, 1886-04-01
Totals .39,S7S.440 5,3S4,289 46,162, ,73S
Steamers, 1863; sailing vessels, 40.

During the year ending June 30,
1854, there We're exported from the
Pacific coast BOOST, ,634 bushels, of
which 24,447,3 ,353 bushels were ex-
ported from California ports, 1884,
303 bushels from Oregon ports, and
226,96S bushels from ports of Wash
ington Territory The wheat.trade
of the Pacific coast with Europe alone
gives employment each year to feet
of about 400 sailing-vessels, which
pursue the route around Cape Horn.
The distance by that route, from San
Francisco to Liverpool, is about 16,
coo miles, gnd the average time If
passage is a little more than four
months, or about $50 days. During
the year which ended June 80, 1883,
there were 440 ships cleared from
Pacific ports 10 Europe, of which ITO
sailed under the American and $50
under foreign flags. During the
year ending June 30, 1884, there were
38S ships cleared from the same ports
of which 95 sailed under the Ameri.
can and 1893 under foreign flags
From San Francisco there were 2S6
vessels cleared, registering 406,S75
tons of tonnage, and the aggregate
amount of freight money received
was S6,287,30 OF these only II
were under the American flag, and
claimed bat S1,T36,S of the freight
money. OF the 2S6 ships, 176 We're
iron and 110 were wooded vessels.
OF the 176 iron vessels, but one was
under the American flag; Great Brit
ain had 165 iron vessels, Germany
had s, and France2. The production
of wheat in Oregon and Washington
is only in its infancy, but there were
received at Portland, Oregon, during
the year 1884 an aggregate of 1852
4I6 bushels OF wheat, and S6 vessels
We're employed in its transportation
of which 60 sailed under the British
flag, Is under the American, 2 under
the German, and l under the Norwe-
gian. During the preceding year 134
sailing vessels took cargoss Of wheat
and eour, all, with one exception,
going direct from Portland to Europe
l have referred to wheat alone as
only a single item in the enormous
transportation business Of the coun-
try; others might be mentioned, but
this will serve the purpose of illus
tration. So profitable is the wheat
carrying trade that these large fleets
of vessels usually traverse the entire
distance from Europe to the Pacific
coast in ballast, often waiting for
months for return cargoes. Occas-
ionaily they bring coal, pig-i iron.
railway iron, salt, tin, etc, but not
more than ten per cent. of their mum
Der bring any cargo whatever In
this particular Instance it can read
lily be seen that the profits OF the
wheat growing business do not go
into the pockets of the farmer in
Minnesota or California, Oregon or
Washington, but into the pockets OF
the foreign ship owner and ship
builder. Our wheat fields are being
exhausted for their benefit.
In the year 1871 total tonnage of
American and foreign vessels, enter.
ed from foreign countries, at sea-
ports of the United States was 6,994.
1877 tons. OF which 2.G03, ,59I tons were
American and 4,390,6G6 tons were
foreign In 1881 the entries were
1860, Al tons: Of this enormous in
C. ease nearly the whole was foreign,
vecsals amounting TO only
2,9l9,G96 tons, while foreign vessels
aggregated total OF I2,7Il, ,965 tons.
About the same time, according 10
"LiOyd's Register of Shipping" tho
merchant marine alone OF Great Brit
ain was estimated at S630.O00.OOO. -ct
which Sl50, 500, 600 represented steam
ers, having uet tonBags Of 3003,
5oS tons, and SIS0,00iJ;tJ sailing
vessels Of 3G0S,OO7 tons. Besides,
there are III the navei service OF
Iraat Griiaiu raHt go ships IL com
and tn eantipes..t at offi
cars and moH Ui al lal-As numbers
about $4,000, which are maintained