New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-03

Commerce was held yesterday afternoon, Mr. Wm' f.
Dodge presiding Mr.. Geo. w. Dow, Chairman OF the
Executive Committee reported back the bill on appoint
ment OF commission by the President TO take charge OF
the harbor improvements and recommend Its reference
to Special Committee for report the expedlency OF
its passage. He o1cfed the IouoWlng reooiu'on'' "
were adopted ...,
p,o,d That the thank. Of this Chamber rendered to Professor
Pierce superintendent Of the United states Co, Saryey ana to M
gent careful attention its resolution Of the fourth day o. a
the cautious and able manner 10 when hey
subject Of the highest Importance to oar hAoor and "
Resolved That , Chamber approves the suggestion Of Professor
Pierce for appropriation from the Congress Of the United states
the NeNYOrk haber and urgently recommends
RedG That the committee ,s,dy appointed confer With Pro
f'sor Pierce aud bis associates "a hs msagr DC lsu "a
cations with them
MIA A. Low then read the majority report Of the
committee Of three appointed to consider the causes Oh
the "Declne OF American Commerce and the remedies
the Chamber would recommend to Congress-" IL Is as
follows:
pv tho HDerlne OF American Commerce" your Com
mttee understand the prOstraton OF shipping inter
est-the decrease OF tunnage employed III the lorgn
trade of the country; and not that which Is merely local
The laws OF the United States protect cOastwise rac
and cOastwso traffic is subject only 10 competition IRON
railroad lines; hence 1t Is not iDjurlOusy aneceu "
laws that operate as q burden upon external COM
Is, upon sailing ships anu seag4%lns
steamers engaged ia European and other foreign traue
In order TO proper and clear understanding OF the sub
iect 1t is Of primary Importance to consider te enaugS
steam as motive power In the earlier years OF the re-
public, aud down To comparatively recent period mer
chants transacpg business with the East lnues Ohlua
and other REGIONS employed vessels OF their own ana
owned the cargoes they brought ports These yes
sells being of small tunnage aud ably commanded, were
Insured az an annual premium Of only half OF what is now
paid. Between our country ana Europe; anu nioio
especially between principal seap0rts anu no Prc
pal ports OF Great Britain and France the business was
of different character. 80, CO, -.
Transported In "freghting ships, tho owners " when
had little or interest IN cargo while lines OF packers
tho passenger traffic between the Ola and New World
aud took the lead OF all competitors IN tho transportation
Of the most costly merchandise
OUR FORMER CARRYING TRADE.
The outside cost OF the largest packet freigtng ship
known service prior 10 1882 was SSuVO anu 70
the construction OF the other there were many
cOntrlbuory interests The carpenter joiner sanaker
chandler captain and merchant al had shaIei anu
tina amount OF capital required to build line
OF packets was easily obtained from these ana other
sources the profits Of one vessel being quickly tuIneu
nto the construction Of another The competition OF
az cam with sailing vessels began TO be felt In $780, ana
as years went on II became more ana more severe eI
minang with disaster TO the latter In the encounter
racket ships lost the carrying Of costly merchandise
and their firstClass passengers many OWncrs os
money TO construct ocean steamers instead required
vastly more capital and very different material The
men who had combined to build the pachet snip hau ~
on icent interest and could have nOne TO aid IN the
of vessel whose cost was made up largely
OF machinery and outfits foreign 10 lher own means VI
supply. The merchants who had acted as agents anu
part owners were, for the most part, educated and
reared on the sea; ana from PtJuuIce, NY 'o
than from want OF means, were ihcapaDle OF
grasping the idea, and adapting their plans TO the
dawhing era Hence it was, when the decline Of our
merchant marine commenced. aud the peril to our sail
ing vessels became imminent those who controlled the
racket lines disabled by their losses au ny ttlr
preiudices alike from entering into competition with
conpapies already formed in England who, with large
capital commanded the highest skil ana an the app
ances necessary to the construction Oh @
and support OF enl ghtened ana friendly government
- mater of history il may be repeated hero that
capitalists could not be induced TO risk the money re-
Guired 10 establish line OF from NewYork 10
1yerpoo-the most important route Of a-withOut first
obtaining the aid Of the United states GOFethhtnt NOr
was any line OF steamers ever established from tins 10
Turopean port without the aid OF subsidy, although
every attempt that has been MADE was lnhuh Ne
we lad a sound currency and tarIil less burdensomo
than now Even the Pacific Mail Steamship Company
enjoying tho advantage OF coast me was tsaD
lised. and. but for the discoveries OF goa ~
would have been ut that cary Day II ~ an "IHOu'
Before orr sailing ships were expelled from tho great
routes, new claSs OF vessels hag como
into being, known at the time as " cNpp,lA from
period commencing with the year lsis Hhu 70
less. they were extremely profitable, commanding
great preference, carriers, between our Atue PoI
and san Francisco aud between tue ports Oh lda Ah
China our coast These were generally ships oi
largely increased tunngge ana being heaEny sPaied'
with deep keels. were subject To many eAsaae'-tenn
san Francsco they proceeded to the Guano lslhnds'
or 10 China aud India, In quest Of return cights.
