St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-14
UNCLE SANE,s NAVY.
The CcmmissiOner Of Navigation
Strangely Pleased Whit.

Strangely Pleased w LIN I.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-Mr. Jarvis Pat
ten, commissioner of Navigation, has just
completed his annual report giving an ac-
count of the work of the new bureau of
navigation since its establishment by the
Dingey 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 Oh the sea with
the early promise of our national youth. The
omplaintS, however, are not true that our
shipping is going to ruin, as the fact appears
that our mercantile navy stands second
among the nations of the world, and still
forms one of the elements of greatness.
The total number of vessels employed on
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, including
the Western rivers and all inland nayiga-
ton, excepting the Northern lakes, on
June 80, 1855, was 10. 1923, and their ton
mage 2.455, ,720. OF this number 13, S62
were sailing vessels 4, Ill steam vessels.
256 canal boots and S94 barges. The total
number of vessels engaged in the cOasting
trade, excluding those engaged in the fish
cries and upon the Northern lakes and
Western rivers, is 16.91S, and their ton
mage 2, ,O01. 917. Commissioner Patten gives
figures to show that our coasting trade is by
far the most flOurishing branch of the
United States merchant marine, and says:
If we include our lake and river tonnage it
is the most formidable Coasting feet in the
world, surprising in point of tonnage the
combined mercantile naVieS of any two coun-
tries, excluding Great Britain. Moreover,
this fleet of coasters of various kinds built
for conducting the traffic of cur extended
coasts and long rivers. is admirably adapted
to the diversified kind of business it was con-
n TDprfOr1Ii IT is in nOiOt of pGIIiD-
ment and efficiency of the vessels and &C COM
dations and comforts for those on board sec
ond to no fleet in the world.
THE COMMISSIONER SAYS
that the relief afforded American shipping
through the operation of the act Of June 80
1854. is already felt in our favor but our
expectations of a permanent revival must
be kept back until a reaction comes with a
demand for more tonnage He thinks that
everything should be done to encourage
Shipbuilders, and the practice. adopted III
France and other nations, of granting bOun-
ties on shlpbuilding. in order to give their
vessel an equal standing as to price, is COM
mended. On the subject of pilotage, the
commissioner remarks that the time has az
rived for congress to take charge of the
whole question of pilotage in the interest
of the pilots themselves and of others con-
many of the states and the rates are high
i'll nearly all. These are shown to be OPP
preSsive to the ship owner and to demand
the introduction of a new system that shall
operate alike throughout the Union. The
local tax on shipping in the various states is
also dealt with, and it is suggested that
shipping constitutes class of property
which differs from landed property and, if
not altogether exempt from taxation, should
only be partially taxed. In no case, says
the commissioner, should tax be un-
Just to the American ship-owner. who
has to bear the double burden
of decrease in the value of his property and
competition with foreign ship owners.
Under the head of collisions the commits
sioner discusses at length the different plans
for double side lights, but advises caution
ing any change in the present system,
which he says should not be yentured on
until the new system, to replace it, has had
time to become familiar to maritime people
and is found to be acceptable to CONNER
eial nations generally. The extension to
river steamers of the limited liability sec
ton of the act of June 26, 1884, is strongly
urged.