Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-02-15
Our MARITIME Csmusree.

We have received volume of statistics
of the Foreign and Domestic Commerce of
the United States, communicated by the
Secretary Of the 7 reasury in answer to q
resolution of the Senate, which contains
matter for grave consideration-especially
that portion relating TO our maritime in
terests. Commerce is shown to have
Jagged and shrunk away because OF pira-
cies, aggravated by the stagnation OF the
mercantile interests. Our wonderful IN
crease in the brief period of our national
lie, which raised our tonnage from almost
nothing when the Nation had established
its freedom to superiority over that OF the
greatest commercial country, it Is well
known, caused fear as well as jealousy
abroad. and any method was hailed oy
our enemies which promised to destroy or
cripple it. Much has been done to that
end. Many of our best ships have been
burned, while much larger number have
been driven to seek shelter under foreign
flags; and thus, not only our foreign COM
merce, but much of our domestic, has been
broken up and destroyed. F.s 80
In 1857, the aggregate commercial ton
mage of the world was estimated at about
10, 0O0, 900 tons. This was distributed as
follows: The United States, 1851, AIS
tons; Great Britain, 5,043,270; France,
ZIG, 1870; Italian States, $3.50 Holland
456, 1862; Spain, 379,42l; Prussia, $685.
1923; Norway, 1858, 632 ; Austria, 324, All !;
Greece, 264, 1881; Denmark, 208, 100 Mex
leo and South America, l92,735; Turkey,
1872, 900 Bremen, 100000; Sweden, Az
1928 Hamburg, 1884 Russia, lO5,609.
This estimate includes China, Japan, and
the East generally, where no definite data
are procurable. 1t yielded an excess OF
about ten per cent. to the commercial tom
mage of the United States over that OF
Great Britain, and an excess over all Euro
pean nations, excluding Great Britain, of
ouer l00,0 900 tons.
The aggregate of tonnage entering the
ports of the United States from Foreign
Countries in 1857 was 7,l86,3l6, of which
2,464, 946, or 34.S was Foreign; in 1860,
1926, l96. of which 2,26S, Oil, or 28.4, was
Foreign; in 1861, 7,24l,47l, of which
2,2l7, 554, or 30.6, was Foreign; in 1862,
1852, 953, of which 2, 245,278, or 3O.5, was
Foreign; and in 1868, 7,255,076, of which
2,64O,37S, or 1854, was Foreign. The
facts thus presented show to how great an
extent we are commercial and maritime
people; and though our present tonnage
can hardly compare with that of quarter
of q century ago, it is not probable that
the present deplorable state of things will
continue beyond the close of the war.
With peace and unity restored to the
country, we shall soon rally, and the lapse
of many years is not likely to occur be-
fore we shall have recovered our lost
ground. We are rich in all the essentials
for maritime supremacy. We have the
raw materials for exchange which prompts
such enterprise, and the taste for CONNER
cial enterprise which improves such posi-.
bility. Then again, we raise in excess
and excellence, everything for shipbuild.
ing, and have, moreover, the mechanical
aptitude and knowledge which utilities
them. These facts have worked out the
great results of previous years, and it is
fair to assume that they will work on,
greater in coming years, and their product
will distribute among US steady stream
of wealth to nourish every important
industry.
In this connection, much could be urged
in favor of a greater proportion of steam
tonnage, which should, and doubtless
will, in due time, be far in advance Of
what it has been. 1t may be remarked
that the custom and commercial interests
of England have induced her to subsidize
ocean steamship lines in every direction,
and to an amount which has bean con-
sidered appalling by other nations. The
custom has increased her tonnage, ex-
banded her commerce, her manufactures
her exports of every variety, and proved
so profitable generally as to have become
usual. If we intend to compete for the
commercial advantages of Europe, South
America and Asia, we must employ the
instrumentalittes which are used against
US. Nor has there ever been time, per-
haps, in our national history when We
were so pushed to expend the penny in
order to secure the pound as at this mo-
ment. The wisest economy consists, oc.
casionally, in very lavish expenditure
N. Y. Shipping List.