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Show OUR MERCANTILE NAVY. A Fleet of Coasters Eqnal to Any Other Two Nations, Excepting (Jreat . Britain. The Commissioner of Navigation Recommends National Assistance to American Iron Ship . Hnilders. A New System of Pilotage Snggested That Shall Operate Alike Thronffh-, Thronffh-, out the Union. : Ueport of the Navigation Bureau. Washington, December ; 13. Mr. Jarvis Pallen, Commissioner of Navigation, has just completed his annual report, giving an account ac-count of the work" of the new Bureau of Navigation since .its establishment by the Dingley Shipping.; Act In-comparing the status of American shipping with that of other maritimo countries, , he says ; 'Though we may have developed in other ways, v WE HAVE NOT "KEPT PACE ON THB SEA . i Vith the . early- promise , of our National youth. Complaints, however, are not . true that our shipping is going to ruin. . An a fact it appears that "our mercantile navy stands second among the nations of the world, and still forms one of the elements of , our greatness. great-ness. The total number of vessels employed on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, including Western rivers and all -inland navigation, except the Northern lakes, on June 30th, 1885, was 19,123, and their tonnage 2,455,720. Of this number 13,8C2 were sailing vessels: 4,111 steam vessels; 256 canal boats, and 894 barges. The total number of vessels engaged in the coast trade, excluding those engaged in fisheries and upon the Northern lakes and Western rivers, is 15,918, and their tonnage 2,C31,917. . The Commissioner gives figures to show our coasting trade is by far the most flourishing branch of the United States' merchant marine, and says: "If we include our lake and river tonnage, it is the MOST rOEMTDABLE COASTING FLEET IN THE WORLD, . Surpassing in point of tonnage the combined com-bined mercantile navies of any two nations, excluding Great Britain. Moreover, this fleet of coasters of various kinds, built for conducting the traffic of our extended coasts and long rivers, is admirably adapted to the diversified variety of business it was constructed con-structed to perform. It is in point of equipment equip-ment and efficiency of vessels and accommodations accommo-dations and comforts "for those on board second to no fleet in the world." The Commissioner says THE BELIEF AFFOBDED AMERICAN SHIPPING Through the operation of the shipping act,' June 30th, 1884", is allready felt in our favor, but our expectations of a permanent revival must be delayed until the .reaction comes with a demand for more tonnage. He thinks everything should be done to encourage American iron ship builders, and the practice prac-tice adopted in France and other nations of granting bounties on ship-building in order to give their vessels an equal standing as to price, is commended. On the subject of pilotage the Commissioners remark that the time . has arrived for Congress to take charge of the whole question of pilotage, in the interest of the pilots themselves and others concerned. THE SYSTEM OF PILOTAGE Varies in many of the States, and rates are high in nearly all. These are shown to be oppressive to ship-owners,' and they demand the introduction of a new system that shall' operate alike throughout the Union. The local taxation of shipping in various States is also dealt with, and it is suggested that shipping constitutes a class of property which differs from landed property, and if not altogether exempted from taxation, should only be partially taxed. In no case, says the Commissioner, should the tax be ' unjust to the American ship-owner, who has to bear the double burden of decrease, in value of his property and competition with foreign ship-owners. Under the head of collisions, the Commissioner Commis-sioner discusses at length the different plans for double side-lights, but advises caution in any change of the present system, which he says should not be ventured on until the new system to replace it has had time to become familiar to maritime people, and it is found to be acceptable to commercial nations generally. |
