The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-04
CuAMsva oT COMMENCES,

w. ,or.,vng memorial TO Congress- was adopted by 'ae
rr,mber Of Commerce on Thursday
0'a"o0 y CpAMssn oY Commences,
NRw YORK, Fen 1850 J
- - x,.uun,n,y TIE g,oxeRyss or THE UNITED SfATSN
sEarx AND aousx RxpKssEsrAr'ss ooSskss" s,.,s
The memorial OF the Chamber OF Commerce o. ts s
my Wnsr resrec,rly represents --fbat the laws rs
intps 10 the census Of the Untsd s'Asss 81 commece
auire the COLLECTION a Garaists regard as serious ic
inspection al these laws wi,i chow that
Sero designed statistics that would EXHIBIT
among other things oorrec, ana comprehensive of
wealth productive capacity Of the nation but
is manifest thai they compass this end wtnou, pro-
vidag for the collection Of sisl STATISTICS
Commerce s one OF the Dost important branches OF
productive Industry. Il is second only agriculture
and but Ise, IL at all, inferior 1t employs vast
amount Of capital and produces large snDna
revenue II thus contributes liberal share to the pros.
periy oil the country and at tho time enarges
al poa x Of ss o.
Your msmorialiss respectfully submit that Interest
OF such magnitude and usefulness should not DO
looked In professed inventory OF the wealth and pro-
ducve resources Of the country It's statistics clearly
necessary 70 the completeness Of such Inventory
properly collected digestcd they will Of
tho highest guidance OF statesmen and
chAns, and NJ the time essentially aid the student
appears to have been the nrs intention of Congress
70 include the stascs OF in the OF 1850
The preliminary act in relation thereto, passsd March
1849, established Census BOA-d, and charged
duty Of preparing forms and schedules for euumsaag
tho inhabitants ann for collecting Information
mines, Agriculture, commerce, manufactures, education
and other TOPICS a. would exhibit full view pur-
SUITE, ndustry education and Of the country
would seem that the Census Board n performing The
duty assigned 10 IT, omitted the schedues for coec,ing
commercial statistics At least
Pc found in the general law providing FOR that census
ana every subsequent one which passed the nex
sossa0n OF Congress, while all the others the
preliminary act included.
omission 10 10 be attributed to want Of appreciation o
the Importance of commerce. or the value OF s statistics,
the part OF Congress andbe Ceosus Board but rather
70 the difficulty encountered la framing questions thai
would elicit the In ormation desired. This difficulty, IL
ton sought relates the extent Of commerce. the amount
OF capital employed IL IT, and It's annual results gross
profits These three leading clAsses OF facts and Others
connected with their subdivision, may be readily
tanned BY correct answers to few simple Questions, a,
glance athe nature and ,hanism Of commerce will de-
Commerce consists the transpor sale and dstr
button OF articles pro1uced IN other departments OF indus
try. Mining and agriculture supply raw materials the
manufacturing arts d them for consumption by modifying
their forms commerce changes their locality and
aersbip In performing this Office produces wealth BY
augmentpg the value of the articles pass through
channels There those who believe tina, commerce
b non productive They perceive that neither produces
commodities changes their FORMS and thence infer
that instead adding the volume OF wealth. it d.
ninsbee by drawing its suste from other indus
change Of ownership just essential 10 the ultimate
usefulness Of commodities as their production change
Of form shs., Of 'es K the y same in quantity ana
Canton; but IT has more value. Freight, charges, in
surance and commissions superadded and unless
are willing to pay prise that will cover the additional
cost We must forego its Nor is this all We
pay, besides, to thu craftsman retailer suitable
mssion for his services and OUTLAWS in dividing up In
quantities adapted to wants. The same is true OF
every article that passes through the channels OF
merce ..... ...
From this explanation OF the pature OF commerce and
the manner In which aics 10 the production OF wealth.
II will be that tue capital employs sss, FIRST
the machinery OF transportation, such as railroads, canals
steamboats, and shps; and secondly in the means Of ex
change such warehouses; stocks Of goods money
Its gross earnings consist in the transportation depart
cut In freight and charges insurance. storage aud
age In the exchange department. OF the gross
commissions charged on all sales
: table for collecting commercial statistics should
therefore, embrace the following inquiries
/. AZ To the usual amount Of sales.
& As to the amount Of capital employed
3. Az to the gross annual earnings
And these leading Inquiries should be sub divided,
TO ascertain bat proportion OF the capital employed in
transportation and what proportion in buying and sell
in floating capital, what share Of the aggregate earnings
ID derived respectively from transportation aud from
commission AND profits eales; ana how much Of the
capital employed in transportation appropriated to land
carriage, and how much TO water carriage,
schedule framed in accordance with these views II
TONS and yet your menoralists believe will secure
statistical results complete and reliable than any
thai have hitherto been obtained ia relation to this
teree In any country aud complete than thoee
that have been collected In relation TO most other
They would therefore, respectfully your
Of 1885, ana subsequent passed May g.
1885, by adding TO ts tables the accompanying schedule
and making part of said act and the first day Of
June the period Fixed by law for taking the eighth
Of the United States they would also respectfully
urge the necessity of prompt action TO the end that those
prepare and distribute blanks in conformity with the pro-
posed amendment.