Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-08-21
veal of the nation the interests of this State

to the Revenue must be radically wrong, because
our shipping interest is less in amount at the
present time than in 1860, while that of England
has largely increased in the same period. The
facts and the figures the best answers to this
repeated charge. In June, 1861, the total tonnage
of our commercial marine was 5539Sl and
June, 1870 it amounted to 4,246, j01, of which
fourth, or l,075,095 was composed of steam YES
sells. To-day our commercial tonnage, in round
numbers is not far from 1900 600, of which nearly
100000 is propelled by steam. Reckoning the
average value of the vessels Of 1861 at sixty dol
lars per ton, the gross vauc oots up S33 ,3SS, 40
and the vessels now a1oat at the same average
value per ton, amount to S25S 600 ,o00-S1i,
3SS,720 less than in June, 1861. This a very
liberal estimate conceded to the Free Trade OBJ
iector, for the present average value of United
States commentaries per TOMS decidedly higher
than in 1851, and the total difference of value
in the two periods is much less than the S7i 900
900 allowed; but we are not unwilling to make so
liberal conce ssion. Now from this the objector
argues that the business and financial policy of
this country has been wrong in the specified
period. Let us to what conclusions the
DIRECTORS logic would lead us. Holland is Il
country of great thrift and prosperity. From
1867 to 1871 her exports increased from SlS3,
1914, j36 to 269, SCI ,051-about ftty per cent, and
her general prosperity was very marked; while in
the same years her mercantile navy decreased.
January |, 1866, the total number of her vessels
was 2,203, and January l, 1873 the total of her
vessels 1902. France is country of
wonderful resources and thrift the wisdom Of
whose financial and commercial policy has been
often quoted of late in this country whose exports
of Domestic Produce and Manufactures arose
from 2 S25 So, 900 francs in 1867 to 36l9 001 900
francs in 1922 while the total number Of her
mercantile vessels in 1867 was 1861, with ton
mage of ,042, Sll, and in 1873 her commercial
vessels numbered 400 with tonnage of
l,064,319. While her general prosperity was so
marked, her shipping renamed nearly stationary.
though there were no Confederate cruisers nor
English Alabamas to drive her commerce from
the ocean, and no vast railroad enterprises to
draw her capital from her shipyar,l-. Norway,
with population January |, 1873, of l,1G3000,
showing but very small increase in the proceed
ing decade, has in proportion to her population
the largest commercial navy the world. At
the close Of 1868 her shipping amounted to 6, 100
vessels with tonnage OF 51S,722, and AT the
beginning of 1872 she had total of 6,993 vessels
with tonnage Of l,022,Jlj, almost doubling IN
eight years making her commercial marine nearly
equal to that of France, which is so vastly
wealthy and prosperous, and the foarM in the
rank of nations for commercial tonnage. Yet few
will contend that the financial and commercial
policy of the statesmen OF Norway is much
wiser than the financial and commercial policy Of
France, Holland, and Belgium during the same
peliod-countrles which have made tremendous
strides in business and wealth during the last de-
cale. But while the commercial vessels OF Great
Britain and Ireland have increased from !. 29l
tons. in 1862, TO 5,l6 sos, i'll 1872, the value of
S7I 293 UZU III ten years, little Norway has doubled
ner shipping in eqna time, France has not aug
mented hers in the like period, while Holland,
overlooking with prosperity and riches has de-
creased her commercial marine, aud the United
States, owing to rebel cruisers and the high price
of labor and capital, now own IN shipping Sl4,-
3SS, 120 less than i'll 1861, yet the unwsdom of the
financial aud commercial policy of this country is
not proved. y sound and experienced business
firm that makes and deals in variety of articles,
at the close of the year does not decide the ques-
lion of profit and loss on one class of goods alone,
out all tine transactions are daily scanned and all
the figures correctly footed up, and from the
total. of loss and gains the conclusions are drawn
as to the success and policy of the finn. Now it
will be admitted that since March 1861, Uncle
sam has been engaged IN some pretty extensive
bus mess operations, Of somewhat varied and
complex character. What has been the reault of
his business transactions In the period named he
has built 40 900 miles of railway and placed upon
it the vast machinery OF commercial transit-two
and one half times the number Of miles now in
existence in Great Britain and ireland, and has
done this at the cost of 81 800 100000 The entire
commercial marine of the world, according to
data mostly taken from the authorized statistics of
the respective countries the remainder being
estimated amounts to less than 20 600 tons
and at $50 per ton has value OF 81 200 900 900.
rims since 1861, we have invested in railroad,
$500, 900 900 more than the cash value of the en-