National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-02
RBVIYAL on FOREIGN TBADE.

The latest monthly report of the Bureau
of Statistics shows that our foreign trade is
rapidly recovering from the influences Of
the panic of 1878. Our foreign imports for
June, 1874, were $40, 800, 334, as against
$49, 400, 791 in June, 1878, while the do
nestle exports for June, 1874, were $50, =
$50, 100, against SAG, 215, 053 in June, 1878.
But while these were the results for the
last month of the fiscal year ending June
80, the whole years trade shows a less
favorable result. For instance, our total
imports for 1874 were 1856, 1861, 24S, against
1868, 617, 147 in 1878, while our domestic
exports in 1874 were 5000, 252, 1876, against
S57S, 938, 9S5 in 1878. The imports which
in June last were nearly equal to the point
reached in 1878 have fallen of, taking the
whole year nearly SOS, 0OO 900, and the do
nestle exports, which show an increase for
the year of some $50, 600, 900 over 1873 pre-
served more than this ratio of increase dur
ing the month of June. But a further
analysis of the figures by excluding specie
and bullion from the calculation shows a
decrease in our importations of foreign mer-
chandise of $74, 729, S6S, and an increase of
exports of domestic products of $64, SIS, 031.
The proportion of this trade which was
transacted by water, carried in foreign YES
sells 1913 per cent. as against 1916 per cent.
in 1878, indicating a gain for American ton
mage of less than one per cent.
The falling off in our importations is
rather cause for congratulation than alarm
so long as our exports keep up, as it indf-
Gates constant reduction of our foreign
Indebtedness, together with disposition
on tine part of our people to economic and
consume what we have on hand before
going in debt for more.
The great increase in our export account
is most gratifying, and there is good reason
TO believe that this increase may be kept up
during the current fiscal year. California
alone reports hundreds of cargoes of bread
stufs as surplus of her abundance from
last harvest. These she proposes to send
around the Horn to Europe. What mag
nifcent field would this open to American
tonnage now, if that tonnage were only in
existencel But let US hope that it will not
only stimulate the increase of our tonnage,
but also reawaken us to the importance of
an inter-oceanic canal. This vast grain
feet of the Pacific, amounting to nearly
Thousand vessels, would of itself form a
generous contribution of tolls to such a
work. The time saved to each vessel
would scarcely be less than three months.
Such possible economy must certainly
attract the undivided attention of the mari
time world.
President Grant is exhibiting a deep in
terest in the question of the practicability
of the proposed routes, and recently &C
corded lengthy interview with the Chief
Engineer of the Nicaragua Government
who is now in this city, and who laid be-
fore the President the views Of his gov
eminent regarding the superiority Of the
Central American route over all others.
The President eyinced the keenest inter
est in the subject, as well as a desire to ac-
quire all possible information that would
aid in the most economical solution of the
problem. Col Mcfarland, of the engineers,
who has recently arrived from Nicaragua,
will no doubt be able to shed additional
light upon the feasibility and probable
cost of a canal across that Isthmus.
We printed last week in these columns
brief outline of several surveys for an in
ter oceanic canal, accompanied with an alb
stract Of the report of Colonel Max Won
Sonnenstern, chief engineer of the repub-
lie of Nicaragua, to his Government, upon
the feasibility and cost of such a canal
across the Isthmus OF Nicaragua. The sub
ject is one of grave importance to the COM
merce of the world. The Government of
the United States has evinced keen inter
est in it by the expenditure Of considerable
sums in the examination of some seven or
eight different proposed routes, with view
of ascertaining the one which will prove
to be the most economical of construction
and operation, all things considered. All
the reports of these explorations are now
TO be laid before commission of disinter-
ested officers, selected by the President on
account of their distinguished abilities.
Commodore Ammen, of the navy Gene
raj A A. Humphreys, of the engineers,
and Professor Pierce, of the coast survey,
who compose this commission, will
examine the data without prejudice, and
report to the President their conclusion
with regard to the best route. Their
opinions will be transmitted to Congress at
its next session, with such recommends
ton as his judgment may dictate. The
report of Col. Won Sonnenstern gives a
very clear and intelligent view of the prac-
of the route which it is the in
terest of his Government to have con-
structed. So faras can be seen from present
data the Nicaragua route makes the most
favorable showing, not only in point Of
the economical first cost, but in prOnis
ing an abundant supply of water during
all seasons. We commend the subject to
the attention of all who feel an interest in
the revival of our commerce with foreign
The completion of an inter-
oceanic canal will revolutionize the carry
ing trade of the entire East Indies, Aus
tralia, China and Japan.
The Hon. A. H. Stephens, of Georgia, made a
long speech at Greensborough, in that State, re-
IL, he If ~ ba al N a