The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-12-05

the value Of our exports and imports has already
reached the sum o. nearly eleven Mannled mors
ceed fifteen al. hundred millions OF dollars annually.
the annual returns Tor irelsns ana passengers are
The history OF the loss OF our commerce, a. shown
IN the statistics already gwen renders IL certain
OF the governments the entire foreign trade OF
the country VIII soon pass INTO inc
tween the United States and Europe Dy foreign
merchants and sRipbuilders carries with 1t the mo-
nOpoly OF shtpbuldDg for the eutire world; and as
4 conscauencc the Atlantic trade. the trade Of the
Pacific and the seas adjacent thereto viii oc carried
On IN English built e Ysssa An alteration a. q me
10 American registry. VIII furnish NO adequate re-
lief. On the contrary the change would stimulate
lisr ing IL on this continent would diminish In pro-
portion to the prosperity Of the business In the
In view Of the facts OF our extensive coasts on the
Atlantic ana Pacific oceans and our position with
TO be satisfied with any policy which does not look
EsrA BIIsHMENT AND CONTINUANCE or sHlPBUILp.
TTT ING IN TIM UNITED STATES III ~
the encouragement OF our own scamen and mer-
chants and the control Of SO much al least, Of the
commerce OF the wOri0 a. Is desired for the EXPORT
SeqSirea Tor domestic consumption, the removal Of
ton or iron steamships, or the allowance OF draw
hack equal to the amount OF duties paid, Will not,
in tho existing condition OF things secure the re.
establishments Of the business; but were it other.
wise the removal OF duties or the ailo vance or
os an q a
Is likely 10 tho END 70 prove unnecessarily expen
several Of Inc existing lines Of European steamers
T6ey are still encouraged BY the same means and it
shipbuiiders can successfully compete with this
formidable combination. unless they are supporter
1 THE GRANTING OF SUBSIDIES Es az.
After careful consideration OF the whole subject
am prepared to advise the passage OF o law guaran
teeing TO persons who may employ IN the foreign
trade American built irst class iron steamships OF
not less than two thousand tons burden each an
nua payment for the period Of five years OF the
Of thirteen dollars per ton. The subsidy should
be prOpOrt0natey to vessels OF lower classical
sumo that there ia no other practicable method Of
restoring our commerce, but present 1t as the
ana apears sS " 9s \
be wise to cOnsier whether the ships may not be
constructed as TO be available Tor naval purposes
and In OF war; SUBJECT TO the right OF the United
ERASED value similar Suggestion was made
p BORT 'as FOR ne ss 1852 rsy a sAoa ~ s s e.
required to carry the mails ON moderate terms or In
vessels ana and steamers built OF wood may be con-
tinued successfully IN the cOasting trade, the trade
With the Erliish posse ss'ons u.s. and upon the rivers
our former position upon the ocean by their agency
must end disastrously.
Will be effectua, and that in o comparatively short
period our mechanics and artisans VIII ac-
qure equal skill with those Of England
aud that We shall not only have tho
aid OF the best machinery now in nse elsewhere,
but that important improvements will I've made cal
culated TO place the country In position or Supe-
rtOry. We shall also DC able 10 test Practically the
Qualify OF American irOn, Which for the purpose OF
ahipbniding Is represented better tnln that used
IN Great Britain II 1t should appear, IL claim d.
that American iron about ten per cent better rnan
the iron used In England, an advantage Will be Sc
cured not only In the diminished cost OF che vessels
but also III the increased tonnage capacity OF Ameri
ships OF equal dimensions those constructed
with inferior materials. M mtYe sWa
Accepting as truth established by experience
that The ocean commerce Of tue world Is 10 DC car
RED on In iron steamships, VIC must consider and
decide whether the United States snail disappear
from the list or maritime nations, or whether, by
determined and practical effort we can regain the
position which We occupied previous to the late
DelllOn. GEORGE :. BOUTWELL,.
secretary OF the Treasury.
Hon. JANIS G. BLAINE. Speaker OF the House Of
REPRESENTATIVES,