Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-09-20
AMERICAN COMMERCE..

1t is a matter for very grave reflection
with the patriotic and enterprising
American citizen when he reads the ac-
count as stated below, in an article
which we copy from the Baltimore San,
that three-fourths or IS per cent. OF the
tonnage from this country is carried in
foreign built vessels. Now we ask Sc
riously, why is this the case! 1t GER
tainly cannot be said that Americans
lack the spirit Of adventure or enter
prise; it is not because we have not the
material, or skilled labor wherewith TO
build vessels, wheL it is patent that sew
eral foreign nations buy vessels from US.
This article says, "the whole question
resolves itself into one of cost. We
however, differ with our contemporary,
as TO the main cause, or If we do not
differ. the ".Sun" fails to state what in
our Judgment has prevented the Amerl-
can boats being in the lead, both in num-
bers and tonnage in every sea- Our FL
nancial system for the past fifteen years
has paralyzed all business enterprises.
The English merchantmen could secure
capital for four per cent, while it would
cost the American near eight per cent.
for money to construct vessels. Here
at once was one hundred per cent
against American enterprise. This it is
evident was too great odds to overcome,
consequently our enterprising spirit had
to painfully succumb and quietly snb-
nit to seeing our fields occupied by 9th
ers. Pay off the bonded debt of the
United States with the Greenback dol
lar, which to-day will buy you as many
pounds of iron, feet of lumber, and as
much bread and meat as your metal
dollar will, and you will find vessels
building, furnaces blowing, manuiacto-
ries running, and their products going
out in American bottoms to all the
ports in this wide world We think il
is time to come out with the truth and
the true causes which have brought
about. our labor dcprcssions; when labor
is depressed capital is appreciated. This
the politicians and cra(tymen have found
ut,and they play to one anothers hand.
Revulsious' will come, and we say TO
those who cause the crash, woe to you
TIE OCEAN CARRYING TRADE.-lt is
reported that the Brazilian steamship
! line, built by Mr.. John Roach and hav,
inc It's United States point of departure
at New York, not only does not pay
expenses but is losing about six thous
and dollars month. AS this is the
statement made by the New York agent
of the line, it is fair to assume that
it is correct. The alleged cause of the
loss is attributed TO the fact that the
British steamships trading with Brazil
now touch at New York, and have put
the freight rates so low as to take from
the Roach steamships much of the trat
fic. Under these circumstances, 1t IS
said that Mr Roach contemplates the
withdrawal of his line, and thus leave
the Brazilian trade in the hands Of his
competitors. lie is of opinion, we are
told. that he could have established the
line permanently and made it profitable
if Congress had granted him the sub,
sidy he asked for OF half million oidol
lars. The New York Commercial and
Financial Chronicle, in an article on the
transfer of the carrying trade from
American to foreign bottoms, shows
indirectly, and without any reference to
the Roach steamship line, why it is that
foreign vessels get the bulk OF the car.
ryinc trade, and the reasons why, under
the restrictions imposed by onr naviga
ton laws, American shipping interests
are so seriously affected. 1t points out,
further, that, with the steadily increas
ing export of our products, the relative
percentage carried in American vessels
must be smaller still. Taking the year
ending June 80, 1873, as All example,
the percentage in number of foreign
vessels clearing from American ports
was GO per cent of the whole, but estl-
mated by tonnage, 70 per cent. The
reasons for this decline in American
shipping have been frequently ayerted
to by The Sun, aud they are IN entire
consonance with those given in the
Chronicle, which briefly sums up the
facts in the case
'Iron has taken the place OF wood;
the screw propeller has displaced the
paddle-wheel; the compound engine,
combining high with low pressure, has
displaced the old type; the result is
that the economical and profitable yes
sci Of today is an iron steamer combin-
ing all improvements in the sCeam en-
zine. The plain fact is that We have
not such vessels now, because we can
not build them at the same price they
can be built elsewhere The reasons
why this is so rare are OF no conse-
quence in this examination; 10 admit
and emphasize the fact is enough. Here
come in our antiquated navigation laws
-antiqua,ed in date and more so in
suGstance-and prohibit the doing Of
what might be done. No vessels, say
those laws, shah be American vessels
and shall carry the flag unless duly reg
istered. Vessels built here and owned
wholly by citizens Of this country; YES
sells captured in war by citizens OF this
country, and lawfully condemned az
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