The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-08
Annual Report of the Navigation
Commissioner.
PLEA FOR SUBSIDIES
Direct Government Aid for Vessels
Built In the United States Is Recon-
msnded-The Growing Pa
cine Trade.

fistics and facts in support of the
project for the creation of the Amer
lean merchant marine recommended by
Secretary Gage. The tonnage of YES
sells entered and cleared at seaports Of
the United States in foreign trade for
1897. comprised 5,24s. 625 tons American
and s2.sss. i2s tons foreign shipping. In
over sea navigation 10 foreign ports
more than $500 miles distant Ameri-
can shipping amounted TO only 9, Jss.c56
tons, compared with 27,4ls. 02s tons fer
eign.
Only three practical cours IS. At the
present time. are open to the Uri'ed
sfates.
First. we may retain our laws rL-
changed. ignore national navigation
and continue to rely on vessels under
foreign fags for the transportation OF
sur exports and imports.
Second. we may permit foreign built
vessels to register under the American
nag. ship crews abroad and Increase
national navigation.
Third. We may extend direct govern
ment aid to vessels built in the United
States. and thus Increase both national
navigation and shipbuilding.
The last named of these three courses
IS suggested to a very great extent by
our new relations to the rest of the
tworld. Every maritime position must
correspond to our ~pretensions. and TO
attain this result American ship yards
and American ships must be increased.
land ~reasonabl contributions from the
Treasury towards his result should not
be b~egrudged- Largely through indif-
ference we have lost the share in trans
Atlantic navigation which was once
ours. The growing trade OF the Pacific
fs rapidly slipping away from us. For-
Gig nations are now skillfully follow
ing the policy of government aid to
develop their navigation in the Pacific.
The United States paid only 4 1000 TO
American liners to Asia at regular mail
rates during the past year. We have
deluded ourselves into the belief that
the Pacific trade will become ours
without taking ordinary precautions to
meet competition.
Liberal extracts are published from
the report on which the reichstag last
year increased TO $780, 600 marks subsi-
dies 10 German vessels in the Pacific,
showing that Germany Is already en-
deavoring TO forestall the United states
In securing commercial control OF the
Pacific.
The act OF 1891 was designed to Sc
cure the largest and quickest steam
ships in the world for the American
service on the Atlantic. Marine con-
etruction, however. has already al
aAl1ta x NV sAat alh EIANt WI
templated when hat act vas passed.
1t has proved inadequate for the Pa
cihc. Its maximum rates for that trade
are $3.50 per nautical mile for
a 1s-knot steamship. The British ov-
eminent pays s2.S2 to the Peninsular
& Oriental and $40 TO the Canadian
lines: the German government pays
s2.5 TO l4-knot vessels of the North
German-Lloyd. and the French govern
ment Sass to the Messageries Mari
service TO Asia Spain imposes annual
charges of $3.50. 900 on Cuba, s125 900 on
Porto Rico and Size, 900 on the Philip
pines for steam communication, and
herself contributes sl.o0O,00O more for
that purpose.
This Spanish total Is about double
the entire support the United states
i've American steamships in 1897. The
obligations We have assumed by taking
Porto Rico and the Philippines. an
nexing Hawaii and governing Cuba,
thus requiring us TO make larger ape
preparations for the merchant marine,
or to confess our weakness by abandon
ing navigation to Great Britain. Ger
many, France and Japan.
We must also take steps for the quail
fhed admission OF foreign ships %
American registry in order TO enter inn
mediately into active competition for
Asiatic trade The act Of 1891 calls
for 5000 tons steamships OF 16 knots.
We have only 10 sea going steamships
Of over 1000 tons. All OF these are
American transatlantic and two New
York-Cuba mail liners already under
postal contracts. The Arizona, $500
tons. 1s knots. Is the only vessel COM
plying with the requirements of the
act of 1891. and was admitted b. con-
gress last Jun to American egistry
and bough up by the war department.
The China. admitted by congress at
she same time. Il 1910 tons. IL knots
The two remaining vessels are tho CITY
of Picking. $3.50 tons. but only IL knot.
built in 1874. and the FL Rio. owned ~
the navy department under the name
Dixie.
II will require at least Is months 10
build vessels OF over 5000 tons and IS
knots. needed to meet new conditions
in the Pacific. Meanwhile. a combira-
ton of four large German lines. add
by the reichstag. is fastening 10 COM
plete steamships TO carry out the Ger
man imperial policy in Asia.
A relaxation OF the registry law w0s
necessary to establish our trans-Atlau-
tic line and a similar relaxation is nov
necessary TO meet conditions on tn
Pacific. IL Is proposed that foreigu
built vessels be admitted to America u
registry on condition that e~quivaleut
tonnage be built in the United State
as was done in the case OF the Paris
New York, st. Pau and st. Louis. rs
u ssmilar poncy' germany mas bulf
up within IL years its great ship
yards.
The report considers differences On
cost OF construction and operation ~
der the American and British flag and
concludes hat on the average for car.
steamships now generally in use II
foreign nations this difference mounts
90 about one cent per ton for each l0l
anutical miles On the basis consid-
cred an average annual expenditure ur
about 5000. 900 for IL or IL years Will
give the United States a becomire
maritime rank. BY investing the ne
essary capital the United States can
become a shipbuilding power superior
90 Germany n a close competitor
with Great Britain.
Trade between the United States ana
Porto Rico by executive order re-