The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-03-19
Our Shipping Interest.

Secretary Boutwell, lately submitted to
Congress very interesting report as to the
cause of the reduction of American ton
mage, by Mr. Joseph Nimmo, Jr., chief of
the tonnage division Of the Treasury De
partment. MIR. Nimmo undertakes to show
that the vigorous growth of American ship
ping in the early part of the present century
was largely owing to European wars. Eng
lish and French vessels being in constant
danger of capture we began not only to
control our own foreign trade, but became
to a great extent carriers for the nations OF
Europe. From that time there was al in
creasing period OF prosperity, which culmi-
mated in 1855, at which time it was estimated
that the marine tonnage of the world was
divided about as follows: The United States
one-third, England one-third, and all other
nations combined one-third. In 1861, the
fortunes of war proved as disastrous to our
maritime interests as they had been propi-
tious in the early history Of the country.
Since 1851, the tonnage OF the United States,
which had reached about five and a half mil
lions, has fallen of to four millions three
hundred thousand tons and that OF England
has increased to seren millions three hun
dred thousand. Of the tonnage which we
still possess, only about one-fourth is occu-
pied in the foreign trade and even that
chiefly in the work of supplying Europe with
guano. The reasons for this extraordinary
decline cannot be confined entirely to 'the
sfortunes OF war;" as mentioned in the re-
port.
The causes assigned before select com
mittee of Congress which has been collect
inc information on the subject were various
the principal ones being the gradual revou-
ton that has been effected in ships, from
the wooden sailing vessel and side-wheel
steamer to the iron sailing vessel and screw
steamer-a revolution in which we took no
part preferring to cling to the sailing vessel
and the wooden side-wheel steamer; the
preference in freights and insurances given
to the iron vessels over the wooden ones;
the difference in the cost to the English
merchant of his vessel and that OF his to
the American merchant; the high duties
paid on materials entering into the construc-
ton Of American ships, which materials are
free of duty in England; the advantage
which the English have over us in getting
all their ships stores out Of bond free OF
duty: the difference in the rates Of wages;
the disadvantage under which our depre-
ciated currency placed US; last, but not least,
the generally prejudcial effect OF our high
protective tariff, one of the principal causes
in the decay in our commerce, and OF the
increased cost Of living, making necessary
higher wages, and putting our shipbuilders
and shipowners at disadvantage as against
their foreign rivals, complicated also with
which is the question of currency.
Mr.. Low one Of the most enterprising
shipowners and merchants, stated before the
Congress committee: sit Is easier to ex-
s'pain the causes of our decline than to suy-
'gest remedy" Still various remedies
have been suggested, among which are the
removal of all legislative restrictions on the
purchase Of foreign ships and on their ad-
mission to American registry, and the allow
ance Of u drawback OF duties on all mate
rials entering into the construction, and out
fit and maintenance OF ships. The ship
owners, as class, are said to be in favor OF
both these propositions, and also of govern
ment subsidies to steamship lines while the
shipbullders are bitterly opposed to what i;