of shipbuilding in New York prior to the separation of the colony from the Mother Country, both under the Dutch as well as the English occupation, was of a very uncertain character, mainly for the reason that for the greater portion of the period the commerce carried on with foreign countries was with vessels owned abroad, and it was only toward the latter days of the colony that vessels were constructed in this city for trading coastwise for any distance, and to the West Indies. There were vessels built for near-by trade, but they were comparatively small in dimensions and number. For the reason that our forefathers were not given to the habit of recording any advancement made in industrial pursuits in this country, it is impossible to cover the subject but in a general manner during the Colonial period.
It was not until after the treaty of peace with Great Britain in September, 1783, that there are any records of shipbuilding in the City of New York. In fact, while the several States still retained their separate governments, to the formation of the Union of States in 1789, there is no record to be found in this city. So there is no official record of vessels built in this city prior to President Washington's administration, and even for a few years later there are some of the official papers of New York built vessels, that have been for many years among the missing.
The industry now began to show much activity compared to its former condition, and the restless energy of the American mechanic began to assert itself in its first stage of freedom from foreign control, and while the progress in the "art of shipbuilding" was very small indeed, it was not until after the monopoly of steam navigation on our rivers was removed in 1824 that we see the vast improvements that took place in shipbuilding in this city. From this period to its final decline about forty years later, it was a rapid development with the large growth of the city and its many industries.
In the first stage of this expansion of shipbuilding, the skilled mechanic began the agitation for the relief from his long hours of labor, and in a few years he was successful, and through the several changes in the methods of construction, and the use of better tools, work was turned out more rapidly and better than before. Then came the building of Ocean and Coastwise Steamships, and later the far-famed Clipper ships, for which New York City was so widely noted, and justly so. This lasted for a few years; and then several surrounding conditions, all affecting the shipbuilding industry of the city, more or less, had the effect to stop the making of new contracts for vessels, and to close up some of the local shipyards. The progress in the industry at New York was followed during the whole period at all the shipbuilding centers on the Atlantic Coast, but this city was the most unfortunate in losing its hold upon this business so soon after the close of the conflict between the States in 1865. The State of Maine was the exception, for wooden shipbuilding was largely carried on there till very recent date.