Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-15

Or, to sum up in a few words, of the
goods, wares and merchandise exported
and imported into the United States dur
ing the fiscal year 1880, American vessels
transported only ia per cent, and
foreign vessels 500 per cent, falling
of Of ? per cent. per annum on an aver
age, and which decline, if continued, will
soon wipe out the ia per cent. yet left
us, and leave the percentage in 1880 less
than nothing.
We have presented these facts and
figures, collated and given to the public
by one Of the greatest politico economists
and thinkers of the day, because of their
undoubted authenticity and reliability.
They show conclusively to what the
country has been reduced by navigation
laws enacted for the personal benefit of
few private ship builders in Maine and
other Eastern States, and which prohibit
ships purchased abroad, where they can
be obtained far more cheaply than they
can possibly be built in the United
States, from sailing under the Ameri-
can flag. In other words, they show
what enormous sums the American PEG.
pie have lost, and continue to lose every
year, so that few favored individuals
may grow wealthy at the expense of the
entire country.
The above figures show the percentage
of decline in our ocean carrying trade;
but Mr.. Wells goes on yet further TO
show what that decline has cost the
country in dollars and cents. In 1856
the amount expended in the United
States, in the construction of new yes
sells, was estimated at about $25, 900, 900
per annum, and sum considerably in ex-
cess Of that for repairing and rebuilding
old vessels, making total expended in
this way OF from $55, 900, 600 to $50, 00O,-
600 per annum. At present, under our
protective navigation laws, an estimated
expenditure of SIS. 600, 900 per annum for
similar purposes would probably exceed
the truth, and in this way alone at least
from $50, 600. 900 to $40, OO0.O 900 per an
mum has been lost. But this is only one
item. The freights paid on imports and
exports always go towards beneiting the
country to which the vessels which do
the carrying trade belong. The total
value of these freights sent from and
brought to this country are variously
estimated, but, according to what is
deemed undoubted authority, aggre.
gated, in 1880, total of $133, 600, 900.
OF this, probably not more than one-fifth,
or about sec, 600, 900, as maximum. was
carried under the American flag, and, as
Mr.. Wells says: eff the proportions Of
the carrying trade of the United States
alone, which were controlled by
us in 1S60-nsmely 65 per cent.-had,
been simply maintained, without any
increase, then the present value Of
the business which we have allowed to
slip out of our hands in this department
of our domestic industry must be valued
at So. OOO, 600 less $40. 1000, 600, or $780,
00O, 600 per annum." If to
this be added the estimated
loss Of business consequent on the de-
cline of ship building and ship repairing,
and also the nearly total loss Of the
great business of ocean passenger and
immigrant carriage-to be estimated for
the year 1880 at not less than $15, 900 900
and we have, says the distinguished
writer further, "the sum Of one hundred
millions Of dollars as the smallest meas
ure in money of the value Of the business
which is at present annually lost to the
country in the department of industry
under consideration; and also the mini
mum measure of benefit likely to accrue
directly to our national industry if the
lost business could be at once regained.
We regret that the great length Of Mr..
Wells article prevents its reproduction
in full in these columns, for it is Of ex-
ceeding interest to every business COM
munitY. The facts and figures which
he presents are doubtless incontestible,
and must open the eyes of the people TO
the great necessity in the reform Of our
navigation laws. Yet Mr.. Blaine and
other Eastern statesmen, with q blind
disregard for the good of the
whole country, and with an
eager desire to sacrifice millions so that
Eastern ship-builders may make thous.
ands, not only insist upon a continue
ton of the present ruinous condition of
affairs. but demand that the Treasury
shall be still further drawn on, through
subsidies, In order that a portion of the
commerce driven away by our protec-
tive system may be artincially main