New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-07
COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION.


The decrease u the tonnage bnt during the last scal
year. compared with thar OF the preceding yeer' was
35.62O tO1s.
TRADE n AMERICAN AND FOREIGN BOTTOMS.
Tho tofal tonnage vessels entered the Sc board
morris from foreign countries was 1877 tons during
the year ended June 30 1879 and l52lO53i tons our
ing the last fiscal year, showing an increase oi li'291
tons or about 1Ol2 per cent The American tonnage
entered exhibited increase Of only 1851 TONS or -
n.r cont while tre foreign showed increasr of
1913 7G6 tons. or about ID yer cent tn totAa-o n
mes C. ,es is computed lie basis II tie number ~
o. vessels and not the number Of vessels, and
- re-. .e 10 M. seaDOird por OF the mcTcIa disc
bro. I'D seaDJdgd, lake, auu river ~ fts uuihk te
la-t fiscal wear. an the va ne OF rlt3l4 1903
,r,s imported IN American vessels, and SJUJi9i3l3 N
for. u C the exports oi mefcIauoe AN amount Oh IVY
VI ne of SlO9O2S $50 was snlpped 10 AmclcIn aHl
30 Tp52I 10 fOleigu vessels. o. tho combined l'
o and exports of merchandise T. cen, only Of the
tooiI value W.. conveyed In American vessels:
In 1886 over - ger cent ~ "a tCtII value or the m
ports aud exports was earned I'D Amer eau vessels
While as year our II per e-At wa catraa ID suen Se,
from d yaue O. S72LO00OO0 to over Sl.2OO.UO0OOO
The disproporuou between the cohno- '"iiieu III
American and those carried in foreign Yesses sun con-
Il AID Is even greater man during tAe 11Jil Se1r
1879 the amount 81 m.rcNa"I.S uatspCis1 ~ V,i
vessels durns the fiscal year IsSo, estimated on lne
bass OF value, being per cent less tnah thar trans
ported during the CORNER year
Tno foreign carrying trade IN American bottoms Ia
more than per cent less than II nas been or man u
Dignt be- AMI 1t II IS desirable 10 save g. the country
the aund freiSnu@e on mere iahdise OF Ie N.tIr OF
twelve nIrrd millions OF dOlirs the only course To
rean that result would seem 10 pe 10 increase our regis
tered srppinL Bui Wihe the ordinary demand loi
D
bul ding OF yessels, the only metiOi available, as
measure Of public policy, 81 erecting such h increase
chasing vessels OF foreign bulld. 10 give 0olny on
quilt vessels, or to await thc increase o! Anelct
blt vessels and their tardy substitution ~ the i0eeu
trade FOR those of other Dauonl lies Doubtless tae
number Of vessels o. home baud WIZ be adequate II
rimc TO take ur frightIge lost o. American DO todr
IN consequence of the war Oh the ebrlnOn Al present.
however the demand for vessels TO carr Gu our Il
mense Import and export ttale does not srrm |" 80
S muate cue shipbulidlng industry IS TO prrsen' an
annual decrease Ia the number OF ships Duii'i 4Hs
.ofli
IMAM would b. privilege OF purchasing sucn vessels
PREVENTION OF COLLISIONS AT SEA.
In 1864 Congress established certain rules and regt
laons ior preventing collisions On be water when are
still in force. The principal maritme nations o. the
world have recently coucurred IN adopting new cods
OF regulati cor the same purpose These regulations
wont i,to on,rotIon ON the first OF September last In
manv points they ifer materially from those adOptd
III 1864 len govern our own mtIc1iuIe "hu haNat
marine The result 49, that Our vessels are >u'J'c, IN
cerfan contingencies to one set OF rdes for naVgaon
in foreign ana 10 different ones Wbtu sanlS ~
our own. Ia cases OF collision accordingly tlty are
snDiect to liabilities when yay with the waters IN
which they piOyed, most foreign maritime courts
cnnforming i'm their DEGREES 10 The regulations,
while oIr own adhere TO the regulat ons of 1864.
l would recommend tnat thls uncertain status ol uul
vessels be removed ~ the prompt ptlncs by statute
Of me regulations already adopted Dy other nations.
leaving the correction or amendment OF the reGu%ons
In international arrangement II Congress should con-
sIder SUCH amendment imperatiyey required.
