The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-12-08
Cheap transportation.

The subject Of cheap transportation
has occupied the attention Of Congress
Much new light on this question will
without doubt be given by the committee
appointed by the last Congress to nvcstl-
gate and report upon this subject.
A revival Of ship building and par
ticularly of iron steamship building Is Of
vast Importance to our national prosper
itv. The United States is now paying
over $l0O,OO0OOO per annum for freight
and passage ON foreign ships, to
be carried abroad and expended in
the employment and support Of
other people, beyond a fair percentage of
what should go to foreign vessels. Es-
timatng on the tonnage and travel Of
each respectively, it is to be regretted
that this disparity in the carrying trade
exists, and to correct it, would be will
ling to see II great departure from the
usual course of government, in support
ing what might usually be termed pri-
vatc enterprise.
would not suggest as remedy direct
subsidy IL American steamship lines, but
| | would suggest the direct otter Of triple
! compensation for carrying the mails
between the Atlantic scaboard cities
and the continent on American
owned, and American built steamers and
would extend this literally II vessel, CAL
rving the mail. 10 South American
States and to Central America and Mex
! leo, and would pursue the same policy
from our Pacific sea ports to foreign sea
ports on the Pacific.
1t might be demanded that the vessels
built for this service should come up TO a
standard fixed by legislation, in tonnage
speed and all other qualities looking 10
the possibility of the Government re-
curing them at the same time for war pur-
poses; the right also Of taking possession
, of them in such emergency, should be
guarded I offer these suggestions, be-
lieving them worthy of consideration, in
all SERIOUSNESS, affecting all sections and
all interests alike. Ii anything better
can be done to direct the country into
course of general prosperity, no one
will be more ready than | 10 second the
plan forwarded.
Herewith will he found the report Of
the Commissioners appointed under an
act OF Congress, approved June 20, 1874,
to wind up the affairs Of the District gov
eminent. 1t will be seen by the report
! that the debt Of the District i less
securities on hand and available Is the
/ bonded debt issued prior N July !, 1874,
/ 1855 3g4,O43; 36j bonds act OF Congress
/ June -, 1874, SOS, sl6,s13; certificates
of the Board OF Audit, 81, yjj ,Si5; total,
/ $l.574.266 7Gl, less special improvement
assessments, changeable TO private prop
| erty IN excess of any demand against such
! assessments, Sl6l, 405, 437; les change
! able and Ohio canal bonds, S7j,OOOOO,
and Washington and Alexandria Rail-
road bonds, S59,COO0O in the hands Of the
/ Commissioners of the Sinking Fund,
! Sl.14S,Oj4,375; leaving the actual debt
les assets. 81. 399, iGl ,32i. In addition
to this there are claims preferred against
the government ofthe District of Column
bia amounting in the estimated aggre-
gate reported BY the Board of Audit 10
S3I4,77s,7Is, of which the greater part
will be rejected. This SUN can with no
more prUprieiy be included IN the debt
account Of the District government than
can be the thousands Of claims against
the general government be included a a
portion ofthe national debt; but the ag-
grcgaie sum thus stated includes some
thing more than the funded debt charge.
abe exclusively to the District of Co.
lumbia-
The act OF Congress Of June q, 1874
contempls.es IN superintendent between
the United States government and IN