JENCKEN, H. D.-Communication of, page 68. JEWETT, HUGH J.-Communication of, page 65. Lading, Bills of.-Report of Committee on, page 73. LANGSTAFF, A. D.-Speech of, on Yellow Fever epidemic in Memphis, page 58. League, Honest Money.-Resolutions in reference to, page 56. LESSEPS, FERDINAND DE.-Communications of, pages 10, 62. LEWIS, STARK W., et al. agst. EMILIO PUIG et al.-Case of, tried before the Court of Arbitration, page 151. Library of the Chamber of Commerce.-Donations to, page 204. Low, A. A.-Speech of, on death of Gen. JOHN A. DIX, page 1. on erection of a Statue of WASHINGTON in Wall-street, page 136. MARSHALL, CHARLES H.-Communication of, page 82. Report on, page 76. MORGAN, WILLIAM D.—Election of, as Pilot Commissioner, page 93. Remarks of, page 148. MORTON, Hon. L. P.-Communications of, pages 57, 145. National Bankrupt Law.-Appointment of Committee on, page 11. Report of Committee on, page 140. Board of Health.-Resolutions in reference to, page 90. Board of Trade.-Communication of, page 78. Nautical School Ship St. Mary's.-Proposed substitution of Ship Supply for, page 67. Report of Council, on Annual Examination of, page 85. NICHOLSON, Com. J. W. A., U. S. N.-Speech of, at Annual Banquet, page 51. Nomination of Officers.-Appointment of Committee on, page 147. Report of Committee on, page 20. Officers of the Chamber of Commerce.-Annual election of, page 26. for the year ending May, 1881, page 181. PHELPS, ROYAL.-Speech of, on erection of a Statue of WASHINGTON in Wallstreet, page 136. PHILLIMORE, Sir ROBERT.-In reference to the address of, page 78. Pilot Commissioners.-Election of, pages 93, 146. Fees. In reference to, pages 78, 79. PORTER, ELIHU, agst. FRANK LYONS, CHARLES H. BUNN and ALBERT V. POTTER, Rev. HENRY C., D. D.-Speech of, at Annual Banquet, page 46. PRINCE, Hon. FREDERICK 0.-Communication of, page 122. Produce Exchange of New-York.-Communication of, page 62. Protection of Seamen in the Harbor and Port of New-York.-In reference to, page 147. PUTNAM, Hon. JAMES O.-Speech of, at Annual Banquet, page 50. Rail-Road Investigation.-Resolution in reference to, page 20. Transportation.-Special Committee on, reports of, pages 11, 63, 80, 98. Resolution of thanks to, page 118. Robbins' Reef.-Resolutions in reference to Construction of an Island on, page 123. Roll of Members of the Chamber of Commerce, page 164. Seizure and Forfeiture of Vessels for Breach of the Revenue Laws.-Memorial to Congress in reference to, page 95. SEWARD, Hon. FREDERICK W.-Communications of, pages 25, 63. SHEPARD, ELLIOTT F.-Remarks of, on Handling and Storing of Grain in European Countries, page 66. SNOW, AMBROSE.—Election of, as Pilot Commissioner, page 146. Spanish Customs Laws.-In reference to alleged Violation of, pages 63, 96. Tare on Cotton-Memorial to Legislature in reference to, page 22. THURBER, FRANCIS B.-Remarks of, in reference to the National Board of Health, page 90. Training School System of U. S. Navy.-Memorial to Congress in reference to, page 24. TORREY, WILLIAM A., & Co. agst. THORNE, MCFARLANE & Co.-Case of, tried before the Court of Arbitration, page 161. Treasurer's Accounts.-Report of Auditing Committee on, page 21. VANDERBILT, WILLIAM H.-Communication of, page 64. VANDERPOEL, Dr. O. S., Health Officer.-Resolution in reference to, page 91. WAKEFIELD, CYRUS W., & Co. agst. WOOD, PAYSON & COLGATE.-Case of, tried before the Court of Arbitration, page 156. WASHINGTON, erection of a Statue of, in Wall-street.-Speech of FREDERICK A. CONKLING on, page 131. ELLIOT C. COWDIN, pages 94, 127. WILLIAM E. DODGE, page 137. A. A. Low, page 136. Resolution in reference to, page 127. ROYAL PHELPS, page 136. Committee on, pages 137, 138. Water Front, New-York City.-Resolutions in reference to the Improvement of the, page 149. WHITE, Hon. ANDREW D.-Speech of, at Annual Banquet, page 31. WILSON, J. W., & Co., Agents to Bark "Manitou," agst. M. C. DE MARKOE & Co.-Case of, tried before the Court of Arbitration, page 155. Wool, Australian.-Report of Committee on a Reduction of the Rates of Duties on, page 75. World's Fair.-In reference to the, page 91. ANNUAL REVIEW. THE Twenty-Second Annual Report of the Chamber of Commerce is respectfully submitted to the members of the Institution. The importance of a work of this character is now universally conceded. The science of statistics is daily better understood, both by governments and individuals, and no pains are spared to secure the greatest possible accuracy and the presentation of the results of study and comparison with the least possible delay. The possession of the best and latest information is the only safe guide to financial or commercial operations. At no time in the history of the commerce and industry of the United States has it been more necessary than now to pause for a moment and examine, carefully, the progress and direction of the rapid movement which goes on in every branch