Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-03-09


Entered. Cleared.
Year. Ships. Tounase. Ships. Tonnage
1861. l,sl6 l.5509l9 l,5OO I,279,6S0
1862 . l,23l l,0s6,0S5 1869 957,34T
1853 66O 67lT7g 500 6l6,440
1864 1890. 41l I32022 44 4S2,206
The details of the returns show that the,
entries and clearances of British tonnage
increased about eight per cent. over the
corresponding period of 1862, while those
of other nations decreased in about the
same ratio. The Dano- German war 50
affected the German flag in British trade
that it declined about forty-one per cent,
while that of Denmark fell off ten per cent.
These facts explain the decrease of Foreign
tonnage, while the increase Of British ton
mage has analogous explanations. Had
the American and German flags not been
belligerent, neither the decline in foreign
tonnage, nor the increase in British would
probably have been remarkable !; but as 1t
is, the British flag has reaped the benefits
of " neutrality" The shipping interests
of England, we may add, were very much
depressed during the year, as well as our
own, and the value of shipping declined
materially in consequence. Thus, seven
years old American vessels sold during
the year as low as seven pounds sterling
per ton and even at the deprecated rates,
very large number of ships, formerly
under the Stars and Stripes, were absorbed
into the British and other mercantile
marines, and continue to be employed in
the British carrying trade. But the loss
of American ships by ordinary casualties,
and the destructive operations of cruisers
under rebel auspices, probably forms a
more important hiatus, which has not been
supplied by the construction of new YES
sells, our ship yards having produced
very small addition to the mercantile
marine. although busy enough in the con-
struction of ships for the Navy.
That one-half of our mercantile ma
rine should be driven off the ocean, and
our marine prestige reduced to the status
of third or fourth-rate power, is GER
tainly grave condition of affairs. This
serious damage to our shipping and to our
national prestige has been accomplished,
as every well informed business man
knows. by handful of petty privateers,
under pseudo Confederate auspices. Had
we been utterly destitute of war vessels,
the matter could not have been much
worse but being possessed of one of the
finest navies in the world. the record Is
one that, to say the least, can earn US no
credit in history, and little respect from
the great naval powers. The prospect of
the carrying trade of Great Britain, for the
current year, are promising, according to
an English writer, who remarks with
great complacency, that 1.-THE long contin-
ance of the American war seems to be in
evitable," and that while it lasts, the
British shipping interests must derive sub
stantial advantages from the absence Of
competition on the part of the Yankee
flag" 1t is just possible that these pleas
ing anticipations may not be fully real
ized-that the rebellion may suddenly
collapse, and the competition on the part
of the Yankee flag may suddenly revive.
But if the rebel pirates and their SYM
pathisers have inflicted damaging blow
upon our maritime commerce, it is COM
pensation reflection to know that, against
their object and effort, they have played
into the hands of our interests, and de-
yeloped one branch of our marine in
way they could not have anticipated.
Thanks to the vigilance of our blockading
squadrons, a large number of fine new
steamers, built expressly for the Illicit
traffic afforded by running the blockade,
have fallen into our hands, and will form
powerful feet of merchant ships for the
prosecution of peaceful pursuits as soon
as the rebellion shall be. crushed. In ad-
dition to these vessels, the number of
steamers for the commercial enterprises
recently constructed, and already in course
of construction, Is far beyond every cal
culation.
Within the last three or four months the
mercantile steam marine of this port alone
has been increased by the building Of
some eighteen ocean steamers, all built in
the most workmanhke manner, of the best
materials, and in every way creditable to
American naval architecture. At the same
time this aggregate has been largely in
increased by similar construction in other
ports, though the statistics have not yet
been completed. As the whole may be
Judged from sample, We instance this
construction of about twenty thousand
tons of mercantile steam marine at one
port as worthy of notice, and indicative
of changed condition of affairs, which
will affect all of our other interests very
benefcially. If the ratio continues TOR
the year in New York-and the reasons
point to increase rather than diminutlon
I'VE shall have at least seventy-fve or
eighty thousand tons of fresh steam coin
merce for this port. If, as it is every way
probable, the whole remainder of the coun-
try doubles this port the product puts US
in possession Of some Isl, 900 tons. This
is enough to inaugurate the future, and
cause jealous forebodngs from any rivalry
which thought, by the escape of pirates,
to sweep our commerce from the sea.
The vessels to which we refer range
from $50 to $685. tons burthen. They
are intended for service on the coast Of
China, to Havana, along our own coast,
and for various undesignated directions.
They form only the advance guard. The
same causes which produced them re-
mans to produce others, and its increas-
ing force will add to the amount. The
effects of this increase will be Immediately
felt in every city, town and State, consti-
tuting new outlets for surplus production,
suggesting new undertakings, strengthen
ing and enriching those which are old.
i Therefore, we rejoice to chronicle these un-
dertakings, as well as those others, more
| local and direct, which are preparing for
Il IL ako f,fk,