The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-11-09
The OUTLOOK is BRIGHT
Commi, sioner of Navigation Makes
Annual Report.
THIS YEAR PROMISES TO ECLIPSE LAST
he Steel Vessels Now Under Construction or
Under Contract viii Much Exceed
Similar Tonnage BuiItln Any
Previous Year.
(By the Associated Press.)

(by the Associated HreSS.)
Washington Nov s.-The report of Mr..
Chamberlain, the United States Commits
sioner of Navigation, states that the past
fiscal year has been the third successive
year of notable prosperity and growth
in American shipping, exceeding the two
previous years The extent and nature
/ of work under way or projected in ship
yards promises an even greater growth
for the current fiscal year.
American tonnage has now attained
practically the former maximum OF 1861.
The figures of 1901 compared with 1861.
show an increase in coasting trade yes-
sells from 2,704, ,744 tons to 4,5S2,6S3 tons
(two-thirds of this increase being on the
Great Lakes) a decrease in foreign trade
vessels from 2,496,S ,S94 tons to 9,595 tons.
and a decrease in whaling and fishing
rom 33S,375 tons to 61.94o tons.
Of our total tonnage. 3,623.201 tons are
wooden vessels, and only 1901 OF tons
are iron or steel. In 1900, Great Britain
launched 100000 tons of steel vessels
Although registered American vessels
increased 62,435 tons during the year,
American vessels carried only 81 -
of our exports ard imports, the sna
percentage in Our history
Our fleet of ocean steamers inA
trade the report says, is too sm1W
compared with that of foreign SA
1t is compared with the fleets nN%
large British and German steamship
oorations. each of which exceeds
American fleet in tonnage, mileage
business.
The tonnage built in the
States during the past fiscal year COM
prised 15S0 vessels. and 4S3, 469 gross tons
The steel vessels under contraction or
under contract during the current fiscal
year will much exceed similar tonnage
built in any previous year. The bureau
is advised of SO such merchant vessels of
$780, 645 gross tons, to be valued at about
$S6,000,00O. Besides these, II naval YES
sells of 2S1,1iS tons displacement are
building at contract prices of 5000, COO.
about n ,n' sssooe s9s CO. % plants saov,as with &
men are engaged
The building Of ten raRs- Atlantic
steamers presumably rests en- anticipated
legislation by Congress- Six Nor the At
iantic Transport Line are buiMding from
the same plans used in building Atealners
in England for the same company. The
American cost of steamer OF the ,Min-
nehaha" type will be 81, s46, 00O the Blnii-
ish cargo steamer will be ST29,O 900, for
which the British price ranges from $751;
900 to $4S660O. The difference in wages
on American and foreign vessels is cons
sidered in detail. In illustration the pay
roll (excluding master) of $50 men on Tho
ci ifoeas1 s1ac11fv n An9
on the British Oceanis" is 80 900. and
of 500 on the German Kaiser Wilhelm
Der Crosse" s7,715. The German is The
smallest #i
The report contains detailed g. i
ment of the foreign voyages of AmericE&
vessels last year. showing thaN the Ame
lean flag was seen much ofeener on n *|
North Atlantic during President Jeffe,
sons embargo 0S0S) or diwing n #
cruises of the Alabama" than at-present
Foreign shipping in our Pacific trade Ia
doubled in three years.
The purchase of the Leyland Line i
considered as evidence that American can
ital is willing to invest in ocean steam
ships, that there is an advantage to Ame~ M
ican exporters in American control #
ocean steamships, even if not under ia
American flag and that in the coming id
velopment Of our ocean transportation "a
cilities the union of trunk railroad lin
and steamship corporations will be
important factor. Including the Leyl
purchase American capital owns fuu&
$4,000 tons CT steamers under foreign
flags which in actual carrying power cx-
ceed all American vessels now engaged in
foreign trade. The War and Navy De-
partments also own 12s,S47 gross tons OF
foreign built transports and coliers. BY
various special acts so foreign built ves
sells of 1878 gross tons have been adj
mitted to registry. American money nc-
cordingly of late years has purchased
93l 900 tons Of foreign built steel steam
ers. while since 1891 there have been built
in the United States 1.O06000 tons OF steel
steam vessels OF all kinds.
Tho principal foreign and American
ocean mail contracts are printed in full
and 1t is shown that at the present prices
OF steamships. British mail contracts arc
more advantageous for steamship limos
than American contracts under the Act
Of 1891.