The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-01-11
MEETING OF THE sHIpBUnDERs, sssOC!.
ALTON.

A meeting Of the New York A association for the
Restoration OF the American Shipping Interests was
held last evening in room No. "a Cooper Institute,
Mr. Daniel Coger, vice president In the chair. The
secretary OF the Executive Committee, Mr.. Charles
Heaton, read the minutes OF the committee meetings
held tho last association meeting which were
duly accepted and approved. The chairman called
for the report OF the committee which went to ash
ington CONFER with heads OF departments ana Mr..
ID. D. westervelt secretary OF the association read
the report. which has already been published in the
HRRALD. The following petition was linen offered
by the vice president and unanimously endorsed as
the sentiment OF the association 1t has been exen-
sively printed, circulated and signed all over the
land The message Of Governor Claim, OF Massa-
chusetts was read. It's reference the decline
OF American snipDnilding heartily endorsed. r
TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,
OF THE UNITED SrErss IN, CONGRESS ASSEM-
We Inc Undersigned artisans, citizens OF the
United states VINO have heretofore been employed
IN the construction OF shipping aud gained our live
lhood by the exercise or the craft opposite
FH.st-That we view with apprehension and alarm
the efforts now being made by Capitalists and others
shall abrogatc the existing Registry laws allowing
foreign built ships American registers every
money taken from our country but Inc labor neces-
sary TO construct and equip " ~ taken from our
hands.
proud to bear share OF the burden for Its main
| tenancc, We cannot 40 SO II our occupations are
| taken frcm US and we are compelled TO seek new
lelds OF labor. We therefore, most respectfully ap
peal TO your honorable body not TO repeal modify
traden IN ships would result not only III destruction
to the shpbuildiDg interests OF our country, but
''2 TSdM4ne taxes imposed ny Inc government, on
shipDudtng materials prohibit our shipbuilders and
capltalists from building ships by making II impos
sible TO compete with foreign builders thereby
pelling TO seek other occupations less remunera-
i've 10 us and injurious 90 all otner classes or
mechanics with whom we are thrown into compet-
tion by producing scarcity or work and It's inevitable
results, distress and discontenr.
Your petitioners. therefore. earnestly pray That
be made, or other relief provided, as VIII enable
those OF Europe to the end taat this branch OF
tonal Industry may be revived 80 as to conduce TO
the prosperity, dignity and welfare OF the whole
country. LII
After some further business the meeting adjourned
subject to the call Of the chair
The Causes for the Decline of Arnsrlcan Com.
lnerce and ShipbnildIng. Is
TO the EDITOR OF THE HERALD:
There has been great deal written Of late ION
the Decline OF American Commerce. with reasons
and plans for It's restoraron but very little has been
stated as 70 the cause OF decline and Its continuance.
Some twenty-five years ago the English government
| repealed what was termed her Navigation iaws;'
| that was to throw open to the world the cnrrynr
| trade between England and ali her colonies. Very
soon after our tonnage bccas interested in It and
gradually increased that for several years before
the war more than One-half OF our largest ana bea
/ tonnage was engaged IN carrying merchandise fol
foreigners exclusively. The rates OF freight gen
orally remunerative-say about four pounds per tor
from distant ports beyond Cape Horn and the Cape
| Good Hope and 30 In proportion Tor less dlstan
ssoe c sS and dssea
our positon. eagerly sought to purchase our sh ps
and from october, 1882, TO April, 1860, period o
measuring nearly 800, 600 tons vt an average pric
| or so l0s. per ton. These ships were built In IN
United states wllhin the fifteen twenty years pre-
vous and when sold their average age was hin
years. The proceeds OF these sues resulted IN owe
Si5000.000 In our currency. SINCE 1864 the rates
| freight on these long VOYAGES nave not average
two pounds sterling per tODa rate 80 low that ever
] intelligeat American shipoTner KNOWS that Ate