The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-20
GAIN IN SHIPPING.
Tonnage Is Greater
Than Any Time
Since 1865.
STEAM FIGURES EXCEED SAIL.
Largest Coasting Trade of
Any Nation On
Earth.
STEAM FIGURES EXCEED SAIL.

Washington, Nov. 19.-The annual re-
port of Mr.. Chamberlain, commissioner
of navigation shows that American
shipping industries shared in the gem
eral prosperity of the country during
the past fiscal year The returns dis
close more satisfactory conditions than
those of any former year in the bur-
eau's history. The total tonnage COM
prised 22,72s vessels of 4,S64,23S gross
tons, which is our largest since 1865.
The tonnage operating under our
coastfng laws, q, 397 vessels of 4,O21, 1872
gross tons, is the largest in our history
and greater than the coasting tonnage
of any other nation. Our steam tonnage,
2,476011 tons, for the first time exceeds
the tonnage of all other craft. In the
rest of the world steam tonnage eleven
years ago exceeded sail tonnage. Our
tonnage registered for foreign trade
remaips small, and last year American
vessels carried a fraction less than 8
per cent of our exports and imports the
smallest percentage in our history.
Tonnage taxes, imposed equally on
foreign and American vessels, are the
only form of federal taxation on Amer
lean shipping. The effort to repel ton
mage taxes would, therefore. in effect be
equivalent to a bounty of about $3.50 900
annually to foreign shipping and would
relieve American shipping of only $50, 900
of taxes annually.
The department then takes up the
methods which have recently been sug-
gested for the promotion of the Ameri-
Mt rim &c fad oI1f
that discriminating duties on cargoes in
foreign vessels or on the tonnage of for
eisn vessels are an impracticable rem
edy on account Of the treaty provision.
The same objection also applies to the
proposition to grant bounties on ex-
ports in American vessels. The propo-
sition to grant American registry to
foreign built vessels in the foreign trade
is not regarded as feasible in view of
the fact that the cost of operating YES
sells under the American flag is con-
cededly much greater than the cost of
operating foreign vessels.
The proposition to develop the mer-
chant marine through ocean mail sub
sides is only part of the question.
While the need of at least two fast
mail steamship lines to Asia and one to
South America, is indisputable, the es-
Enlistment Of such lines would not
suft1ce to put our navigation and ship
ping on satisfactory basis. 1t is point
ed out that the maximum expense UNI
der the bill for any one year is fixed at
$1,000, 900, from which, however should
be deducted s1,5OO,OOo, the present cost
of carrying our ocean mails on Ameri-
can vessels, which will continue what
ever the fate of the bill may be.
The actual maximum annual expendi-
ture proposed by the bill is thus, in eff
feet, fixed at $7,50O,9oo Assuming that
all our vessels registered for foreign
trade were fully occupied throughout
the year, at the present time the new
expenditure under the bill would be in
round numbers $4,000, 00o Before the
maximum is reached the capacity of our
ship yards must be increased many
times, and the tonnage under our flag
engaged in the foreign trade must be
multiplied several fold.