New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-09
AMERICAN SHIPPING INTERESTS.

CAUSES OF DECLNE-vIEws OF THE SHIP
OWNERS ASSOCIATION AND TIE FREE TRADE
LEAGUE.
Yesterday afternoon the New-YOrk Ship
owners Association held meeting at their rooms Nos.
90 and 81 Plne-st committee was appointed to in
qurc into the feasibility OF having new and uniform
state policy for insuring vessels, the insurance com
panies being the habit OF yearly adding to risks 80
that IN few years chance OF recovering on or even
taking out a policy will be probematical The Commit
tee on the Pilot and Quarantine Laws reported progress
on the question OF the Scamen Retreat after consider
able discussion IN which Mr. BarBeSs policy at Washing
ton was condemned, resolution passed recommend
ing that the head money or State hospital tax be col
lected and willingly paid being best calculated to
forVard the interests OF both seamen and shpowner
The auestIon OF tho Decline in American Commerce
was then called up and the Committee composed OF
Messrs. VIM. Nelson. jr, Gustnyus A. Brett James w
made the following report, which Is TO be circulated
among members Of the Association for approval ana
10 show the pubo and the Congressional committee
what the yisws Of it, members are. The report com
meuces: - ,..
The shpOwners' Association Of the state OF New
York DESTROYS to regain that which TINS country 3hce
possessed and which without any fault OF theirs It lost
natiou greatest pride and Wealth. merchant marine
have prepared the following arguments 49, Tue con
alteration OF those who the general welfare OF the
enuntry az heart In 1854 not only ryalcd England IA
the contest for the supremacy OF tho seas but we bado
fair 10 leave her behind In 1861 the total tunnage OF tho
world amounted 10 l7235.945 tuns US follows;
Osu,d T The United 5taies...''''''.'''''' SS,Sssl9
Owned b. Great britain. sS6S ~
Owned by al Other n'toh. ,ve,
In 1867 the total tunnase OF tho United states, Us
IN the report OF the Treasury Department was JSoSlo
tune and since that date our tnnnago mas steauy de
creased IN 1862 the Hon John Bright PIesluent OF we
Britain and her dependencies amounted 10 .,4y' n'
Of nearly 100000 tuhs IN favor o. DIta.
Britain. England, IN adopting freG traie sur,GneroI
f.acy for which she had contended for centuries IN
1854 when the laws relating to the shipping anu ha'Ga
ZION OF Great Britain underwent lmpolah, oLiEe w
dtcayng protectonst party predicted the speedy rum
OF BritIsL maritime supremacy ore aIgu , WIS
british builders cannot cohlpele Win tS PaGpoa
labor OF continental nations How utterly Iase ahGo
Ioebodues have proved IS amply ,o m tbe world
experience We know oi no other atlon ~ t'9 S W.
than the United States that refuses to register oIes9
built vessel and at tho same tno requires 'h' pay eN'
rnen Follows the testimony OF Mr.. Mckay Of Boston
before the Congressional Committee atu nii ar,lonI
favor OF iron shlps over woodeh ehioouyinS 'i,o
facts rs have lately been promulgated IN oLor Cosuel
atons Of the question Ten years ago tc ri WI a. ~
NcvNOrk were the prido OF hef , 49, 80
SPLENDID lines went forth from nor Gog.T
equipped with engines ana maeneFyr or any
ntIer nntion Now. with the exception
~ the Quilt of the Spanish gunboats at MT Deamettrs
Works not solitary marine ehgiuS :" Ur he tl
i course OF construction. The Aalre hoiA' Wnele t9
rllns line OF steamers built have been COhVertu
INFO horse stable; the Fulton MoIks uIo SIins w.
shops ana machinery models ana stVVA w S jrn
are commencing asmali business -, a. 49,, nvn,iIl
work; the Neptune Works are tuIheu ihto So 1,t a.
Tie Ounard Works repair on OLD vessels ana OGn hn
occasional JOB nom soninoLn raro"a' t That NV
Works herolcally aborng Tor Iutlo ana An
ne yer come Other works are III IKE 81,
A 1000 tun wooden sllp DnlJ III lho ChlVou -
cost $40 currency per tun and vessel lIeclsey sa'
can be built In tie British provinces for CO. gold per tu
Iui We are forbidden 20 purchase lorclg uut NSssoN
and M the same time, the building OF hhps mere ~
dered impossible at paying prices 9wihg 20 to i ' tbg
eanstruction OF "A vessel The report thon proceeds
' puoIupfrIoN AND oyERTAAATIoH =,
ghinoWuet of this country are therefore pdcou
,ho f1linriur postOn: our Guverument prOhlols lLo
and admission OF Foreign punt Vessols W.
I'm rcpstry and at tho time Dy oNetiAiui P'.o
10 utterly out Of our power 10 Duu ,nrihs of
Ne who twelve years not only dld co. o
,ur own carrying trade, but also IA 70 Pol,icd IN
that of the rest OF the world are nov 'esuaiy
aIoY fore gnerA to bring 10 ana carr nom o aSy
m 80 80 inns az freight annually. We VINO coulu SHOW
iu nm, mort Newlork ~ largo sps OF over Isf9
registry each. building IA inc h'n OF ar oDiv one
III, ~, tbe stocks The Committee then ask, AIRY W,
wrong IN expressing our oatrsI COW ,i nciicv ber
oouutrv adopted u more llbeItI % To- tp,rS win
Dots kr hose Of Great Britain would soon Dey w.
W ,,' b,n, az industry Another great uh'uID III
The WAY OF restoring the lost SLIP ~ nito ,I
a,tscs from the conflict between lipoF i.iu 20 Prl,
aiIs,s ,,,'itr eIect of combinations among Worhuth
Inc ,r nyoc,rtls 10 euunorlte tho points 81 I'M CON
fIrt and the effect Of these =, -,
mai whether IL would DO wise 10 "i'ua ;, 80 ~ n
INV ,gbirn now secures homo market 10 our own
nilsrs is question upon which much must DC ba'u
upon JUN ''N' ENGLISH IMPROVEMENTS.
,,, t,royonrnfs which the builders Of England have
orJed m steam machinery, combined WIN tleir ~,
npnved system Of sipDullding anu INC lACllitl,s @
,bey euoy aud winch elHOe tncm ~ op ls.s''ou 'i
I ~, al prices with which no Other countries ''
anu ire Great Britain very long lead III tIc c"I-
a., of iron steamers. Her builders supply lh'
slu ad other countries with steamers which VII car
own LARS m trades in which steamers butt lh io
~ s',trs cannot live and they have eulr} cA-
u,tI ia. idea that subsidies necessary U" 80" -i
port OF steam lines on Tue Hi,t iou.cs VI mini
Inc no.t successful steam lnes IN "a coinmeioll Poin
i "o re thuse which rely upon trdulc anu Caro
W atbing for mail contracts OF subsldies. -. o., o.,
MANY Of the steamers built upon Tie Cyde arc tor iuf