The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-06-23
Practical Suggestions Concerning the Ship
ping Interest.
HALLOWELL. June IA. 1873

pug AACcroSt.
HALLOWELL, June A. 1881.
EDITOR JOURNAL: noticed an article in yopr
last weeks paper on the shipping interest Of the
United States, which think is certainly correct
IN one thing, viz that we cannot possibly revive
the building and owning of foreign shipping ex-
cept by relief from the State and the general Gov
eminent. For sixteen years have taken a great
interest IN our shipping. In fact, my whole life
has been spent in the business | have examined
all the different plans proposed for the revival of
this important interest, and have expended good
deal of time and money in trying with others) to
get our Congressman to give US some relief; but
without avail thus far. As the result of my ex-
perience am now fully convinced that if our State
Legislature and Congress would grant such relief
as is within their power, without injustice to other
interests, there would be such revival as would
surprise even the most sanguine.
In the first place. believe that Congress should
pass law aboshing compulsory potage through
out the United States. 1t is certainly great in,
justice TO force any man class of men to employ
and pay another who does not render any service
or equivalent Do away with compulsory plotage
and seven eghths of the American captains will pi
lot their own vessels while seven eghths of the
foreigners will take pilots
Then revise our consular laws and entirely re-
peal the three months pay sy sem. During my
long experience (about forty years. | have seldom
If ever known the sailor to be benefited by 1t
while have known Of many instances in which
vlllalnous Consuls made heaps Of money out Of it.
There Is now scarcely port in the world to which
American or other ships go, in which it be all act
of injustice to discharge sailor on payment OF
what is actually due him. If in an out of the W ay
port, the chances are that he can ship at once in
another vessel at better rate
Then reduce the hospital money from forty to
ten cents a month and devise some way by which
the sailor may be benefited by this fund wherever
collected, firmly believe there is not Que sailor
out of thousand who derives any benefit from
the hospital fund, and have known Of very many
sailors who have suffered in home ports and could
get no relief from the fund
With regard to taxation know very we'll how
hard it would be for some of our seaport towns to
give up the tax on foreign shipping, but believe
it is the best thing that can be done Then it is
an easy matter for a practical man to ascertain
what the duties amount to on the material used in
building ship. See how much ii amounts to per
ton. Then let the Government pay that amount
in round numbers to the builders, consider the
law as it now stands Of little value.
Then | would simply recommend subsidies as
advocated by Secretary (thtn SENATOR Blaine
about year ago in Congress The only change |
would suggest, that occurt to me now. is to ex-
tend subsidies to smaller steamers than Mr. Blaine
proposed. We want steamship lines to the W est
Indies, Mexico aud South America, many OF which
would require smaller steamers than those Mr..
Blaine wanted to subsdze. have talked a little
with John Roach about steamers and | entirely
disagree with him to the SIZE Of ocean steamers
| believe if the steamers of his Rio line had been
1900 instead of ) 800 tons, the line would have
been success In the Atlantic trade to such
ports as London, Liverpool, Glasgow, and perhaps
some other ports, large steamers will no doubt pay
as we'll, and perhaps better, than smaller enns |
would make the subsidies apply to steamers of
from 1000 tons, upwards | agree with Mr. Blame
as to the amount of subsidy to be given.
If the general Government and the State would
relieve the shipping interest as have suggested,
believe that within five years could compete
successfully with all other nations in the carrying
trade. We are making great improvements in the
few steamers are building over the bulk of the
English steamers now running. Our oplc if they
could have fair chance would soon perfect such
improvements as to make many Of the English
steamers now atloa almost, if not quite worthless
We have but little wood in our State with which
to build wooden ships but VIC have a good deal
that can be worked into iron ships as well as into
wooden ones. 1t requires less skilled labor to
build an iron than wooden ship, and this would
perhaps be against US in Maine. think 1t would
1t will not cost more to fit up yard for IRON ship
building than our best yards for building wooden
vessels have cost All We want is a chance to get
fully underway, and | have not the least doubt
but that we can compete with the world in build
ing and sailing an, class Of ships or steamers.
Yours DC II MCG.