Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

IL
Some years must elapse before this
maximum will be attained, depending
on the extensions and muliplicati ton of
our shipyards. An estimate of the
Treasury Department, based on our
actual navigation for the calendar year
| 1899, Indicates an initial new eXpendi-
ture of .$2,60O,O00 in round numbers,
conditions on the subsequent building
| of about 100000 tons of new shipping
in American yards, at an expenditure
for labor and material of over $4O,OO0,-
900. The time which must elapse be-
| fore the annual new expenditure of
$2,600,000 Tor $4,000000 including pres
ent mail pay shall become 81 1000,
or S9,000,0O0 Including mail pay,) is
conjectural.
The advantages to be derived from
the creation of United States mer-
chant marine hardly need enumerating.
Last year only 5 per cent of the trade
from and to the United States was car
ried in American ships. Senator Frye
believes that in few years, possibly
three or four, the operation of this bill,
by building up merchant marine, will
result in reduction of $25,OO0,OOO in
freight on exports from this country.
! That presents a gain which every
American can appreciate. The senator
reaches his conclusion by this reason
ling:
"All competent authorities, both in
| the United States and abroad, agree,
on the other hand, that the PROPOSE
sitions of this bill involve large in
crease in the American merchant mar
inc and the most active competition
against British, German and Norweg-
|ian vessels, on which we are now forced
Ito rely for ocean transportation. The
inevitable result of this competition
must be a rapid and abiding reduction
in ocean freight rates. This reduction,
according to the laws of trade, will be
4 first effected and greatest where rates
lare highest and most profitable. With
the United States the highest and
most profitable rates are on exports
Nearly one-third of our entries are in
ballast, while barely 10 per cent OF
:, cur clearances are without cargo. FIX
!, port cargoes in abundance bid high
i rates for limited shipping for transpor-
}, tation from the United States, while
; abundant shipping offers low rates
!, for limited cargoes to the United
! States.
This bill is primarily for the ben
eft of our exports, and as agriculture,
lin bulk and value, furnishes much the
greater part of our exports, the bill
is essentially a bill to promote the ex-
.Iports of agriculture. And as the moss
promising field for the future develop
ment OF our markets for agricultural
Iproducts is northern and temperate
Asia, the committee believes that it is
within bounds to affirm that our grain
fields and cotton plantations will gain
in greater proportion from it's enact
ment than the seaboard ship-buildina
.land ship-owning states, whose dement's
u from its enactment are to the casual
leye more manifest.
Prospective Saving.
sit requires at the present time about
100000 gross tons of shipping steadily
employed turnout the year, and max
ing repeated voyages to conduct oul
ocean transportation, and this tonnags
learns, as stated, approximately, $175,
100000. Upon the increase of American
4 shipping, which must in few years
follow the BILL, saving of $25,ooo,ool
ANNUALLY in ocean export freights can
be predicted, and at the end Of tel
Years, with steadily increasing vol.
lieves the proportionate annual saving
lis meant the saving to our exporters,
:. whether of agricultural or manufactur.
led products. To it may be added the
|. national saving from the development,
, |of the ship-building and ship-owning
industries, and industries dependant
upon or created by them, the enlarged
col fS,. 1ol, OH oil ~
, |of increased national maritime strength
I and independence.
"These facts are perfectly well un-
: derstood in Great Britain, where in
: fiuential newspapers representing ship.
surfing their clients that the passage
) of this bill must mean large freights
, and lower profits to British ship own.
ers, and the keenest competition which
: Great Britain has yet encountered on
the seas. The opposition to the bill
, from those representing foreign steam
3 notgescaped observation, and can not
! be misunderstood"
It is hardly safe at this time to ven
ture prediction as to what progress
Twill be made with the bill at this ses-
at tilG StSSlOn IL
! not at this is a certainty. Senator
3 Hanna and General Grosvenor express
confidence that the bill become law
: before adjournment for the recess.
, tOther republicans are not so sanguine
The measure of democratic procrastin.
= alton on this subject in the body OF
unlimited debate can not be taken now
:. In the senate republicans are fairly
: well united on the measure. In the
house there is some republican indif
: ference, and also some republican feel
. ing that the legislation should not
! furnish another issue for the campaign
i Training Ship Buffalo Sails.
oil Buffalo, April 2O.-The training shiI
: Buffalo left the navy yard this morn
ing for League Island, Pa. From there
she will go to Hampton Roads, where
Ionn A. Il I'M