The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-07

moneys. OuT gram "h' ''N"' law
been taken at our own docks and our
large imports there laid down by for
eirn shipmasters. An increasing tor
rent OF American travel to Europe has
contributed vast sum annually to tho
dividends OF foreign shipowneLs. Iho
balance of trade shown by the books Of
ourcustom houses has been very largely
rendered, and in many years altogether
extinguished by the constant drain. In
the wear 1892 only 1913 per cent OF our
imports were brought in American
vessels. These great foreign steamships
maintained by our traffic, are many Of
them under contract with their respec-
tive governments, by which in time Of
war thew will become part OF their
armed naval establishments. Protihng
bv our commerce in peace, they will
become the most formidable destroyers
Of our commerce in time of war. have
felt and have before expressed tho
feeling. that this condition OF things
was both intolerable and disgraceiu
a wholesome change of policy, and one
having in it much promise, as 1t seems
to me, was begun by the law OF March
8. 1891. Under tho law contracts have
been made by the postmaster general
for eleven mail routes, The expend-
ture involved by these contracts for the
next fiscal year approximates S954,-
1913 SO. As one OF the results already
reached l6 American steamships, OF an
aggregate tonnage OF 81, 400 tons, cost
inc l. 400 OOO have been built or con-
tracted 10 be built i'll American ship
yards.
The estimated tonnage OF all steam
ships required under existing contracts
is l65, SO2, and when the full service re.
ouired by these contracts is established
there will be forty-one mail steamers
under the American flag, with the
probability OF further necessary addi-
lions in the Brazilian and Argentine
service, The contracts recently let for
Transatlantic service will result in the
construction Of five ships OF 10000 tons
each. costing nine or ten million dollars,
and will add, with the City OF New
York and City Of Paris, to which the
treasury department was authorized by
legislation at the last session to give
American registry, all OF the swiftest
vessels upon the sea to our naval
reserve.
The contracts made with the lines
sailing 10 Central and South American
ports have increased the frequency aud
shortened the time OF the trips, added
new ports Of call, and sustained some
lines that otherwise would certainly
have been withdrawn. The service to
Buenos Ayres is the first to the Argen-
tine republic under the American flag.
The service TO Southampton, Boulougue
and Antwerp is also new, and is to be
begun with the steamships City OF New
York and City OF Paris, in February
next earnestly urge continuance OF
the policy inaugurated by this leglsla-
ton and that the appropriations
required to meet the obligations.
We have had. by reason OF connec-
tons with the TrGns-continental railway
lines constructed through our own ter
ritory some advantages in the ocean
trade of the Pacific that We did not
possess on the Atlantic. The construc-
ton OF the Canadian Pacific railway
and the establishment under large sub
sidy from Canada and England of fast
steamship service from Vancouver with
Japan and China seriously threaten
our shipping interests in the Pacific.
This line OF English steamers receives,
as is stated by the commissioner OF
navigation, subsidy OF 100000 annu-
ally or $3O,7G7 per trip for thirteen
voyages, in addition to some further
aid from the admiralty in connection
with contracts under which the vessels
may be used for naval purposes. The
competing American Pacific mail line,
under the act of March 8, 1891 receives
only Sc, $50 per round-trip.
SHOULD LOOK TO oUR INTERESTS.
Efforts have been making within the
last year, am informed, to establish
under similar conditions line between
Vancouver and some Australian port,
with view OF seizing there trade in
which we have had large interest.
The commissioner OF navigation states
that a very large per cent OF our i'm
ports from Asia arc now brought to us
by English steamships and their con-
Meeting railways, in Canada With
view OF promoting this trade, especially
in tea, Canada has imposed discrimi-
mating duty OF 10 per cent upon tea and
coffee brought into the Dominion from
the United States. If this unequal con-
test between American lines without
subsidy or with diminished subsidies,
and the English Canadian line, to
which l have referred, is to con-
tinue, l think we should at
least see that the facilities for
customs entry aud transportation
across our territory are not such as to
make the Canadian route favored one,
and that the discrimination as to dutirs
to which have referred to Is met by
like discrimination as 10 the importa.
ton OF these articles from Canada. No
subject, think, more nearly touches
the pride, the power and the prosperity
Of our country than this of the devel-
opment OF our merchant marine upon
the sea- II we could enter into confer
ence with ether competitors, and all
would agree to withhold government
aid, We could perhaps take our chances
with the rest, but our great compete
tors have established and maintained
their lines by government subsidies
until they now have practically ex-
cluded US from participation. In my
opinion, no choice is left to US but to
pursue, moderately ut least, the same
line.
THE NAVY.
Tho report of the secretary OF the
navy exhibits great progress in tine con-
struction OF our now navy. When the
present secretary entered upon his
duties only three modern steel vessels
were in commission. The vessels since
put in commission and to be put IN
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