New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-24
DECAY OF AMERICAN SHIPPING.
ITS CAUSES AND HISTORY-THE PROSPECT TOR
THE FUTURE,

ITS CAUSES AND HISTORY-THE PROSPECT TOR
THE FUTURE.
WASHINGTON, March 19.-There is a great
change in industrial life going on at the present lihe,
OF which we find most striking illustration IN the facts
disclosed by Mr. Lynchs report on our navigation inter-
ests This report embodes the results OF much fsthfui
work illustrating the decline of the maritime prosperity
OF the country.
The first marked exhibition OF American national enter
prise after We became nation was shown on the
ocean, and first military. riumphs after the KeVoiu'
ton were there exhibited TO the world From 1870 TO
1s6O-almost three-quarters OF a eentury-we made
steady progress, with few Interruptions in maritime
DEVELOPMENT Till and railroads came into use,
this the nost salient feature Of our
The shipping interest became extended and so pros
porous that prior to 1880 we were carrying evefybodys
freehts every part of the habltabe globe, and mon
opolzed whaling throughout the Atlantic aud Pacific
Oceans But within the last ten years this great and
triumphant phase Of the national life has pretty much
disappeared. Petroleum has given the deatrblow TO
the whaling business and the substitution OF iron for
wood in shp-budiDg has efecually Frustrated US in
career in which were complacentiy dreaming we
were destined to oustrip the world
Prior to 1862 the American nag was nylng on every
sea and the American ship occupied the foremost berhs
in every port of the world where cargo was to be
shpped. Suddenly find all this changed, and the
American flag be found nowhere except at the mast
head OF feet OF coasters and fishermen In our own ports
s. 100000 worth Of deep sea" shipping or vessels en-
gagged wholly in foreign trade. This branch Of in
dustry is now nearly extinct according to the showing
OF the documents appended TO Mr Lynchsfe-
port. What may be styled purely American commerce
with foreign countries has disappeared the proyetba
fearless enterprisng. ndomtable Yankee navigator,
hailng French exploring expeditions OF discovery, amid
the SHOWS on the coasts Of the Antarctic continent.
and Offering to pilot the lost wanderers belongs TO
past generation
This oblteraon OF great feature Of the national In.
dusry s to say the least deserving the attentive con-
sideration OF Congress- Whether IL will it or not
is a problem yet TO be solved II TO have engaged
the CAREFUL consideration of President Grant-and this Is
something. But the Western men, generally, deem II an
Eastern interest and OF small account There are
spcuous EXCEPTIONS know, and, in time there Will ba
more when the truth fluids access TO their minds Inc
cold shoulder they naturally disposed TO give TO the
subject arises from ignorance and seshness than
from malice. 1t is really national interest-the iul
development of the capacities OF the country IN ouding
sity to our success in any great maritime war
When this fact Is fully appreciated IN Congress
duties the subject Meantime the 81 East sS,n can can
wait compacenty as the West, For IN inc Snan6e e
to iron in tue construction OF shipping ior tne l9rsSa
trade God only knows II the future great hpp 9 tb
great OF West The important fact TO DO oone
once oustripped all other in building and sailing
sps was because the material OF which ships were lns
1od was more abundant and cheaper in the world
tpnrisi tIan ali others The latter condition remains
though az an element of success 1t is less potent than
heretofore because the dumbpower OF am is sub.ti-
tinted for the intelligent activities OF the individual man
The fastest ship depends on the best steam engine
and not on the best captain and crew - A.
But the first and main condition OF our success mas
Totally vanished The cheapest material Tor shpDuhu'
ing is no longer be found here, but in the old couh
tries for that material is iron ana not WOOD anu
iron which il five cents pound In the United states IS
only two cents and hall pound IN Englahu lul,
simple fact decides the question where shp' are ana
must he built nj present -. 49,. .;,
ing shin with auxiliary steampower, can be Dniit az
Glasgow Scotland. for less money than hrsteisss
wooden shp can in the United States, propelled
by canvas only And that when built the iron ship com
mands all the best freghts, because she hshres oe
goes quicker, lasts longer. and delivers her cary" W.
| better order than the ship constructed OF WooJ III
other words that competition between these TWO classes
of vessels for general freghing business OIL Tue
| world il no longer possible. The wooded aeepsea
shn IL i'm fact lust az much OF date IN the mercantile
marine, the Old wooden hlgate i ~ mooe'h ns'i
We are thus brought face to face WIN tue aGtua aos
which formed the foundation oil our pa. matllne ieku
sion Having the true dlagnoss oil the useasc winch IS
DESTROYING or may he said has already destroyed oar
sppg Interest engaged ia the foreign trade, IL feaus
Ia disco ;er and apply medy. II u at TINS stage or
our inquiry that see that the past seats OF
ing industry for our foreign commerce are lode taHgu
The State Maine, for example, which III times past has
built more than half OF deep sea tlnunge, -
10 lose her prominence this particular IL not un.
likely that iron shipbudng may never natutallA l1.eii
In New England. Tins business viii necessarily seek the
ceuters of the coal aud iron industries. Where son ad
coal cheapest there the iron ship OF the future 10 20 DC
built Whether II be in Kentucky OF Ohlo III Missouri or
Delaware Ia Pennsylvania on Maryland, IL Is ho lkey
be Eastern interest Whatevcrls 10 I've done W lhl-
Congress or future Congresses To foster THIS histiy
Will he therefore FOR the benefit OF the last y more
than of the West Congress will thus. perhaps have les,
difficulty ~ rising above s piciudices, ANA viewing tue
subject IN It's true light national interest ana treat
| Ing II accordingly "a,