The Portland daily press., 1893-04-03

WASHINGTON, April IA supplemental
report from the commissioner of navi-
cation, in the treasury department, show
ing many facts interesting and credita-
blesconcerning the progress of American
shipping, has been made public. The
new information issued by Commissioner
O'Brien was omitted from the regular
annual report owing to the incomplete
ness of valuable tables which are now
published. The commissioners report
shows that the enrolled shipping tonnage
has increased 292, IA tons in the last two
years. The sailing tonnage increased
6,73S tons, and the steam tonnage, 58.-
1853 as compared with lastyear. The
tonnage of vessels wrecked and lost at
sea was S9.071, being less than the loss
of last year by 7,O38 tons. The tonnage
of vessels sold to foreigners during the
last year was Ii, ,429, an increase of 5,919
tons over the sales of 1891.
At present there are engaged in the
coasting fleet of the United States 21,303
a number and aggregate far in excess of
that of any other country. The number
and tonnage of vessels engaged in the
coast and river trade, including the fish
cries Of the Atlantic and Pacific, but ex-
elusive of the craft on the Northern
lakes. was 10, 1876 and 2, 3o9, 175 respective
Iy, at the end of this year. The tonnage
of vessels on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts
was 2,024, 1872; on the Pacific, 245,6 ,622; on
the Great Lakes, 1, 181 ,071; ON the West
ern rivers, 310,370. The number and
tonnage of vessels of all classes built in
the United States during 1892, appor-
toned with respect to the several grand
divisions of the country were, on the
Atlantic and Gulf, 939 and 11S,093; on
the Pacific, 139 and 20,769; on Northern
lakes, 1859 and As, ,96S; on Western rivers,
so and 14,S00. OF the vessels built dur
1892, 51,374 tons were of iron and
steel.
Commissioner O'Brien recommends
that Congress enact laws providing that
every man before receiving certificate
above the grade of ordinary seaman in
the merchant marine should be citizen
of the United States or show evidence of
declaration to become one. He also re-
commends that every apprentice and sea-
man be examined for visual powers, and
that no man or officer with defective Wis
ion be permitted to serve on any vessel.
This is an eminently practical sugges-
ton, and it is surprising : to
know that such important require
ments are not already in force.
In his report the commissioner evinces a
commendable solicitude for the improve
ment of the condition of the boys and
men of the merchant marine. Among
other praiseworthy suggestions, Com
missioner O'Brien recommends the adop-
ton of measures looking to an authorita-
tive grading of sailors to show their
nationality, age and character, record
of which should be kept by shipping
commissioners as an act of justice to the
employe and for the protection of the
employer. A system of promotion after
prescribed service afoat is also recon
mended. Il
In the opinion of the commissioner,
and he submits very practical reasons
for the suggestion, it seems requisite
that government shore school should
be established at which American boys
could have an opportunity to learn the
theory and practice of seamanship and
navigation, and get general idea of
steam engines, maritime law and per-
haps gunnery. Under the present sys-
tenn boys have little incentive to engage
i'll the merchant marine service, and the
result is that crews of vessels are gener-
ally made up of foreigners. ''To render
this service pupular to American boys"
says the Commissioner, sit must be made
attractive to them"