The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1885-01-01
SECURE GQUALlTYFoR OUR FLAG

wAsHINUruv, Dee. 2s,-Jgrvis Pat,
Yen, commissioner OF navigation, in hi'
Srst annual report, SAYS the American
merchant marine N the present time
although IL has not in later years kept
pace with that ol GreaI Britain, Is see
cad only 10 hers, Notwithstanding the
Disadvantages which the American
ship-bUi.dors have had % contend
against The high character ol their yes-
cur wocdcu s1ips are proba.
bly, the best and safest vessels ailuat,
spd the cuun1rafivulv new iron ship
building works uf the country are be-
ginning 90 turn out steamships Aud
other Iron ogaft of q very high class. In
reply Ia tine as Drtiou5 in som" quarters
shat Wp have no ships, The commissioner
states lIat We have
I'M FrS 81 ,uASrwIsE TRADE ~ NE
WORLD,
ana the hest fleet OF sailing ships known
II now engaged IN the California wheat
transportation under the Quilted state :
Sag. II is "A mistake, says the report,
y accept the opinion that Tie day of
wooden ships is entirely past. Two
tsirds of the tonnage of the world il
probably still composed of wooden yes
Hsnderance is much greater,
Notwithstanding the known fact
Hpat for screw steamers and many other
Kinds OF craft, iron possesses certain ad-
vsntages. In round numbers, the total
IL our sca-guing marine on June 80,
1854, was In vessels d ,636; III tons, $780,
~. OF this number ~, OF Col 1856 tons,
we're steamers, and the rest sailing yes
sells. But the entire number of vessels
~ - nIIr
Sosi, was 2l,0S2, INCA .uring i,21l us tons.
ZEE VALUE OF THE TOTAL TONNAGE
Of the United States is at present $780,
Qp,OO. Tho value of the Sca-gOing fleet
Esl22, 100000. Compared with tine pre-
sedlng year, tho total tonnage of the
country exhibits an increase of S5,7i2
Sons, the enrolled and licensed tonnage
having increased 336,6l6 tons, while the
registered tonnage increased PIG tons.
The relief afforded the shipping inter-
est by the bill passed at the last session
Of congress is, the commissioner thinks,
SUflicient 10 place American sailing
ships ON an equality with the puwe :
81 those Of other flags. In so far as the
eI psnses.of navigation ave concerned,
~ counterpart oil that wIse enactment
would seem to measure the equalzing
of the cost of the construction of iron
ships, u business comparatively new in
This country.
THE TARIBF,
which operates 10 raise the price II la
sur, makes the cost of Am"ri, an sNips
higher, while il gives no support and
san afford no protection to those en-
ragged i'm the foreign reighting Uade,
NICE lheir business is one OF compoti-
D n with ship-UNIrrS gf all nations in
field beyond the reach Of our laws
IS important that This country should
! prepared to compete tor the supply Of
tAe world with ships, and equally i'm
portaut that our ships should start with
nDme of he advantages their cOmpetl-
ttfs enjoy. The commission recon-
Nj nds the offering of bounties sufficient
iv large to encourage the construction
BY private enterprise, OF "A fleet OF first
class powerful mail steamers, which
could be used with good eilect in time
OF war as light armed cruisers and
transports, "a strong argument in IA
yor OF having American seao on for
American shipsi the crews of which are
row composed mainly Of foreigners. On
this point the commissioner says that
In order 20 induce American lads TO iol-
low tue sea for 4 profess ion, some ill.,
Sucements might be offered with great.
advantage to our merchants. For
the merchant service, as well as for II
national provision Tor trained seamen, a
system of apprenticeship is recon-
mended to be established, in pursuance
Of which American merchant vessels
engaged in foreign trade might receive |
a certain fixed sum from the govern |
AeDt for the
SUI PORT AND IL sTRUCT on OF APPREN- |
TICES
ssrrieG on board tor "A stated term of
years. Such system would, il is |
thought, do much 10 improve he aver
age standard OF American seamen and
repay the national expense in
xfoTding an available corps of
10y al sea faripg men, who could be re-
led upon, in case o an emergency, to
man the navy.
AND PUNISHMENT OF SAIL
oi,S.
Further legislation is suggested in the
direction Of making more efficient laws
For The protection and punishment OF
sailors, and the institution of courts of
Dgniry in this country, with power to
punish officers and seamen who, by
sarelessncss or iDcoInpetency, cause
collisions at sea.