Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-12-14
OUR MERCANTILE NAVY.
/ One Branch of Our Mariue We Need Not
Blush For.

WASHINGTON, d. c., December l3.--Mr
Jarvis Patton, Commissioner of Navigation,
has Just completed his annual report Civ
ing su account of the work Of the new
Bureau Of Navigation, established by the
Dingler shipping act. In comparing the
status Of American shipping with that OF
other maritime countries, he says:
Though we may have developed
in other ways We have not
kept pace on the sea with the early promis
of our national youth The complaints,
however, are not trae that our shipping is
going to ruin, as the fact appears that our
mercantile navy stands second among
nations Of the world and still forms one Of
the elements OF our greatness.
The total number Of vessels employed on
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, including
the western rivers and and all inland nsvi
CATION excepting the northern lakes, Oh
June 30, 1885, was 10, l23, and their ton
mage PAS, 720. Of this number 1852
we're sailing Yessels, ALI steam vessels,
256 canal boats and 9S4 barges The to-
tai number Of vessels engaged in the coast
wise trade, excluing those engaged in the
fisheries and upon the northern lakes
and western rivers, is 1913, and
their tonnage 2,OOl,9l7. Commissioner
Patten gives figures to show that our coast
ing trade is by far the most tourlshlng
branch of the United States Merchant
Marine, and says: "lf we include our
lake and river tonnage it is the most Tor,
midable coasting fleet in the world sur
passing in point cf tonnage the combined
mercantile nsvies Of any two nations
excluding Great Britain. Moreover
this feet ct coasters OF various
kinds built for conducting the traffic
of our extended coasts and on rivers ls sd-
mirably adapted to the diversified varieties
of the business it was constructed TO per
form. 1t is in point OF equipment aud
efficiency Of the vessels and accommoda-
tions and comforts for those on board sec.
oud to none in the world. The commits
siouer says that the reiei afforded to
American shipping through the operation
Of the shipping act of June 30, 1881, 10
treaty felt in our favor, but our expecta'
tious of a permanent revival must be de.
lsyed until reaction comes with demand
for more tonnage.
He thinks that everything should De done
to encourage American shipbuiiders and
the practice adopted in France and other
nations Of granting bounties on shlpbuild.
ing in order to give their vessels an equal
standing as to price is commended. On
the subject OF pilotaRe the commissioner
remarks hat the time has arrived for Con-
gress to take charge OF the whole ques-
ton Of pilotsge in the interest
Of the pilots themselves and others
concerned. The system OF pilotage varies
in many of the States, and the rates are
higher in nearly all. These are shown to
be oppressive to the ship owner and to de-
mand the introduction OF a new system
that shall operate alike throughout the
Union. The local taxation Of shipping IN
the various States is also dealt with, and
it ia suggested that shipping constl'
tutes class of property which
difers from landed property and II not
altogether exempt from taxation should
only be partially taxed. la no case should
the tax be unjust TO the American chip
owner Who has 10 bear the double burden
OF decrease in the value OF his property
and competition with the foreign ship
owner. Under the head o.! collisions,
tue Commissioner discusses at length
the different places for side lights, but ad
yises caution in any change from the pres
ent system which, he says, should not be
ventured on until the new system TO re-
place it has had time to become familiar
to maritime people, and is found to be &C
cep,able to commercial nations generally
The extension to river steamers Of the
/ limited liability section Of the act CT Jure
I 26th, 1884, is strongly urged.