Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-05-13
CONGRESSIONAL DOCUMENT.
STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH CHINA AND
THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.
HoUsr OF REPRESENTATIVES,, MAY 4, Is4s. !

The Committee on Naval Affairs have had under cons-
deraon the expsdency Of establishing communication by
steamers from the Territory of the United States, on the Pa
cc ocean, Shaaghae and Canton, apd submit the follow
ing report
The rapid settlement Of the Oregon territory and the sc-
knowedged necessity of certain and speedy means Of
communication with our fellow citizens the shores Of the
Pacific ocean, indicated the popey Of establishing the line
Of mail from Panama port in our own posses
sons which authorized by the act Of the Sd March, s47
That line will before the close Of the present year. commence
transportation Of the mail passengers, and freight from Pa
to the Columbia river touching at the intermediate ports
the Of Mexico and California II will thus in con-
nexion with the lines Of mail established by the same
act from New York and New Orleans to Havana and thence
Chages, with communication the isthmus, and
forming also connexon with the line Of British steamers
running south from Panama Valparaiso afford frequent and
regular Of intercourse with all places the American
shores Of the Pacific These steps territorial dominion and
steam navigation place US in position to extend view
the bosom OF that broad the shores of Japan
and China and to consider what other and further
may be adopted for the encouragement and protection Of
in that portion Of the globe But before proceed
do this proper to look the extent and condition
Of that commerce, and to ascertain, far practicable
which Of the ports in Oregon California is best suited and
situated to become the great depot and future rendezvous
our military and commercial marine
The whale fishery is, at present, the most important and
extensive the least protected and encouraged branch Of
the Pacific. Scattered, thousand of miles, from
the tropics to the arctic from the shores OF California and
Oregon those Of Japan and northern China, among the
Polynesan and Sandwich islands, il been allowed to fol-
low its peous pursuit with very little fostering protec
ton from the Government Our enterpsng capitalists have
FORTH the emoest parts Of and but little
known, their ships, Daygated by intrepid and hardy
rners with scarcely hope of giving friends
egence of their progress receiving orders information
from home during the long years Of their aduous voyages
Under such dcouragng circumstances il is remarkable that
this branch of should have attained such magn
tude and value According the best information the
Der OF ships engaged in the whale fishery, in January ls46
1876, of 233, 49 tons, employing 1850 officers and
seamen, and amounting in value to S29 900. Most of
these vessels cruise in the north Pacific and absent from
three four years and, until the establishment OF the line
of Oregon, had been adopted by Gov
ernment to communicate with this important branch of
Officers have been known return from wha
ling voyage, and eam for the first time, that their wives
had been dead for The annual product of the
whale fishery is estimated about millions of dollars
BY reeresce the chart which is attached to- and makes
part Of this report it win be that in the Of s43
there hundred American whaling ships within the
space of small circle between the 5st and Seth degrees of
north latitude. Many Of these ships cruise along the Fox
islands, and stretch the Pacific Japan and the Ku
re islands, others run down towards the Larone islands in
search of the sperm whale In Short they seek the whale in
all parts of the II is their visit port
twice year for the purpose Of refreshmen and
pair, to overhaul recopper &c. For these purposes they
resort to the ports of South America the Sandwich and other
each vessel from four five thousand dollars
year. aggregate annual expenditure of about three mil
lions of dollars in foreign por which cannot in the event
OF with maritime power, afford them the slightest pro-
ecton but will merely traps lead them into the
hands Of hostile cruisers
It is estimated that have about 200 vessels of 900
TONS and 5000 seamen employed in the carrying trade on
that ocean, exclusive Of with China making
936 sail of 30s l49 TONS and a. $50 officers and seamen
engaged these various branches Of commerce. what may
be regarded the American portion Of the Pacific. Adding
to these employed in the protection Of this commerce.
ships Of which require place Of resort for eequp
men reeshment and repairs, and also Of shelter in the
event OF being pursued by superior force, quite
evident that efficient ought be Immediately adopt
ed for the establishment Of naval depot and the construction
Of suitable for6cstons Of harbors that
side Of the continent This rendezvous win become the
sort Of whaling and other vessels and the greater portion
if not a the money now expended in foreign po for the
purposes Indicated will be dsbursed among citi
and contribute to the building up emporium which
will afford the Of extending and protecting own
This should also be the place of departure Of the
line Of China, which il is the object Of this report
propose, and the terminus Of the contemplated railway
the Pacific combination of these great objects at one
point will afford such facilities intercourse will increase
10 an indefinite extent trade on that
Previous the close Of the between Great Britain and
China, with that country trammeled by
ous monopoles allowed to the mandsrns whose exorons
and caprice imposed the most serious obstacles the regular
progress Of trade and seemed to preclude the hope any very
extended intercourse with that country but by the tariff and
nese lmpediments swept
and moderate regular import and export duty established
which has been extended 10 the trade Of all nations the for
about 81 and the latter per ad vaorem Under the
liberal provisions Of this treaty, the imports from foreign
tries into China increased from $40, ,370, In ls42, to
81, 249 In 1884, and the exports from $50, in
ls42 to 2 370 In 1884, exclusive in both Of the
opium trade and OF bullion and specie exported and imported
The treaty between China and the United States concluded
the 3d Of July, 1884, contains very important prov
ons which not secured by the treaty Of Nankn They
Vessels coming into port and departing again within
hours without having broken bulk not liable to
tonnage duties.
ss2d Vessels under hundred and y tons burden are
pay only per ton in tonnage dues IN lieu Of five
mace which all merchant ships liable according the
regulations.
d Vessels may proceed with the residue OF their csrgoes
from port Of China TO another without being subject
tonnage Dues IL they have been paid at the port Of their first
arrival.
"4h Merchandise which has been imported into and paid
duty port Of China, be another port without
becoming subject 10 duty second time.
5t. The duty lead and syeer, which in the tariff Is
rated At five per pecu is reduced TO and FIVE
candareens"
These provisions have been extended by special agreement
the British trade. These treaties have already had most
favorable influence the trade between China and the Uni
ted States which formerly limited almost entirely
exchange Of bullion SPECIE and bills London for the
various sorts Of tee, small amount Of silks and other articles
Of luxury
Under these new commercial regulations heahfu
and equitable intercourse rapidly sprngng up, sustained by
exchange Of commodities mutually beneficial and contain
ing the elements Of rapid and great expansion five
axiom in political economy ths, the between