New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-19
THE LETTER.

dress the business men of the City of Ncw-lork on
the Decay Of American Commerce and the Means
for Promoting its Revival" The great importance
of the subject and the high character Of those who
desire its discussion combine to render your inyi-
taion most impressive and welcome. Ii Is with no
small regret therefore, that feel compelled to de-
cline it, Public engagements have detained mo
here until Summer heats have made IL inconyenient
for me to deliver an address-ntoeraole .Jr you TO
hear one. am sure YOU will not wish furt ner eiaD-
Grafton of an excuse az once SO pertinent and
conclusive.
But you will bear with me while I advert, as
briefly as may be- to the important and enqossing
subject which suggested your letter. No man de-
MES that the carrying trade of the United states
has suffered great decline; that It gives no signs
OF improvement OF revival and that serious and
permanent loss 10 thereby Inflicted upon our coun-
try On these points thus stated there is substantial
unanImity of belief among our people but when
we 20 one step further and attempt to state the
cause of the decline we find a wide divergence OF
view and when by second step we proceed to
discuss the remedy encounter differences so pro-
nounced and so violent to involve anger and ac-
rimony. With no disposition TO wrangle over tho
subject or to arraign any mans theory IN hostile
spirit shall submit my own views on the depres-
sion what produced it, and what will relieve 1t.
EFFECTS OF THE WAR.
In 1857 after commercial struggle thar began
when we separated from the mother country, wo
stood nearly If not quite equal to Great Britain in
ocean tonnage. In that year entire foreign
trade export and import. amounted 10 S723OOO,-
600 and of this total S51 0 600 900 was carried in
American bottoms, and only $2l3, 100000 in the
ships of all other countries. This proportion was
not materially changed until 1861, when tine coun-
try was suddenly preclpltated into war whose
magnitude no man could measure. Then followed
series of events beyond the control of any power,
the effect Of which was utterly disastrous to the
American carrying trade. Nearly seventy thousand
seamen were Withdrawn from the merchant service
and enlisted in the Navy, to maintain the extended
blockade that stretched from Delaware Bay TO tho
mouth of the Rio Grande. More than million tons
of American shipping were withdrawn from the
peaceful pursuits of commerce to take part in the
blockade and TO supply the transportation needed
for tho maintenance of the vast armies that were
called to the defence of the Union. The gap thus
made by the withdrawal of American ships and
American seamen from the commerce of the world
WAS RAPIDLY filled by the alertness and the enter
prise of England, and Just In proportion to our de-
cline in the carrying trade the activity in British
shp-yards was redoubled. Added to the direct loss
lust noted came indirect one even more hurtful
| to u.s. Eight hundred thousand tons Of American
shipping to escape destruction at the hands of hos
| tile cruisers flying tho Confederate ensign but
built in British yards and manned by British sail
ors cancelled their American registry and sailed un-
der the flags Of other nations, and when worn out
their place was supplied by foregn-built ships
OCEAN STEAMSHIPS.
Asthe civil war progressed and the causes Just
| named were producing their increasingly baneful
effect on our commercial interests, another fact
| al ,yh rnO u Ia
Prior to that period steamships had not been
formidable as fre ght-carrlers. The marine engine
was too heavy absorbed too much space con-
sumed too much coal. The steamers were unriyaed
for transporting passengers, and for freight hay-
ing large value in small space but they had not
vet entered the general carrying trade for the heavy
and bulky articles OF commerce. But just at this
time the screw generally substituted for the
nodde and the compound engine was invented 10
take the place of the simple one. Iron, heretofore
successfully tried, now became general substitute
for wood and hulls thus built that would last
M long as the engines. These several changes.
with some minor inventions, increased the carry
inc capacitv of the steamship beyond all anticpa-
tion. very intelligent and enterprsing owner Of
British steamships illustrated TO the actual diff
ference by this simple statement. steamer OF the
old kind capable of carrying 5000 tons. might sail
ON a VOYAGE so long that sho would be compelled 10
carry 300 tons of coal leaving room for only 500
TONS of freight whereas one of the new kind, or
| same capacity, would make the same voyage and
reverse the figures requiring only 300 tons OF coal
| and carving 200 tons of freight. This was, IN
short total revolution on the sea-almost as great
"a the steamboat had wrought in the carrying trade
| ON orr rivers, or the railway on land. The papable
result has been that the trade OF the North Atlantic
| the greatest highway of commerce on the globe,
has been transferred to the steamship To say moth
| ing of what has been done by the same agency on
| all seas and between all continents.
The close of the war left us in most dscouraging
| situation commercially. Our finances were disor-
dered. prices of material were abuormally HIGH and
| II was an idle effort to attempt competition with
England IN any field where our expanded paper cur
rency had to contend with tho solidity Of her gold.
Our sailing vessels received less aud less employ
| ment in the carrying of cotton, provisions and
! bread-stuffs to Europe, and we did not
offer any announcement for the building Of steam
ships Perhaps with the prices Of that period sue
cess in any event would have been impossible.
| England meanwhile feeling her advantage and ca
ger 10 push it, did not leave her commerce 10 It's own
development, even with all the elements III her
favor. but she stimulated its growth by enormous
bounties paid to those who would build and sail
steamships. From the close Of our civil war down
! 10 the year 1S77-a period Of twelve years-Great
Britain paid to her steamship lines for mail service
| a sum total of $05. 539. Sl3 l6, or an average OF
nearly fyo and MALI millions per annum. With
all the advantages sccrrsng to British shipping by
our disasters IN the war, aud with these advantages
| supplcmented by tie great peculiarly aid extended
| by the British Government. II was, OF course, i'm
| nossible for the commercial men of America Ia en-
Ter INTO competition IA the building and sailing o
| steamships. Nor could tho policy favored by many
of Guyipg our ships from England have awaited
| ANYTHING IN the contest, unless our Government
was ready 10 extend generous and continuous al'
pecuniarily as was extended by the Government o
| Great Britain.