The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-08
COMMERCE OF HAMBURG srADE DUTIES THEIR
49, ORIGIN AND CHARACTER ~ -


braces an area, including its surrounding territory
| of 1877 square miles, and contains population Of
1873, 900 souls. In 1852 the population of the city
was 1853 ,775, of whom 1858 were males and 3d.
222 females. In the same year there were 6032
births, 632 marriages, and 5,435 deaths. Hamburg
was founded by Charlemagne towards the close of
the eighth century, and with Lubeo was the first
city that entered into the confederacy of the Hanse
or associated towns knowna the Hanseatic League,
aud organized according to the most reliable author
tiles, about the middle of the twelfth century--some
authors say A. ID. ll64. The original purpose of
this organized confederation was to afford mutual
protection and safe intercourse by land between the
different cities and towns of which il was composed
as wen as TO guaranty protection by from the
numerous pirates who, at that early period infested
the Baltic and the coasts of the North Its men,
bers soon became and powerful, including
the cities Of London, Rouen, Bordeaux, St Malo,
Bayonne Mlarseilles, Barcelona Seville, Cadz, Lis
| bon, Antwerp, bort, Amsterdam, Rotterdam Burge,
Ostend, Dunkirk, Leghorn, Messina, Naples, Novgo-
rod in Russia Bergen in Norway, all the towns on
the Elbe and Weser besides many others no longer
known among the great emporiums of European
commerce. OF all these cities and towns Hamburg
Bremen, and Lubbock are all that now remain of the
! Hanseatic League.
| Hamburg derives much Of its Importance from its
manufacturing industry, especially its sugar refine
res iron works distilleres, breweries, ropewalks,
&C.; but its chief commercial distinction and inn
mense wealth are owing to its advantageous position
as the principal emporium for the trade of Germany.
In 1852 the revenue of Hamburg was $l,937 200,
and its expenditure 81 s43 945 In 1855 the revenue
reached 80 ,os2,24O and the expenditure amounted
to S2,2O9ss0. This revenue is divided into two
branches-the ordinary and extraordinary. The char
actcr of the first branch may be from the follow
ing apportionment for 1882 Land and fire tax mares
courants, (2s cents each,) 64300O excise, 1909
2l5; customs, 1,076l56; stamp duties, 1888, 400 I;
tolls, 29l 800; ground rent, l72,605. The extra
ordinary are classified in official returns as follows
Extra loans and taxes mares courant, 1906 land
tax for fire loan, l42262l, and 464,475 additional
| for fire rates.
The ordinary expenditure was, in 1852, for mem
bers of the Senate courant POI 1922; military
537 $50; police l66 $50; harbor expenses SIT 1926;
buildings 453,3l3; charitable institutions, 4O2576;
and 1,5sll42 interest and expenses Of public debt.
The amount of the public debt Of Hamburg in 1852
was $24 ,95OI55-- which $985l,l55 the old debt
and Sl5O99, 900 fire loan In 1855 the number and
tonnage Of vessels which belonged to the port of
Hamburg was 44S vessels Of 159 500 tons. The num-
Der of vessels entered the same year 1893 meas
uring, in the aggregate 309002 lasts, 92 0O6 tons
the number cleared 4,562 guaging 300 1884 lasts
or 929952 TONS The value Of cargoes entered in 1855
was S9l l6s,l75, and of exports, $53, 437 $50. In
I846 the total value of imports and exports was
imports, $l05,624,645; exports, SlO3647,O25. In
1855 the total value Of imports $l9s, 2O9 800,
and the total value Of exports reached 500, 208,-
ITO. During this year the imports consisted Of pro-
visions, ,l64l 42 centners--Ql0 pounds each)-
value mares banco (35c each) 1872 6s639O; raw
materials, Including tobacco and cotton, "a 404458
centners--value mares banco l93544,410; manufac-
lures ,I9S,349 centners--vaue mares banco 1885,
304, 2l0 specie and bullion, $3.50 centners--value
mares banco rs ,O23 ,1S0-total cenners 32775 4S2
mares baneo 528, 558,l90 The exports from Ham
burg in 1855 consisted of provisions 5,813, 5O4
tners-value mares banco l12,75912O; raw mate
| rails, I3,204877 centners--value mares banco 1877
31s ,050; manufactures, 1,099,33S conference.-the
mares banco l26, 306 $40; specie and bullion 1874
centnersvalue mares banco 8O,s37 ,790-total cen
tners 20, 266, 1853: mares banco 50722l 500.
| The principal restriction upon the foreign com
merce Of Hamburg constituting, it does, most
oppressive and arbitrary exaction is the toll or Sade
duties levied by Hanover at the castle of Brunshau
sen all vessels navigating the Elbe. On passing
Stade every captain must send his papers, including
his manifest, bills of lading and invoices, ashore
l f.
| that the amount of duties may be calculated and
certified These duties are paid at Hamburg, where
| the Hanoverian government retains an agent to
receive Them and until the receipt Of this agent is
produced, the vessel cannot proceed even to unload
Great Britain pays may be supposed from her ex-
| tensive commercial movements at the port of Ham
burg, the heaviest portion of these taxes. Her aver
age share is, merchandise 50 per cent. and her
flag AS per cent of the whole, while the share which
falls upon the commerce of the United States is on
our merchandise per cent. and on flag 4 per
cent. of the whole.
During the ten years ending with 1856, the to-
tai amount of Stade dues collected by Hanover was
mares courant (28 c 1925l32, of which Great Brit
ain paid on merchandise, mares courant 064, 4O3
and on her flag, courant s7l 1875 while there
were levied on United States merchandise mares
courant 81 936, 3.0l per cent. on the whole and
ON flag courant 33 9s7, or l76 per cent on
A. 4otn1