New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-12
NEW.YoRK DAILY TRIBUNE. MONDAY DECEMBER r. 1904

exports amounted to 1894 s59 exceeding by $s,,
427,19O those of 1905 and being much larger t9h nan
total exports were $50 755 O7 in value and exceeded
hSD those o5 9 SSr Year were a and
the total exports OF the year were $sS 22O i1-
parently to the temporary disturbance in u To
cPSg ncden[ to ths hGses IN 9 china
which amounted TO but Sl2S52 AZ in year l5Vt'
The value of the CONNIE rec of the United states
NTH ats nonIcontigu9us tSrTtores-Porto RICO Ine
Midway Tutuila and Alaska-was $i03 $50 sd in the
gold received in the United states from The mines
! of Alaska. The value of the total shipments OF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS erritories was }ss 95 SIS and of the
The expenses of the Steamboat inspection Service
during the hscal year ended June So 1901 were. for
year OF sO452 IS; for contingent expenses SIS 81 DO
! an increase over the previous year Of 81 $50 80.
mere was an increase O $bSS9 IL in the amount
paid for rent OF offices due to the necessity OF the
Posofhce huildng, and securing ofices in the White
i Tbe ii Ear al go 4 BaitIsr{ Place. ended
June 80 1904; 3a5 foreign passenger steamers, ag-
creating lSHoSo tons; Sls6 domestic steamers. ag-
gregating 3,Ji5526 tons POS gasolene and other
motor vessels. aegregatine 1921 tons and 524 sail
total number of vessels inspected 9SOi. aggre
There were 1888 officers, of all grades licensed
proved Nav IS 1875 extended the q term Of license
10 GIhCerS of steam vessels from TO five years.
and the number licensed during the intervening
licenses licenses in raise of grade.
OF 1854 applicants examined color blindness
forty rejected.
SLOCUM DISASTER AND OTHER CASUALTIES.
The number of lives lost from various causes dur
tis IIie HsC yeI was l.ooo tIe largest perhaps IN
me history OF inc service but the number Of acct
dents was fewer; the great loss of life being due
OF the senmsr South ,6 69rtand on Cape Banco
We're lost; the laundering of the steamer Discovery
off the southeastern coast of Alaska. about Novem-
bel l. 1913. with loss of thirty lives; the founder
ing of the steamer Clallam in the Straits Of San
ves we're zee ost f 2e @ b by wRr a
on the coast of Oregon. on February 81 1904. when
boats, We're lost BY the stavins and capstzne of
Ell Ted v Inc e@PoSi0n OF {he boilers IN the steam
with loss Of eleven lives, and the burning of the
steamer General slocum in East River, New-York
on June 10. 1904 by which disaster 957 persons per-
The appaIing nature of this disaster. together
and on June 9" 81 1884, ePe 9 %as the M
United States Commission Of Investigation upon the
vas made up as follows Lawrence o. Murray,
John NJ. Wilson. brigadier general. T. s A.
retired; Cameron MGR Winslow, commander, L. 5.
| Corporations. Department of Commerce and Labor.
secretary and George Uhler. Supervising Inspector
General. Steamboat Inspection Service. Department
OF Commerce and Labor.
THOROUGH INVESTIGATION ORDERED
The Commission was instructed to make thor
such other matters bearing upon the safety of pas
jFfd st tS Upon me he nqnlE"pt waters 1L me
by such investigation, and to make a report there
partmental or Legislative action as it might deem
necessary ne faT1 on July 49, 1891 the ComnssioR began
three days were devoted to the taking of testimony
in that city and fortytwo days to the preparation
ard digesting of the and the completion Of the
report. On October II the report submitted to
the report of the Department of Justice showing
the status of the criminal proceedings taken in
nection with the disaster.
This Investigation by the Commission revealed
a very unsatisfactory condition of the Steamboat
INSPECTION Service in the port of New-York and
tor for the Second District and the local board Of
Of the commsson found that the methods Of in
spection in the port of NeW-York and of the OH
the disaster. The report also called attention to
number OF defects and recommends changes in
listing statutes and regulations relating to the SER
vice There Is urgent need that the law relating
c3rdance with the RECOMMENDATIONS In view OF
this fact attention Is FesPectfniy directed TO- the
and the accompanying letter of the President
during the months Of July, August. September
and October 1904 reiHsPsetio9 Of the PASSENGER
ether PQsts aefq b6 for Ra ob
Of securing proper conditions in that port. also
ab P the OF 5ns s G tine teT @ s Of
| incorporated in the report of the Commission.
BUREAU OF FISHERIES.
The Commissioner of Fisheries reports that the
year 1904 was one Of the most successful in the
history of the bureau, considered with reference
attained IN all branches have been satisfactory,
and the outlook for greatly augmented work is
very favorable.
The aggregate output in 1904 of 1851 343O25 was
divided follows: Fertili9ed eggs, 2h3 123354 fry
99i503,00 hngerngs, yearlings and adults 971663l
The eggs shown were for the most part donated
hatcheries. the resulting fry being planted under
the direction Of the State fishery authorities.
worthy Of remark that, while the bureau makes
| ample provision for main tanning the supply of
of the fish handled those which the objects
Of commercial fisheries.
BUREAU OF NAVIGATION
Tho Commissioner Of Navigation reports that
the documented merchant shipping of the United
States the end Of the fiscal year comprised 2455S
vessels. of 6Sl535 gross tons the largest tonnage
in history. Less than One-siXtn of this
mage Is registered for foreign trade During the
last four years, however registered steam ton
mage has increased 22,9l4 gross tons, while
registered sail tonnage has decreased 1407iO gross
tons. American shipping in foreign trade has thus
become more efficient, and In the last fiscal year
American ships carried 1913 per cent our exports
and imports compared with 93 per cent in the
movement Of the last four years
have been checked.
Contracts made several years ago have been per
formed, and principal steel shipyards the
steamers except warshipS for the navy Indeed,
were it not for the government work under the
appropriations by Congress some of them would
now be closed for want of work and others soon
would be. The stoppage OF these large plants and
the scattering of their trained workmen would be
more than an ordinary Industrial misfortune These
tional defence. and when they shut down and
their men dispersed the cost of WaVships is
accordingly enhanced
The government programme of naval cOnstruC-
by Congress, will help keep the yards busy but
It will not alone suffice. The situation renforces