The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-27
OUR SHIPPING INTERESTS.
NEW YORK, July Is, 1870,

To TIE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
Having noticed all the articles, and more espe-
cally those in your paper, abiding to the embar-
rassment and dilapidation Of our mercantile ma
rlne, cannot resist writing this, my first article
upon the subject. 1t appears about all the art-
cles which have been printed or discussed either
by the Board of Trade or Chamber of Commerce
have been upon one topic, namely, the
building of ships. This, cannot help thinking,
is but primary part towards renewal Of our
marine. Some six months sinct advanced the
idea Of certain drawbacks upon foreign goods i'm
ported in American bottoms, but was groaned
down by the few to whom advocated the only
way of redemption. Subsequently there have
been one or two articles touching this point, and
believe such writers are not conversant with all
parts either in the construction sailing victual
ling ships in which the writer Of this article has
had forty years. practical experience. We will
suppose for instance, that we are allowed to pur-
chase ships Of foreign construction, or I
will even admit you may be presented with one
Can you then compete with foreigners, charging
interest as insurance upon real valuation, and
investment In answer say It cannot be done.
The only way which can have beneficial inAu-
ence and direct cause for a redemotion is for
government to allow certain discriminating
can bottoms. This will benefit every con-
sumner standing on American soil, no
matte. If he Is In Utah, Colorado r. ,,,n or
drawback cheaper, and consequently keep up
competition among importers. think am con-
versant enough with ships (not laws) to rebuilt
many Undergraduates to my views Yon will say
such o law would be against the law of nations
also; they would retsliate. In answer to the first,
did the English think Of that during our late war
No; they were the instruments In driving US from
the sea and now they wish to put on the climax.
In reply to the second interrogatory. it is
Just what we would desire We have
very little carrying trade and seek for more.
We start upon real basis, a much larger i'm.
por. than export, which would be benefit, where
now we are the losers, not only in cost of import
but the cost in gold for transportation here. We
have lost three-fourths of all our carrying trade
three, that we shall not carry bushcl of grain
out Of California. Each one Of our ships for the
last year to California has had scarcely three
quarters freight enough to cover expenses oHt,
home expenses: To say again, We cannot
compete, for the reason that most all for
eign-. governments allow certain drawbacks
on all articles consumed on board of these YES.
leave out Of the question, and keep the ship going
after being built. Again, oil officers, captains.
mates, engineers and seamen are at much re-
dnced rate Of wages, and the good in the mer-
vital points which have compelled our steamers
and merchantmen to be blotted out. Foreigners
bring their cargoes here, receive their freight In
gold and they, not distributing scarcely Que cent
over the regular port charges, make continual
drain of our gold from the country.
We protest against all subsidies to certain ndi-
viduals for carrying mails or otherwise that only
assist few to the detriment Of the whole public.
We also protest against being allowed to purchase
ships Of foreign construction. This we know
would be perfectly disastrous to our government,
as also TO very important branches Of industry
the building, equipping and sailing Of a merchant
marine. Our piers would be filed more than they
are now by vessels of foreign construction, and
who would be benefited Would our govern.
ment. people, our purses, or our country Most
emphatically Mol The English, Nova Scotians
and the Canadians, where they employ artisans
at sixty cents per day, and they finding
themselves, they are the parties, like the paid
English lobbyists at Washington, who are very
desrous OF having our marine laws altered to suit
their pockets Would our government, the pub.
lie, like to bring the noses OF the various artisans
and laborers TO the ground by adopting this plan
Should our Representatives allow such bill to
pass think they would be devoid OF all national
feeling. Being acquainted with the way in which
our vessels were transferred during the war I
should also hope the government would not allow
them to be returned. 1t would be too much like
letting convict loose after having been cOnvicted
but IS such is the policy nowadays presume we
VIII have to succunfb. Principle is the only safe
guard to sure success, and we ask Congress to
protect the great whole American public, not
only the shipbuilders.