The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-01-12
A HEAVY LOSS.

terprise TO its former glory in this country.
There was time, not many years ago,
when the Americans were as large carriers
and ship owners as existed upon the globe
and the merchantmen of the United
States were to be seen in every con-
siderable port, Now. however, the nag
IS becoming somewhat a novelty abroad,
as our carrying trade has been swept from
the seas and the pitiful handful of war YES
sells are scarcely able to make sufficient
display to keep our nationality and exis-
tence before the foreign world. We no.
tIced lately some igures taken from one of
our exchanges that are of such magnitude
and prominence as to clothe this sub
Ject with new interest and ought
rlghtlully to arouse public senti-
ment more decidedly than has
yet been done. We do not care to discuss
the national glory side of the proposit
ton, though, in common with all Others,
we should rejoice at any evidence Of the
commercial or naval greatness andpowcroi
the Great Republic. We put tho matter
purely business and financial grounds,
aud still contend that it is of the very first
Importance that the American people
should at once take measures to build up
again the carrying trade, and
American shipping, once so completely
within the possession and CON
troll of the United States. Last
year, and indeed for several years past the
lrcights paid to foreign vessels by citizens
OF this country aggregated over $l0O,O00.-
0OO' In twenty years this amount sWedto
the nation would pay OIL the national debt
and annually it cannot but operate as a
most fearful drain upon the profits and in
comes of Our merchants and eventually the
people themselves. Over hundred mil
lions in ireights simply, every year, is
certainly an item to be looked after.
1t has been so keenly felt in some quar-
ters at least, that the New York Chamber Of
Commerce have been discussing the subject
OF late with the most attentive considefa.
ton, and are to hold a special meeting on
next Monday to exchange vieIs aud adopt
suggestions for the re-establishmeht of the
former prominence of the United States in
the premises There is abundant room for
good advice, and multitude of burdens
that ought to be removed and that are not
borne by the ships of any other Nation.
Just how the desired end is to be most
rapidly and easily attained may
give rise to many differences and be some
what difficult of solution, but the problem
conlronts us and the sooner we 20 to work
on 1t, the better In the first place, I'M
qucstionably our navigation laws need over
hauling, and it would be well to look TO the
statues of other nations with reference to
the same subject matter, and conform our
own to the advanced progress of the times
and the dictates of broad rational policy
Such legislation as we have in
the matter of shipping and naviea-
ton was enacted so long ago that
the age has outgrown it. Wooden ships
have bccn.supcrseded by iron vessels and it
is said our people cannot build the modern
boats as cheaply or well as can the Euro
peans, and Jour foolish laws prevent actu-
ally the purchase by Americans of foreign
bulltships, OF to put it more correctly, such
vessels cannot be entered In an American
register. AT the same time the few estab.
lishments in the Union where ship-build-
ing is carried on frantically exclaim
chat to allow foreign vessels to
come into the country and be
registered would ruin the shipping interest
of the United States. The consequence
is that foreign enterprise has taken the
trade and It's rich returns from US, right UNI
der our eyes. The New York Chamber of
Commorceis performing an excellent ser
vice in pointing out some of the reforms
which need most to be made. As the mat
ter now stands ii would take time ofcourse
to achieve the restoration of this interest
even though all the restraints aud draw.
backs were removed ut once and
wise accommodations, adopted, hut
it would eventually be possible
and produce such rapid i'm.
crease in the wealth and influence of
America as has never heretofore been
witnessed. Our population, business, posi.
ton, all demand indeed that not only the
chambers of commerce in our PRINCIPAL
ports should take up this question of
American shipping, but it ought to receive
the speedy and thorough Investigation of
Congress. In the mean time tho exchange
TO which reference has been made, com.
menting on the action of the New
York merchants suggests u very
sensible course for their adoption.
1t says " The Chamber Of Commerce
should formally encourage individual en-.
terprise and ingenuity in tho construction
OF steamships of a better pattern than any
now aIloat. 1t is upon such schemes as
those recently put forth for the establish.
ment Of fast American steamships between
New York and London that the country
must rely tor the restoration OF our shin.
ping, Not ouly mnst the things which
now hamper our shipping be removed, but
American ingenuity must also devise i'm.
proycmcuts to make our ships the best in
the world, il VIZ are to rank ameng the first
of the maritime powers t..
.Ns.gtr ~ q.