Evening journal., 1900-11-23
OUR MERCHANT MARINE

With the session Of Congress fast
approaching we would call to the at
tention Of our local Board Of Trade the
action Of the Philadelphia Board of
Trade in memorializing Congress to
pass the Hanna-Payne Shipping Sub
sidy bill. The salient points Of the
memorial are as follows:
The Philadelphia Board of Trade, in
view Of the reassembling of Congress,
renews its earnest recommendation. re-
peatedly made, calling the attention Of
that honorable body 10 the condition OF
the American merchant marine and to
the unusual opportunities which are
within reach of the country If Con-
gress adopts maritime policy in line
with that pursued by other nations.
At no previous period I'm our history
has the need of action by Congress
been more urgent or promises TO be
more advantageous to the country's in
terest The increased foreign con-
sumption OF our products, now stimu-
lated by the new and uneXampled de-
mand for the output OF our mines and
other industries, necessitates great adj
ditions to ocean carrying facilities,
and these added advantages TO the
worlds commerce viii be provided by.
foreign rivals unless proper legislation
be enacted.
Therefore the Philadelphia Board
OF Trade, deeply impressed with the
national Importance of strengthening
our maritime position, respectfully in
. Ntas. f.FD %.
gress in the enactment OF legislation
which will substantially secure the ad-
vantages contemplated in the pending
shipping bills that were favorably kre-
ported to both Houses at the last ses-
sion of Congress.
While the shipping business of the
last year has been unusually profitable,
and the highest since the civil war
much OF the increase has been due TO
coastwise trade. and most of our ocean
tonnage Is carried in foreign bottoms.
The report of Commissioner OF Navi-
cation Chamberlain shows that, and
# our Board of Trade can do anything
TO aid in the work OF building up our
merchant marine It should do It, and
doubtless will.
Commissioner Chamberlain's report
shows that for the first time since the
civil war the documented tonnage Of
the United States exceeds 10000
gross tons. On June 80. 1900, Ameri-
can documented tonnage comprised
1888 vessels of 5.164,SS9 gross tons, an
increase Of 100000 tons over the pre-
vious fiscal year. Our maximum ton
mage was 5.5S9,StS tons in 1861. Our
shipping. the report adds, in 1861 was
larger than Great Britain's, and nearly
equaled the British Empires. British
shipping now amounts to 1i,26l 900
gross tons.
American vessels are almost whV.,
confined to the coasting trade, wniOn
employed last year. 4.33S, ,145 tons, OF
more than the total tonnage of Ger
many and France. Our tonnage in the
foreign trade was only S16,795 tons
and carried last year only . per cent
Of our exports and imports. A century
ago American shipping registered foi
foreign trade was 669.921 tons, Will,
this tonnage now in the thirteen origi
nal States amounts to 4S2,9O7 tons.
The report says that for seriou
competition with foreign nations in tn
ocean carrying trade we are practl
cally restricted to 81 registered steam
ships over 1000 tons, aggregating 26O
325 tons. Single foreign steamshi
corporations own greater Tonnage
Japan has SO ocean steamships of owe
2OO0 tons, aggregating 2S6,O0O tons. BE
sides these steamships, we have i.
registered square rigged sail vessel
over 900 tons each, for the deep Sc
trade. More than half of these al
over twenty years old. and as sue
vessels disappear their places are n'
supplied by new construction.
Since 1890 the worlds steamship
have increased from 12.9S5.000 gro
tons TO 22.369 900 gross tons; sail ve
GELS have decreased from 9.166,0
tons to 6.678 900 tons, and the efecti'
carrying power of the worlds me
chant fleets has increased so per cen
The most notable change in I
worlds shipping has been in the 81
Of steamships. In 1890 there were ?
ocean steamships Of 1000 tons or ov
while now $50 such steamships, q
gregating 100000 tons, constiu
one-fourth of the worlds steam tc
mage
Concentration OF the worlds 81
owning has been notable during
decade. The thirty principal stea
ship companies Of the world own i
steamships. of $4,000 gross tons
cluding some vessels now buildin
cr one-fourtA in tonnage. and m
than one-quarter in carrying power