And indeed, as this book is writing, it is apparent that its end is near.

Though shipyards have multiplied fast in the last five years of the nineteenth century, the first years of the new century found them all occupied up to the very limit of their capacity.
Yards that began, like the Cramps, building United States warships and finding little other work, were soon under contract to build men-of-war for Russia and Japan.

The interest of the people in the navy afforded a great stimulus to shipbuilding.

It is told of one of the principal yards, that its promotor went to Washington with a bid for naval construction in his pocket, but without either a shipyard or capital wherewith to build one.

He secured a contract for two ships, and capital readily interested itself in his project.