of trade and industry. In our Report for the year 1877-78, the opinion was expressed, that the country was at the outset of a period of national prosperity; in that of last year it was remarked that the happy influence of the resumption of specie payments was already felt in a thousand ways, and that there was abundant promise of an era of national prosperity to the entire country, the fulfillment of which for the City of New-York had already begun. An examination of the Report for 1879-80, now presented, will show the rapidity of this revival, which, result as it may, will hold its place in history as one of the marvels of the century. In the analysis of the statistics of the years preceding, reasonable ground was found for the hope of improvement, which has been so largely blessed. So now, again, from the same careful study, the sources of danger and disaster may be discovered in the present condition of affairs, and the manner by which they may be averted or mitigated be discerned. The original plan of the Report, adopted in 1858, and since elaborated with sufficient expansion, has been continuously adhered to. The first element in statistical comparison is identity in arrangement; the second, continuity in presentation. It must not be supposed, however, that the Report is confined to a showing of New-York commerce alone; while everything that affects it has its own special allotment of place, the Report covers the entire field of the United States. It becomes, therefore, not only a guide-book for the New-York merchant, but the best Statistical Commercial Annual in the country. In it may be found summaries of every important branch of trade, tabular comparisons of increase and decrease of exports and imports at all the ports, and also at this port, for the official and calendar year. The volume is divided into two parts, the first historical, the second statistical. The First Part presents a record of the Proceedings of the Chamber at its sessions, stated and special, from May, 1879, to May, 1880, the official year; Selected Decisions in litigated cases tried before the Court of Arbitration during the same period; Roll of Members and Charter of the Corporation; By-Laws, and a List of Donations to the Library. The Second Part comprises Special Reports of the several trades, with statistical tables of the transactions in each; tables of exports and imports, for the early publication of which the Chamber is indebted to the courteous permission of the Treasury Department to use the advance sheets of the official accounts, and reprint such national, State and city documents as are needed for reference. All of these tables have been carefully compared and are free from any essential errors. They include the best and latest information on every commercial or financial subject of interest to merchants and bankers. To those resid ing abroad they are invaluable, from the variety of details and the compactness of form of presentation. THE ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING. The Chamber has now passed the first decade of its second century. In the Colonial days of its foundation its members were accustomed, after the English fashion of guilds and corporations, to celebrate each recurring anniversary of its organization with a dinner, at which the dignitaries of the Province and City, and the representatives of the Navy and Army were invariably present. Continued for many years, the good old custom fell into disuse, but has again become a feature in the life of the Chamber. The Annual Banquet at DELMONICO's was attended last year by an unusually large number of the members of the Chamber and invited guests of distinction. The occasion was one of brilliancy and gayety. The happy influence of the resumption of specie payments was perceptible; there was a tone of contentment in all, of buoyant hope in many of the speeches. The President of the Chamber most aptly characterized this important event as the passing of the Government "from a dark era of broken promises into the golden light of redemption," but with the conservative caution which belongs to experience, he hinted that only prudence and patient oil could lay the foundation of a prosperous future. The influence of the Chamber was never greater than it is now. It is constantly increasing. This influence it owes in no little measure to its strict adherence to its old tradition of absolute non-interference with politics. While keenly alive to all that affects the prosperity and the honor of the nation, it has never lent its name or its influence to any political organization or any individual interests. The compliment of Senator BLAINE, that the voice of the Chamber is far mightier than any raised in Congress, is not overstrained. That voice is powerful, because it is representative, because the lungs from which it is thrown are the commercial lungs of the nation. |