The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-11-19
GROWTH OF OUR SHIPPING.
DOCUMENTED TONNAGE NOW En-
CEEDS S.OOO. 900 TONS.

However. We Are StiIl Far nehInd
other Nations-American shipping
Largely Done in Foreign bottoms.
Proposed Subsidy Measure L. Con-
sidcred Entirely Inadequate.
Washington. Nov. iS-The report OF
Commissioner Of Navigation Chamberlain
made public to-day says the past fiscal
year has been the most prosperous period
known TO American shipping for some
years Returns for the current fiscal year
promise an eten moro satisfactory recont.
For the FIRST time since the Cicii War
the documented tonnage OF the United
States exceeds 5.00.0c0 gross tons on
June 80 1900. American documcnted ton
mage comprised $3.50 vessels OF 5.lslsse
gross tons an increase Of 10000 tons over
the previous fiscal year. our maximum
tonnage was 5.5ss.SIs tons IN 1861. our ship
ping the report adds, ia 1861 was larger
than Great Britain's. and nearly equalled
the British Empires. British shipping nov
amounts to a. 900 gross tons
American vessels are almost wholly con-
aued 10 the coastiug trade which en-
p.oyed last year 415S.I&5 tons. or moro
than the soial tonnage Of Germany ana
France. Our tonnage IA the foreign trade
was only N6795 tons. and carried last
year Only per cent. OF our exports and
imports. \ cen'Iry ago American ship
ping registered for foreign trade. Was
669s2l tons waile this tonnage now IN the
thirteen original states amounts TO is2.so7
tons
The report says that for serious eompe-
tiuon with foreign nations In the ocean
carrying trade. we are practically restrict
ca to 81 registered steamships over 100
tons aggregating 26O325 ions. Single for
eign steamship corporations own greater
tonnage Besides these steamships w
have l25 registered square rugged sail yes
scls' over 100 ions each Tor the deep sel
trade. More than hall OF these are over
twenty years old. and as such vessels. dis
appear their places are not supplied by
new construction.
Increase Tor the Decade.
The increase in our shipping during the
decade was 80 3i2 tons. Of which soc $50
tonsstand 10 the credit OF the great lakes
Since lsso the worlds steamships have
increased from y $500 gross tons 10
q 9s.ooG tons gross. sail vessels have de-
creased from $4,000 tons 20 667tono tons
and the effective carrying power OF tho
worlds merchant fleets has Increased g.
per cent
The most notable change IN the worlds
shipping has been Ia the size Of steam
ships In 1850 there were 2ls ocean steam
ships OF 400 tons or over while now $50
such steamers, agEregating 56000o0 tons
constitute one-fourth Of the worlds steam
tonnage
The hulls Of 60 per cent or tho worlds
shipping are now made OF steel. compared
with only % per cent in 1870
Concentration OF the worlds shipown-
ing has been notable during the decade.
The thirty principal steamship companies
OF the world own co steamships % s.
$500 gross tons Including some vessels
now bui.dinR) or one-quartcr IN tonnage
and more than one-quarter In carrying
power OF the worlds ocean steamships
or these only nine Of $1,000 tons owned hy
tho international Navigation Company.
are American.
on the basis Of the gross earnings re-
porgd by principal foreign steamship
consDanies 81 is estimated that during 1874
tho gross earnings Of steam and sail yes
sells ia the foreign carrying trade OF all
nations amounted 10 800 90 Tho eX-
port trade Of the United States requires
about - per cent. Of the worlds seago-
ing tonnage IN foreign trade including
the largest fastest and most expensive
steam hips.
steel screw steamships.
The problem OF ocean transportation 81
this time. the report says. is essentially
ono OF transportation by steel screw
steamships The purposes 20 which WOOL
en- fore-and-aft vessels and steel square
rugged vessels are adapted are important
but restricted The Suez canal reduced
opportunities for nail vessels. and the
Nicaragua canal. u Is etated. viii further
reduce them. In the past ten years Great
Britain has built 63s steel steamships Of
9 1900 IONS while the United States has
built As steel steam vessels OF TG On
tons. OF which lss OF 5000 tons were built
on the Great Lakes
We have built for the foreign trade since
1890 only a steel steamships or 5000 tons.
and OF this total u steamships OF 5000
IONS were built a. mail steamships under
the potal subsidy acts. The report SAYS
the coasting law and its recent extensions.
our heavy expenditures for naval con-
struction. and the building OF vessels TO
replace those bough, for transports. and
the postal subsidy law have given steel
shipbuiiding its recent stimulus.
Mr. Chamberlain reviews 81 some de-
tail the bills reported to the Senate and
House OF Representative. known as the
subsidy bills, and gives Illustrations OF the
difference In cost Of building and operat-
Ing American ana British steamships At
the present time. He says that the sub
sides proposed generally equaiize those
differences. A freight steamship carrying
500 tons cargo now costs S215.o o0 IN the
United States. compared with $4,000 In
Great Britain. though steel Is much
cheaper here than abroad. Besides labor
cost the British advantage les IN the
enormous scale Of production Great Brit
ain being the worlds department store"
Of shipping Monthly wages on the Amer
lean vessel are $500. against 800 on the
British ship.
Subsidies Are Not Adequate.
The report holds that the subsidies pro-
l posed for American steamships are not
/ more than adequate 10 secure ocean mail
[ services 90 the great continents. equiva-
/ lent 10 those OF Great Britain. Germany
uud France. In the past sixty years Great
| Britain and her colonies have spent over
/ 500 0oo. Co for British ocean mail steam
ships. Details and estimates show that
! the cost during the irst year Of the pro
| posed subsidy bills operation would be
about 81 50g010. The maximum Of 5000 CO...
| Il is said. probably would De attained dur
Ing 1905. when a reduction OF subsidy
| rates would be necessary. BY that time