New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1906-12-12

TONNAGE NOW GREATEST lNl
OUR HISTORY, SAYS SEC
RETARY METCAlF.

IONNAGE NOW GREAIESl IN
OUR HISTORY, SAYS SEC
RETARY METcALF.
Head Of Commerce and Labor Depart4
ment Urges Passage Of Ship Subs
sidy Bill 50 Country. Can Regain
Foreign Carrying Trade.
Washington, Dec S.-According to
the annual report of Secretary OF
Commerce and Labor Metcalf the
total documental merchant shipping
of the United States June 80, 1906,
comprised 25,006 vessels, of 6,674, 1853
gross tons, the largest tonnage in the
nations history More than that, he
says that unless unforeseen obstacles
arise the output of vessels for the
year ending June 80, 1907, will prob
ably exceed the output of any year
during the past half century.
Mr.. Metcalf says in this connec-
ton:
"The encouraging forecast for ship
building in my last report has been
made good by the construction of YES
sells aggregating 418,745 gross tons.
One hundred steel steamers, of $780,
094 gross tons, were built, and this
output is due almost wholly to the ac-
tivity of the shipyards of the great
lakes, where for the first time steam
ers OF over 1000 gross tons have been
constructed. The only large ocean
steamers commissioned were two for
the trade with Cuba and Mexico UNI
der the ocean mail act Of 1891.
AT the beginning of the fiscal year
the prospect favored uninterrupted ac-
tivity in shipyards of the great lakes.
On the seaboard 81 ocean steel steam
ers-the largest number OF our hiss
tory-were under construction OF Nm
dor contract to be built. Two OF these
are for the foreign trade, and they
will be operated under the OCEAN mail
act of 1874 in trade with Cuba and
Mexico. The partial reconstruction
OF some e the heets Of coastwise com!
panies has stimulated shipbuilding.
'*' Chance 70 Recover Prestige.
The time IS propitious for the en-
try again Of the United States into
the foreign carrying trade branch
of commerce In which we formerly
excelled. but which We have long neg
lected in our absorption in internal
development. That development has
reached a point when we must look to
an extension of our foreign markets
il we wish to utilize to their full ex-
tent our productive powers. At pres
ent an exceptional demand for coast
ing steamers and an extensive pro-
gram Of naval construction have
brought together large bodies of
skilled workmen and given employ
ment to our shipyards. A consider
able reduction in either kind of work
will mean at least temporary dissolu-
ton of a great industry essential to
the national Defense unless by vigor-
Gus legislation to promote American
shipping in foreign trade we use the
assembled forces of labor and capital
in building ships to carry our mails,
to reinforce our sea power and to pro-
mote our trade. Such legislation has
passed the senate and awaits the ac-
ton Of the house of representatives
without here discussing details on
which there may be differences Of
opinion, and without extended argu-
ment, I recommend the passage of SEN
ate bill No. 500, the merchant marine
commission bill. as practical meas
ure OF support to national industry,
plainly in need of it, and as means
of extending American commercial in
fuence on the oceans.
To Get South American Trade.
II wish to lay stress upon the de-
STABILITY of more intimate trade rela-
lions with the great republics of South
America. In my opinion the most eff
fective means of promoting such rela-
tons is the establishment of improved
steamship communication between
the continents. Fast and regular
mails are necessity Of modern COM
meree, yet 1t is matter of record
that at times we must send our mails
for Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay by
way OF the ports of Europe and their
superior subsidized mail steamships.
The transmission of the mails, how
ever, is within the province of another
department and is mentioned here
only as an incideDs. 1t is equally
necessary to commerce that there
shall be comfortable, regular and.
quick passenger transit for the citi-'
zens of countries which desire to
trade with one another. The made
quacy of our present means Of COM
munication with South America from
these points OF view is shown In the
report of the commissioner of nayiga-
ton, which states in detail the vessels
OF all descriptions engaged in trade
between the United States and South
America during the first six months
Of 1906"
immigrants Of the Year.
Concerning immigration, the report
says:
During the year ended June 80.
1906, there applied for admission at
ports OF the United States 1,787,73E
aliens, 1892 of whom were refused
admission OF those adm6tfad 4 I'm