The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-01-19


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 flag
is becoming somewhat a novelty abroad,
as our carrying trade has been swept from
the seas and the pit(ul handful Of war YES
sells are scarcely able to make sufficient
display to keep our nationality and cSis-
tence before the foreign world. We no.
ticed lately some figures taken from one OF
our exchanges that are of such magnitude
and prominence as to clothe this sub
rightiully to arouse public scnt.-
ment more decidedly than has
yet been done. We do not care to discuss
the national glory" side of the PROPOSE
ton, though, in common with all others,
we should rejoice at any evidence of the
commercial or naval greatness and power OF
the Great Republic, We put the matter
upon purely business and financial grounds,
and 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
freights paid to foreign vessels by citizens
of this country aggregated over 100000
900. In twenty years this amount saved to
the nation would pay off 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 a hundred mil
lions in freights simply, every year, is
certainly an item to be looked after.
1t has been so keenly felt in some quar-
tiers at least, that the New York Chamber of
Commerce have been discussing the subject
of late with the most attentive cOnsidera-
ton, and are to hold special meeting on
next Monday to exchange views and adopt
suggestions for the re-establishment 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.
rapidly and easily attained may
give rise to many differences and be some
what difficult of solution but the problem
confronts us and the sooner we go to work
on it, the better. In the first place, I'M
questionably our navigation laws need over
- ha roll N TO ha
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 nayiga-
ton was enacted so long ago that
the age has outgrown it. Wooden ships
have been superseded by iron vessels and it
Is said our people cannot build the modern
boats as cheaply or well as can the Euro
peans, and our foolish laws prevent actu-
ally the purchase by Americans of foreign
built ships, or 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
that 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 its rich returns from u.s. right I'M
der our eyes. The New York Chamber of
Commerce is performing an excellent SER
vice in pointing out some of the reforms
which need most to be made. As the mat
ter now stands it would take time Of course
to achieve he restoration of this interest,
even though all the restraints and draw
backs val removed at once and
wise lamentations, adopted, but
30 would eventually .be 80 possible
and produce such rapid in
cease in ne wealth and influence of
America as he's never heretofore been
wit cssei Dur population, business, posi-
ton, aiI dem and indeed that not only the
chamber, 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 the exchange
to which reference has been made, com
on the action of the New
York merchants suggests very
sensible course for their adoption.
1t says: 1.-THE Chamber of Commerce
should formally encourage individual en-
terprise and ingenuity in the construction
Of steamships Of better pattern than any
now ahoat. 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 for the restoration OF our ship
ping. Not only must the things which
now hamper our shipping be removed, but
American ingenuity must also devise inn
to make our ships the best in
the world, If we are to rank among the first
Of the maritime powers"
LII THEM COME.
g - 4. Il