The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-09-19
The tonnage RmI.

To the Editor OF the Press:
The bill now pending before Congress
known as the "Farquhar Tonnage Bin," Is
practically provision to encourage the car
rying trade between the United States and
South America. In the present encouraging
prospects as TO the business Of the country,
1t would seem good time, II anything Is TO
be done, to take this means Of increasing our
business with the South American States.
Great Britain has for long time monopo-
ltzed this business. not only In the carrying
OF goods, but in the furnishing OF coal to the
South American States. tO -
The FarquhaI bill provides In suusTance,
that any vessel of more tnan 900 tons gross
register, constructed In and wholly owned
by citizens Of the United States, which shall
be engaged In the foreign trade, plying be-
tween the ports OF the United States and
foreign ports, shall receive Is cents rer ton
gross register. for the first 500 miles Or frao.
tion thereof sailed outward. and the same
sum for the first 800 miles or fraction thereof
sailed inward, on foreign voyage or voy-
ages, and the same rate for the next 800
miles each way. and 80 cents per ton for
each thousand miles thereafter. and pro rata
for each additional distance after the first
thousand miles, not exceeding 1000 miles on
any outward or inward voyage, and provided
further that the foreign port shall be distant
more than 70 miles seaward from the ocean
or gulf boundary Of the United States; this
bounty to continue for term Of ten years,
and thereafter for another term OF nine
years with reduction OF 3 cents per ton for
each thousand miles sailed. and pro rata for
additional distance, But the bill provides
further that no vessel shall be entitled to the
benefit Of this act unless its entire cargo
shall be loaded at port or ports OF the
United States, and discharged In foreign
port or ports; or unless its entire cargo shall
be loaded at one or more foreign ports, and
discharged in one or more ports Oh the
United States. Neither shall the bounty De
paid unless at the time Of sailing its freight
amounts to at least 2 per cent; OF the regis.
tered tonnage. Neither shall IL be entitled
to the benefit OF this act, unless all the ofh-
GERS thereof shall be citizens OF the United
States, nor unless during the first two years
one-sixth OF the crew shall be citizens OF the
United States, the next six years one-third
and during the remainder OF this act at least
one-half. Certain other provisions are pro-
yided for the payment TO vessels already
built, for the length Of time they shall here
after stand inspection.
Enormous quantities of coal were shipped
during the year 1889 from British ports TO
South America and to the West Indies.
Swansea, Newport and Cardiff shipped TO
the West Indies upwards OF Co, 1000 IONS. and
the same ports shipped to South and Central
America abont 300 900 tons, according to re-
liable statistics. This product was abso-
lutely yalueless to Great Britain before u
was shipped, and when 1t was shipped. not
/ Oull pdlu u ldLkc lCNCuuc W tAO
the mines, but also to the owners OF tne YES
sells which transported this enormous y ~,
/ This coal was sold on an average OF ~ . , svn,
| and the freight on it was 30 moIS' ses,n Sso
| the items more In DETAIL u "VuiN W 'O
| thing like this: ,-ooooo
300 600 tons coal at ss..'.'''''S Ss000EH00 s00E00
Freight on coal az ';.:;sbt money 0OO00V
| Insurance. on coal and Heisnt n0u0y aooooo
,Isn2a5cs a. 2S per On Shipping 100000 at
per cent?; ';.:,,ntsrs, commission.
Merchants a1u 11i4..........-......... $4,000
s12,eI2,eO0
ANNA above sum went into the pockets Of
F1eIishmen. IL this country should under
take 10 compete, the account would stand
about as follows. sf- s...,-. - sr,,. ,s.
Amount OF money received as above. sl3 81 600
Less tonnage bounty on, 1.OOO,OU0
ions OF shipping, average passage of ~ y ff,a
1000 miles, at 80 cents per thous-
and........ ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. 100000
Account for the year ear..................Sl26i 600
Add TO this amount the building OF =.
ships In this country, Quilt from our
own raw material and by our own
labor to freight this coal. the mint
mum OF 100000 tons, az $50 20 $65
Divide tins by ten, assuming that to
be the average life OF the ships,
would be the annual gain of........ 2,o0O,OOs
IoJal's's.s.s ................... S14,012 900
The supply OF coal now owned, but not
mined. In the United States is simply enor-
nous, and would make an immense carrying
tIaue IOr many years to come. Outside OF
all thls coal business, II IL estimated that we
pay Sl2o,OOO,OOO year to England for freight
ing out exports and imports, large proper
tion Of which could be earned by our own
shlpplng One great factor Of Englands
wealth Is her commercial marine, and y rs
high time now that this interest should DC
looked too in this country.