The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-01-03
Navigation Report.

WAsHINeTos, January 1.-The report
of the Commissioner of Navigation sets
forth in detail tie various. aids and
advantages enjoyed by the shipping OF
other nations, aud concludes that it is
Impossible, without change of the
present conditions, for our navigation
TO regain its lost supremacy in the
forAigs, trade. He SAYS cur vessels mast
be put on "a equality or be gradually
forced ont of the contest with foreign
ssips. -Bountiee or subsidies are paid by
Spain, Italy, Germany, France, etc. aud
British vessels have be II and are aided
undvr one guise or another. The re-
port aliudes to various facts relating to
the West Indian and Southern Amer
lean trade, which naturally belong 10
this country, but is almost entirely
monot o. iZed by European ships. With
regard 10 The coastlng trade, the case is
different. and toe shipping employed.
Announcing to 5000. 283 tons. without in
GLIDING many craft not documented. is
reasonably prosperous, especially upon
tbs Lakes where coas6wise trade is de-
veioping rapidly, the increase in the
amount of tonnage there during the
year ending June 80, 1887, being Il ,16i
tons. The gain on the Pacific Coast
was 8761 tons. and was about
the same on the western rivers. The
total docamented tonnage of the United
States is i,I05 8i4, distributed as follows:
Atlantic amt Gulf. 638 .272; Pacific
Coast, 1856, d45; Northern lakes, 1888 ,722;
Western rivers, 327 400. The foreign
registered TONNAGE is 1,0l5 ,562 tons. The
commissioner recommends that the
coasting trade be relieved OF its bu' dens
as TO piiotage fees. He speaks of the
inWolicy of the local taxation of yes
sells, and its tendencyfto drive owner
ship to places where they are not taxed,
as well as tine fact that it weighs in
contest with foreign vessels.
He says the expense of State guaran-
ees should be paid by the parties in
tegested: that is, by the general pub
lie, and that fees for The support of
stations and salaries of officers should
not be exacted of vessels. The Com
missioner is of the opinion that Amer
ieap sailing or steam vessels should be
allowed 20 transport goods on which
duties have been secured without fur
her bonds. An amendment of the
laws relating to the tonnage tax is
recommended, so that steam vessels
may pay on the same relative capacity
as sailing vessels. The report refers to
the lack of anv system of Jurisdiction
o. the Lakes as regards the punishment
of crime thereon, on vessels of the
United States and recommends the ex
tension of the admiralty jurisdiction to
include such cases. He also makes va
rious suggestions as to the Inspection
and handling of steam vessels OF waters
of State, rules regarding steering gear,
uniformity. etc. He describes the many
hardshi encountered by ship owners
by reason of the constant change going
on in navigation, from sail to steam.
froa wood 10 ron, and from iron to
steel, and also by reason of foreign
bounties, subsidies and aids granted to
foreign ships competing with our yes.
sells. both in the merchant marine and
the fisheries. He expresses himself
strongly IN favor of naval reserve,
and concludes his report with draft of
bill embodying his ideas of the neces
sary legislation.