Denny to Angell, October 9, 1880

Mr. Denny to Mr. Angell.

As the honorable commission which was created and sent out by the Government of the United States with a view to modifying the treaties with China is now prosecuting its labors at Peking, I have thought that perhaps a few figures and comments in addition to those forwarded by the consular body and Shanghai Chamber of Commerce to different foreign ministers early in April last looking to the conservancy of the Woosung bar to the end that foreign shipping and foreign trade with Shanghai might be relieved from some of the burdens at least which are now put upon it might not be considered out of place.

The gradual setting up of this bar has been for some years a source of much annoyance as well as great expense to vessels visiting Shanghai. Grievances have repeatedly been complained of by masters of merchant vessels from time to time. Not only this, but merchants and business men here, have, through their consuls and the Chamber of Commerce, presented to the diplomatic body the most urgent reasons why some steps should be taken to check the progress of an enemy which is day by day placing additional obstacles in the way of commerce in its effort to reach the commercial center of the east. These efforts have been greatly strengthened and encouraged by the foreign ministers, who have been exerting themselves to induce the Chinese authorities to sanction the removal of this obstruction. But thus far no satisfactory results have been attained by them. One sickly excuse after another, even to profanity itself, in calling this obstruction a “Heaven sent barrier,” &c., has been put forward by the Peking Government in response to their unanswerable arguments, and this will probably continue to be the case, unless there is a united demand made upon the government by the representatives of the treaty powers for such a concession as a partial equivalent for the large sums of tonnage dues paid to it annually by foreign shipping seeking an entrance to this port. In fact it was for just such objects as this that the collection of tonnage dues was provided for in the treaties, and if these dues are to be diverted from the purpose for which they were intended, the right to collect them should be questioned.

There are at present in this harbor six American sailing ships, all of which were compelled upon their arrival at this bar to incur the expense of lightening, the deepest drawing 22 feet. The following table which I have carefully prepared from facts and figures obtained from the masters of these vessels will give you some idea at least of the expenses which the shipping to this port in such ships is now compelled to incur.

From the above statement it will be seen that while these vessels paid tonnage dues after arriving in port, in the aggregate of $4,593.41, the extra expenses they were put to in crossing the bar amounted to $4,596.50; which added to the tonnage dues, makes the total expenses for these six ships $9,189.91; and when we come to carry these burdens to the entire shipping of the port they become enormous. From the 30th September last year to the 30th September this year, the customs have collected tonnage-dues amounting to about $360,000, about one-half of which is at this port, and it is safe to say that not $50,000 of this sum is expended annually in adding to the shipping facilities of the harbor. Taking the foregoing table as our guide there is to be added to the dues collected at this port at least $180,000, expenses incurred by vessels at the bar, which makes the respectable sum of $360,000 annual tax upon this interest in order to reach Shanghai.

The expense to the Chinese Government in dredging this bar to a depth that would freely permit with seriously high tides, vessels drawing 22 to 23 feet to pass, would not be comparatively great; at all events, once the obstructions removed the labor afterwards would be easy. Suppose, however, that it should require all of the tonnage receipts for one, or even two years, to accomplish this important work, certainly the Chinese authorities owe this much at least to an interest which has paid them millions of dollars in the past, and will yet pay them millions more.

During the past summer it has frequently occurred that outgoing ships have been compelled to cross the bar and take cargo afterwards. On yesterday the steamer Indus, belonging to the Peninsular and Oriental line, went out over the bar for this purpose, and to-morrow one of the Mitsu Bishi steamers will pursue the same course. The expenses attending the shipment of cargo under such circumstances must be great.

Should the instructions of the commission preclude the consideration of such questions as this, I trust the facts I have here given, bearing upon the subject, may be some use to you in urging with your colleagues its consideration by the Peking Government.