New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-03-12
GERMAN AIDS TO COMMERCE..

The expansion of Germany's shipping In
terests since the foundation of the empire was
unGuestionahly one of tn" most notable feat
ures in the commercial history of the world in
the last quarter of the nineteenth century. and
promises 10 be continued in the twentieth CEN
fury. 1t Is of interest and should be of prac-
teal value to observe the means through which
it was achieved, and through which Germany
is still forging ahead toward actual rivalship OF
Great Britain. The colonial policy of the en-
pre has often been referred to as one of the
causes, or at least opportunities, of trade ex
pansion. The protective system, with its foster
ing OF manufacturing and other industries. is an
other. A third Is the system of subsidies 10
steamship lines. Still another. and by no means
the least. is the generous and judiciOus improve
ment of harbor and docking facilities, in which
last respect Germany may now be said 10 be
leading the world. or. at any rate TO be neck
and neck with her only rival.
Since the year lSSS the German Government
has spent nearly $125,O00,0Oo on harbor i'm
provements. That may not seem particularly
large sum. compared with the appropriations
which our Congress makes from time to time
for rivers and harbors But the Germans have
n way Of concentrating their work upon the
really important harbors. where 1t will count
for something. Thus of the sum named $50
100000 was spent upon the harbor and docks
of Hamburg. What wonder that Hamburg is
now the second, if not, indeed, the first shipping
port of the world, Again, SIS. 800 600 was eX-
pended upon Bremen, NegeSack and Bremen
haven, while the rest went 10 Altoona, GeeSte-
munde, Danzig and Stettin. AT the present
time the government Is engaged in the Construc-
ton of two new drydocks at Wilhelmshaven,
primarily for the use of the imperial navy, but
incidentally for the merchant marine. at
cost Of S3,000,00O. These docks are to be about
go feet long each, and 81 feet wide. or large
enough 10 hold any warship, and any but
very few of the largest merchant ships ahoat.
These docks are, of course, to be of massive
masonry. AS to floating docks, of steel, for the
repair of merchant ships, the empire had only
nine of them in 1880, seventeen in 1890, and
twenty-seven in 1900.
These only a few of the many similar cur
rent items of progress in Germany. They help
To explain the fact that the ocean going steam
tonnage OF Germany, which was only ,99f in
1871, is now nearly 100000 while in 1899 no
less than 100000 tons We're built or building
in German shpyards. There are now eighteen
important steamship companies in Germany,
some of them with capitals of from $23 100000
TO So. 100000, and all paying handsomely In
1899 two of them paid II per cent, eight 10
per cent four nearly o per cent, and only one
less than 81 per cent. Various conditions
will doubtless be necessary to effect like
increase and profit of American shipping. There
can be no question that one of them must be the
establishment of such harbor facilities as Ger
many enjoys. 1t is discreditabe in the highest
degree that New-York should be inferior to
Hamburg as a shipping port.