New-York tribune., 1867-01-04

The foreign commerce Of the United states being rs
s%9P S y nee % as
that no voyage with an American vessel can be planned
port, with reasonable expectation Of profit.
reference ~ the official returns shows the amount OF
American registered tunuage engaged in foreign trade in
ls656o, have been lla2,o24 tuns, compared with
246237 tuns in s5060 which, allowing for the difference
between the old and measurements, indicates de-
crease five years Of per cent In the
mage Of the United States about per cent in
Of that OF Great Britain while at the present time 1t Is
estimated at IS per cent less.
An examination Of the official returns OF the coastwse
and inland commerce, allowance being made for the diff
ference OF measurement, also shows decrease In this
branch Of about per cent 1t should however be stated
that part OF this reduction probably due 10 the sub
sttutOn Of steamers for sailing vessels,
Out OF 19l American vessels engaged in the Brazilian or
South American trade In but 80 are reported az re-
naming; while the number Of foreign vessels engaged in
the same tIaee mas auig dle se .e ~ ;hi b
undoubtedly the rayQges and frequent presence upon
this part OF the ocean Of the Alabama ana oel Conede
ate p1yateers but me destruction OF properly que 70 hs
would this have been repaired had the ordin-
ary conditions Of trade existed and the cost OF construct
ing vessels continued unenhanced Instead, however, Of
building ships, formerly for all nations this particular
branch of, OF business has to great Sxtfn' peen tG ms
British Provinces and Oh the whole Atlantic coast there
has not been probably many ships constructed during
tie past season as In the two British Provinces Of New
Brunswick and NOva Scotia.
The class Of ships which cost az the present time I'm the
CITY OF Newfork about slcO per tun currency 10 build
and equip ready for sea do not cos much $4o god
per tnI 70 build ana equip In the British Provinces.
1t is further reported 10 the Commissioner that during
the month OF November there was but single vessel i'm
New-YOrk, and but OF two in the City OF Boston.
What Is thus asserted Of ships during the past year.
beeu ana s even also true of the business
Ing and binding books American publishers have been
able TO send their MSS 10 England, have their works
printed and bound there and returned paying mpOst
duty Of 5 per cent in gold cheaper than they could buy
paper and have the work done In the United States
by American mechanics and so well recognized indeed
has become this practice, that the American publlshers
circular now classes its weekly list of American pubca-
tiOus into those printed and published IN tho United
States, and those published here, but manufactured
abroad
Previous to 1900 about onehaf of the product Of the
copper mines OF Lake superior exported To France
aud Germany; the propretors Of these mines
that their whole investments threatened with de-
| ket ..r =, y rr-- - f.'~ -
Another effect OF the abnormal advance IN the prices OF
abor and commodities noted Is the retardatOn Of the
tegsion Of manufacturing industry. Mills built at the
kesen az an advance OF from 10 TO 100 per cent
he cost OF buildings and machinery the cost OF SINH
M built prior TO 1862 must obviously work
market with tho products OF those OF equal productive
capacity, operated basis Of 60 per cent less in
vested capital and again. eTe when adventitlous cir
cuinstances aneetng demand and supply may seem to
ure eapsIss patuIsp p5ot on the present eTPendi'
menS which, In the course OF few wears NAV NV fan
or upward " " ~ WV
That investigation under such circumstances sbouId
reveal any qeereo Of national progfess and that the
Treasury taking into consideration tie very
abatement OF internal taxation at the last session of CON
gre, should continue TO receive snrplus of reveuue
cannot be regarded as other than the most inter
esting facts connected with financial and
history At the time the demand for relief from tba
producing Interests Of the country, both
ana agricultural IL most urgent and general and how
ever II may have been heretofore t 10 certain thai AZ
present In many descriptions of the ipterpa