aud in all the Asiatic ports, coming In competi-
ton with the regular traders, they quickly 10
duced the rates Of homeWard freights. More re-
Gently the cereals OF California have afforded employ
nent for such OF these vessels still remain Mean
OF all nations; aud the vessels formerly
used by our Old East India merchants nave Oeen con
Vsfseu mo T ma y & Iunord catgoc m tber own
ships 10 the many VI every commercial nation who make
up by their contributions the cargo OF the mod
srn "Indiaman" In this transfer OF commerce to
English aud German houses having connections here is
OF the effects Of the general diffusion 0f knoWl
edge by OF steam aud teegrapic communication.
CAUSES OF TIE DECLINE.
With these preliminary obseryaons. your committee
shipping interest. the following, viz:
The establishment OF foreign lines OF steamers on all
tao lghy IiIe5a Ia adj
atOn TO the comforts and needs OF the travelling aud
trading community, expelled sailing vessels from tho
,ess few years ago these lines were limited Ia their
sphere to the ports OF Boston, Aewiork. and Phllade
lha. on our own coast but they arc nov extended 10
Charleston, Savannah, aud New-OrleAns
other built and Ia building in the rivers and
larDors OF England and France 10 traverse the Medcr
anean and Red Seas. the Suez Canal thus cutting or
much OF the trade that has hitherto passed round tho
he Red Sea not supposed 10 be available, unless at too
great charge for toll and tOwage.
Committee will not dwell on the superior advantages OF
bulls, they fully set forth in letters which
.atOu by the Atlantic Works OF Boston When properly
these bear mark OF l. for period OF
als. Will bear for only 10 or IA years and usually
luire rebuilding at the end OF that period.
ILL., The operation OF the Revenue laws the consruc-
Ion Of vessels whether OF wood or OF iron. which, being
designed for the Incidental protection OF other interests
Ire burden on this special one When an Internal
nue OF a cents per pound was put upon cotton 1t
TO be mistake; and Congress, yielding TO tho
Plea that IL was bounty 10 the foreign producer
moved IT, A tax imposed upon all the materials that
inter INTO the construction OF u ship or steamer Ia %
bounty the foreign producer aud cooperating with
manifold advantages possessed by the foreign builder
becomes prohibtOry on our mechanics disabling them
rom attempting competition, and lettering the mer-
from Investment OF his capital in what appears
~ be n hopeless undertaking
~ The depreciation OF currency, that aggravates
he other difficulties OF the situation, suspeDdng aud for
bidding Investments, the value OF which must depend
upon price OF gold. Incidentally as tending pre-.
,pate the decline IN our maritime commerce, c0mbna-
lions and strikes OF workmen may DO mentioned. A
Of such strikes among caukers car
penters and others, has certainly contributed 10 drive
vessels seeking repairs from shipyards 10 other
places. and II me determination TO work short tmo
Jny and for high wages 10 adhered to, the process OF
restoration will be difficult and SLOW
Your Committee feel that they have fulfilled the easier
IN. lIunn anH Ihn.