INTERNAL COMMERCE.
The reports OF tonnage moved on tue prlhclpa uunA
railroad lines of the country and the more recent data
in regard to traffic inland water lines and coas"e
upon the ocean indicate that the Internal commerce OF
the United States has rapidly increased during the past
YEAR Rai roads constitute the principal avenues
of our internal trade The tratnc over ,.o
four east and west trunk lines gr atty exceeds
and ITS tributaries and the commerce the great AXE
Through facilities afforded ior continuous rimc
by means OF combinations entered INTO "
tween connecting Railroads ana between To-
roads and ocean steamer hies a. tnr cRIies
din mi
are now carry on direct trade rot ony VITA az
nj tne country but are also able 20 engage in az
rect foreign commerce, both TO The exl oratlon %
American products 10 otner countries ana 70 lhe ,ui
= foreign merchandise into the UBited states
Through these facilities all the principal cltlrs D. .n
country have been brought ino erect COMPETITION
Zach nher Inc sphere of the commercial operailons0
each city has greatly extend while compeu.Va
has become Sharper aud plohts nave Oeoh feuS' ms
tries OF the different states and sections OF our cou
present nighy favorable conditions Tor the develop 80
If internal trade Already Internal commerce many
times * 1oeds IN value our foreign srady
increasing importance seems TO JusliIy HV1e 90" la
than mas heretofore been made loI .u'
purpose OF collecting and presenting annuiy lnlot
lion regard 10 {, eSpecia ~ such lnior"t'o" " "'
| be of service for the use OF Congress
| CLAIMS.
The necessity OF legislation for the adjudication OF
claims now within the Jun sdcuon OF tAs DeparuhT"s
has been called to the attention OF Congress III se''i
former reports IL is deemed unnecessary % repeat "
| deu.il the reasons which exist for the ehac'ni'"'
Of the measures which have heretofore been ieSoI,
| CnnateSs IN condensed statement 10 '"V 'N''
| when n L. proposed 10 accomplish -. .,,.o, -
A. suggested IN former report tue gtoa. ,he'r
lessiIon on the SUI iect of claims ls 10 rrher MI
nonsImrnt speedy aud hna ana 10 DISCOURSE ' ..s
1oy,,ncc al old dem nds the GENERALIZATION V 49,
air','',y srfrI general provision oi law DS '"
All IMPORTANT di.pdtcd questions % d~ OF i.1 nia' NV
81, The Cont OF Claims trial. would greauy
'o thr IN, rs of tuis De larincnt ana leud 70 pv
notr the onds OF Justice That tribunal "aop ,,a In
~ u.ed hy all courts OF jIsiiee Tor a,'I t
~. a which lncuie che require 81 tue 80
n,,nrs %, when nature OF tne case s'n,s, ,r1e
| AT
sstsr,eus: aud public bearings ana puO &c s,.n
A,"nIincs In sucn legislation express pI"ni hn
pt"oi Vs. naar A. ,inst the reAear.Bg ot Claims
49, hoDn once naiudlcated u anF court OF =, ~, ~
a.s or by coo accounting onlces OF me its1,u!
80, 80. bceu barrea by ANY statute OF hmtl'.Vn
r.e former recommendation mat some ll'n, snail
,nne w,,nIu whlcn claims against inc oo'e,'I ~ Io.
,''u 1,nned or for OF such prosecution o. 10.
ov nn,re,i is renewed. For the reasons m - Ill
ntrodneed statutes of limitation INTO tlv .at n b,