Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-04-15
American Shipping.

the American Merchant Marine asso-
citation, contributed to the North
American Rerieeo recently, an inter
esting article upon "Our Neglected
Shipping. The importance of the
subject from a commercial and none
tary view alone is evidenced by the
fact that whereas at one time Amer
lean ships controlled 81 per cent. of
our foreign carrying trade II per cent.
is ali that falls to their lot now
Meanwhile nearly 20o,o00,0 900 in
gold is paidannually by us for foreign
transportation.
1t has been common Of late in GER
tain quarters to urge that the deca-
dence Of American shipping is due to
commission rather than omission of
legislation. Mr. Smith takes a differ
ent view His article is written to
show that the difficulty is not due to
the greater first cost of our ships,
which is the chief ground on
which our registry law is attacked.
He quotes Senator Frye, than whom
he says no better authority on Amer
lean shipping lives, as saying:
"Our freight ships of like tonnage
and build cost only from 10 to Is per
cent. mere than England's. Extend
this excess over the life of ship, say
thirty years, and it is mere baga-
telle. IF We should buy to-day of
Great Britain one hundred new
freightecs at 25 per cent. less than
their cost, we could not run them in
the foreign trade"
Mr.. Smith says: at is clear that
we cannot run ships as eheaply as
our rivals, even when we build them
cheaper. To be able to buy them,
therefore, as cheaply as our rivals
cannot help our disease. We must
be able to run our ships, not more
cheaply than foreign ships, but in
spite of the cheapness." He urges
that our mercantile marine can only
be put up to the point where it
belongs by policy similar to that of
Great Britain, which has been one
of constant encouragement to it's
merchant shipping interest.
England has always appreciated
the Importance of her shipping.
Through it she could promote her
trade abroad and create and main
tain her great outer line of defense,
upon which in more than one ext
gency has reposed her confidence
in her ability to protect herself from
foreign foes.
1t was upon this point that Mr..
Blaine, in his discussion with Mr..
Gladstone in 1890 said: SIT will not
escape Mr.. Gladstone's keen obser-
walton that British interests in nav
igation flourished with less rivalry,
and have increas ed in greater pro-
portion than any other of the great
interests of the United Kingdom. 1
ask his candid admission that it is the
only interest which England has pro-
tected steadily and determinedly,
regardless of consistency and regard
less of expense"
Profiting by that example of Eng
and, the fathers of this country, by
encouraging American shipping
through a system of discriminating
duties, established similar nursery
IF Tn ho
'eamen who in our little navy in the
var of 1912 shook Great Britain's con-
idence in her own wooden walls. In
hat were bred also the men who
manned our improvised navy during
the war for the Union, contributing SO
much to it's successful issue. AS re-
suit of that policy the American ship
ping interest had reached such point
hat in 1927 the London Times de-
clared:
''The shipping interest, the cradle of our
iavy, is half ruined. Our commercial monop-
,ly no longer exists. We have closed the
Vest Indies against America from feelings of
commercial rivalry. Its active seamen have al
oauy cuSTOsstu al Important Ol our
'arrying to the East Indies. Her starred flag is
low conspicuous on every sea, and will soon
lefy our thunder"
Having reached that point, the pro-
;ective provision was repealed, and
oreign ships have enjoyed, as to our
,arrying trade, ever since "free
rade'. Mr.. Smith holds that similar |
Methods will again restore our ship
ling interest to its former glory.
3