The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-13

fish North American Colonies.
NOTE.@{The following document has been obtain
ed from the British provinces, and ID memorial or
statement made to the authorities there at the instance
OF British colonial merchants, to induce the change
by them with the assent of the imperial governmcnt
OF the British Colonial navigation laws, and tariff
of duties on imports &c., as to the islands of Cuba
and Porto Rico II shows the effect and operation OF
our laws with respect to the trade with those islands
and wherein the United States may be, by the action
sought, materially injured The document may be
relied on as accurate
The United States impose tonnage duty of 81 so
per ton on Spanish vessels from Cuba and Porto Ri
co. unless when bringing full cargoes Of molasses
coming and leaving in ballast. In these two cases
no tonnage duty is charged. In all cases however,
they impose an extra duty on their cargoes of
10 per cent above the rates payable on cargoes of
vessels belonging to the United States to countries
with which the United States have treaty arrange
ments for placing the trade under their respective
flags on an equal footing. They also levy discrmi-
mating duty equal to the export duty cargoes
of American vessels would be liable over those of
Spanish vessel in Cuba, such further duty as the
cargo they may have on board would, if in an Anne
rcan vessel have to pay above one by o Spanish
vessel in Cuba and Porto Rico.
These restrictions Of course deprive Spanish ship
ping Of all participation in the carrying trade be.
tween the Spanish Colonies and the United States
Vessels arriving in the United States from Spain,
are not subject to the heavy tonnage duty. being
charged only five cents per ton but their cargoes
have TO pay the same di terminating duty as coming
from Spanish Colonies.
The United States impose duty of thirty per
cent on Spanish sugar and moasses, when brought
by United States or other privileged vessels. This
high duty is designed mainly for the encouragement
other own Southern planters, and thus operates to
the detrment of the Spanish planters.
The British North American Colonies admit
Spanish vessels and their cargoes, whether from
Spanish or other foreign countries or from other
British possessions without any of these restrictions
and determinations all vessels and cargOeS coming
in on an equal footing.
The trade Of British North America with the
Spanish West India Islands is of some consequence,
and rapidly increasing. The imports now from Cuba
and Porto Rico average about 10000 hogsheads Of
sugar. and 10000 to rs 600 hogsheads Of molasses,
annually.
The trade Of the Spanish colonies being placed, in
British North America on perfectly equal footing
with that OF our mother country, and all her other
colonies Ga lberality Of commercial legislation which
contrasts most strikingly with the policy Of the
United States regarding the same trade) Spain nav
fairly be called on to make some relaxation in her
code in favor Of British North America This she
can do with the greater facility, being unembar-
raised Git is beeved) by treaties binding her to place
the commerce Of any country on the footing Of 1.-THE
The advantage to British North America might be
given in the shape of reduction of the import duty
on her merchandise, generally, coming from that
quarter, or on certain specified articles, such as
enumerated elsewhere, and the remission of all
tonnage dues on British North American YES
sells coming from whatever quarter This would
give us very large portion Of the carrying trade
between the Spanish Islands and the United States.
Should Spain decline any such Arrangement it is
possible that the progress of reciprocal free trade
IDEAS and negotiations among the colonies. NAV de.
prive Cuba and Porto Rico of their British North
American market, by bringing supplies Of produce
The annual imports into the island Of Cuba Of
sundry articles which British North America can
supply, are about as follows =
Flour (almost entirely from Spain)-spanish -four
from M n
duty There were imported from $50 900 900 bbl
ing to 81 $50 900 81 400 OO0 the duty on which, by
foreign vessels from foreign places, is 50 s. per Dbl
crop il deficient chiefly from the United States. with
occasionally cargo from New Granada S. A. There were
imported from 600 to 300 900 bushels at average
cost at place Of shipment Of 55c amounting to 81 600
qt; do by foreign vessels from foreign places IS per
cent equal Il 7llooc.; do by Spanish vessels from
foreign places, 251s per cent equal to 81 51-1ooc.
DRIED FEH.-Demand very much influenced by the
price Of South American ierked beef Imported from
United States, 10000 to 5000 qtls do. from British
North America 40 600 to 60 600 otis do from Norway,
SPAIN &c. 900 to 600 qtls of 100 lbs each There
imported from 81 900 to l27,0O0, at average
cost at place of shipment Of 81 amounting to STA 900
s24o 600 duty by custom house fixed valuation So so
per qtl do by foreign vessels from foreign places 29
per cent equal to 81 o. do by Spanish vessels from TO-
ARD.-lmported from the United States from IS 900 to
100 600, at an average cost at place OF shipment OF
S. amounting to 5000 900 $500 900; duty, by custom
house fixed valuation, S12 per qt; d. by foreign
sells from foreign places 1915 per cent equal to 81 3d.
do by Spanish vessels from foreign places 5 per cent
equal TO SIS 90.
BUTTER-Prncpaly from the United States Quantity
estimated at from 200 to 5000 at an average cost at
place Of shipment OF SIP amounting to $40 500 900
duty by custom house fixed valuation, Sl4 per q do,
by foreign vessels from foreign places 2sa per cent
equal to " II; DO, by spanish vessels from oreign
places Il - per cent, equal 70 93 Va
LrNmR-(White Pine)-Principally from the United
States In some years the proportion from the British
provinces is u to 10 per cent OF the whole There were
at an average cost at place OF shipment OF % per NJ feet
amounting to $lOS 900 Slao duty by custom mouse
liked raiuauon ~ per NJ leet 90 py ose re- vessels
from i1egn pace s s pr oe gym ~ - o ao w. n
psa 70 >''S''s 'io" p''e'' az 'd0'
HocsnrAp sHooYs-Almost entirely from the United
States There imported from 800 600 to 400 ooo at
amounting to 5000 $780, 900; duty, by custom
house fixed valuation 81 each do BY foreign vessels s
from foreign places 3' per cent, equa 70 ~ .slo
do by spanish Il, vessels from foreign places Sa per cent
el pox prncnov from tho r-r;tod States D,r
inc he Ia two or three Years from 40 600 to 20 600 have