Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-01-03

wAszrxoros, Dec. E.-Jsrvis Psttsn-
Commissioners Of SaviZssioa. q his
frst annual report. says: The Amer
can merchant marine at tie presccs
tine. although II has not in lsteT yeas
kses pace with that Of GF.-st Britain, -
second onIy 20 hsrs. Notwithstanding
tie Disadvantages she American ship
buiIderx hzd 20 contend against the
higa character u their vessels hss been
ragiutaaEE-d Oar wooden sGips are
peohabiy fhs best and safest vessels
aaoat. aud the comparatively EsE ron
snlp5siialn2 works Of the eo8Etry are
beginning 10 tuTn ozi steamships and
other iron craft of : vzry h'gh class.
In reply 10 assertions n some qaar-
ters thAs we have DO snips. tue Coul-
missioner states that We Gaye the FINEST
cosstSise trade IN the world, and ihs
best feet of sailing ships known - nov
engaged ln California wheat trassp<rIs-
tiOa- under tie Caited States hsg. IL
Is mistake, says tbs report, to secept
the opinion that the day Of wooden
ships IL entirely past. Two-tairds of
the tonnage of the world Is probably
still coLs posed Of wooden vessslss while
their numerical prepOnderspce ia much
greater, Notwithstanding the fact that
for screw steamers and many other
kinds Of craft, iron possesses certain
advantages
In round numbers, the total OF oaT
seagoin9 marine was. on June 30, lss4 :
We sssls, 6ss56 tons, 81 ,0oQ. 404. OF this
number AZ, of 6J1, ls5 tons, we're steam
ers and the rest sailing vessels. Bot
the entire number of vessels of all
kinds under the dag June 30, 1854. vas
q. 0c2, measuring 4,2Il. 2ZS tons. The
value Of the total tonnage of the United
States is at present $50, co.. 900; value
of toe seagoinE feet, $l25, 10000. Corr
pared With the preceding year the total
tonnage of the country exhibits an IN
crease of IS. 147 t0as; enrolled and H.
censed tonnage having increased 2l6
tons.
The relief afforded the shipping in
tsFests By the bill passed last session Is
the Com missioner thinks. sufficient 10
place American sailing ships on al
equality With vessels OF other Tags. IN
30 far a. the expenses Of navigation
are concerned. Tne counterpart Of that
wise enactment would seem to be q
measure sqaaliZipg the cost of the con.
struction of iron ships. oasiness CON-
paratIvely new in this country. The
tariff, which operates 10 raise the price
Of labor, makes the cost Ut an Ameri-
can ship higher, while it gives 40 sup
port and can afford no protection to
| fh0ss engaged in the foreign freightinl
trade, since their business Is one OF
competition with ship-owners of ali M.
lions in the field, beyond the reach OF
our laws. Il is important this country
should be prepared to compete for tbs
supply of the world with ships, and
equally important that our shi % should
start With the same advantage that
their competitors enjoy.
The Commissioner recommends the
offering Of bOuuties sufficiently large &c
encourage the construction by private
enterprise OF q feet of first class, power
fol mail steamers, which could be used
| with good effect IN tune of war as light
armed cruisers and transports
| A strong arguo1ent is also made in
| favor OF having American seamen fol
American ships, the crews of which are
| now composed mainly of foreigners
On this point the Commissioner says
'In order TO indace American lads t.
| follow tue sea for q profession, SONS
inducements might be offered. with greai
| advantage to the merchant service, a.
we'll as a national provision for traiHeC
seamsn." A system of apprenticeship
is recommended TO be established, IL
pursuance of which American merchant
vessels engaged in the foreign trad,
might receive a certain fixed sam from
the government for the support and in
struction of apprentices carried OF
board for stated term OF years. Suct
system would, it is thought, do mucI
to improve the average standard o
American seamen, and repay the ns
tionsl expense in afording an avsilabl,
corps Of loyal seafaring men, who coulC
be relied upon in case Of an emsrgenc,
to help man the navy.
Further legislation Is suggested in th,
direction Of making more efficient law
for the protection and punishment o.
sailors. Courts Of inquiry in this coun
try are recommended, With power {,
punish officers sud ssameR who, b,
aareiessness or incompetsncy, cause col
lislons at sea.