GRINNELL, WILLIAM F., U. S. Consul at Bremen.-Communication of, page HAY, Hon. JOHN, Assistant Secretary of State.-Communications of, pages HILL, HAMILTON A., Secretary National Board of Trade.-Communications of, Inspectors of Steam Vessels to have power to adopt a system of Signals, page Lane, George W.—Remarks of, at Annual Banquet, page 21. Lard, Tare on.-Communication of the Commercial, Industrial and Maritime Report on, page 60. Lead, Tea.-Introduction of, into Japan, page 61. Communication of U. S. Consul at Hioga in reference to, page 62. Library of the Chamber of Commerce.-Donations to, page 182. LOWELL, Judge.—Bankrupt Bill prepared by, page 107. MCLEAN, ALEXANDER, U. S. Consul at Guayaquil.-Communication of, page 18. MARSHALL, Alderman CHARLES H.-Speech of, at Annual Banquet, page 44. Names of, to be erased from the Roll by Executive Committee for non- National Board of Trade.-Communications of, pages 62, 88, 104. Nautical School.-Annual Examination of, page 63. Report of, page 15. Officers of the Chamber of Commerce.-Election of, page 20. Proceedings at Annual Banquet, page 20. Products, Food.-Adulteration of, page 105. Railroad Transportation.-Reports of Committee on, pages 52, 80, 110, 115. ROSE, MCALPIN & Co. agst. National Steamship Company (Limited.)—Case of, Sailor Boarding Houses.-Commissioners for Licensing, proposed transfer of School, Nautical.-Annual Examination of, page 63. SHERMAN, Hon. JOHN, Secretary of the Treasury.-Speech of, at Annual Ban- Communication of, page 112. Portrait of, presentation to the Chamber of Commerce, page 49. Signal Service Bureau, page 58. Signals. Inspectors of Steam Vessels to have power to adopt a system of, page South America.-Commerce with West Coast of, Depredations on, page 17. Report on, page 57. Spanish Customs Laws.-Communication of Hon. WILLIAM M. EVARTS, Secre- Circular to Owners and Masters of Vessels in reference to, page 110. STAHEL, J., U. S. Consul at Hioga, Japan.-Communication of, page 62. Statistical Tables, showing the Agricultural Progress of the United States, Statue of Washington in Wall-street.-Reports of Special Committee on, pages STEVENS, JOHN AUSTIN.-Communication of, presenting to the Chamber a Resolutions of thanks to, page 124. STORRS, Rev. R. S., D. D.-Speech of, at Annual Banquet, page 28. Sugar, Duties on.-Collection of, pages 87, 92. SWIFT & Co., H. H., agst. WILKINSON BROS. & Co.-Case of, tried before the Tea Lead, American.-Introduction of, into Japan, Communication of U. S. Report on, page 78. Telegraph Companies.-Consolidation of, page 104. Tobacco Inspection, New-York.-Complaints against, report on, page 109. Transportation, Railroad.-Reports of Committee on, pages 53, 80, 110, 115. WASHINGTON Statue in Wall-street.-Reports of Special Committee on, pages WATSON, GEORGE S. et al. agst. THOMAS HENDERSON, Jr., et al.—Case of, tried WELSH, S. & W. agst. HAVEMEYER & ELDER.-Cases of, tried before the Court WOOD, Hon. FERNANDO.-Speech of, at Annual Banquet, page 35. ANNUAL REVIEW. THE Twenty-third Annual Report of the Chamber of Commerce is respectfully offered to the consideration of the members. The plan of arrangement pursued in previous years has been strictly adhered to. Divided into two parts, each with its own paging, it presents the action of the Institution during the year, and the movement in each. branch of the commerce of the Nation, State and City. Compiled from the latest official and the most authoritative trade reports, its general accuracy may be implicitly relied upon. Our report for the year 1878-79 marked the rapidity of the revival of trade which immediately followed upon the happy conjunction of the resumption of specie payments, with an enormous demand for the products of our soil and manufactures by foreign nations; a demand which has turned the balance of trade continuously in favor of the United States. The new era of national prosperity is fully opened. New phases of development are daily witnessed, and new tendencies in mercantile and industrial enterprises are manifest. The large increase of floating capital and the expansion of credit, based upon the additions to the reserved stock of precious metals, have led to powerful combinations which threaten, if they have not secured, the monopoly of many branches of business. The study of the proceedings of the Chamber shows that all of these subjects have been watched by the Chamber with solicitude, and in turn have received careful attention from its Standing and Special Committees. THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWELFTH ANNUAL BANQUET. This annual festivity has become a permanent feature in the life of the Chamber. Graced by the presence of the high officials of the country, and by distinguished representatives of the learned professions, these genial meetings have done much to bring together persons of widely separated occupations and divers views, to harmonize conflicting opinions and by personal intercourse and a better understanding of mutual aims and motives, to soften the asperities which attend the perpetual struggle for wealth and influence and power. The addresses on this occasion were admirable in their freedom from political allusion, and were uniformly marked by a cheerfulness of tone which happily reflected the general sense of satisfaction in the actual condition of the country and the confident assurance of permanent prosperity. At the same time they invited attention to the near approach of conflicts of interest, the solution of which demands the serious attention of the gravest and most comprehensive intelligence. THE GENEVA AWARD. The delay in the distribution of the balance of the sum of money awarded by the International Tribunal to those who lost vessels and cargoes by the depredations of the rebellion, and also to those who were obliged to pay extra premiums of insurance to underwriters for risk of capture and destruction, has continued to agitate those directly interested, and the Chamber, called upon to express its opinion, unanimously resolved to request early legislation on the subject at the hands of Congress. STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH TAHITI. In February of this year the Chamber received information from the Consul-General of France, in New-York, of the desire of the Island of Tahiti to be connected, at the earliest possible date, by a monthly line of steam vessels, with San Francisco and Australia, and of the willingness of the Government of the Colony to pay a subsidy of fifty thousand dollars to the Company that will establish a line. AMERICAN TRADE-MARKS. The consideration of Congress was directed to the necessity of legislation to give effect to the treaties of the United States concerning trade-marks, and confer adequate power on the proper authorities to protect American trade-mark interests in foreign countries. INSPECTION OF STEAM VESSELS. Our shipmasters being convinced of the inadequacy of the existing laws governing the inspection of steam vessels, Congress was memorialized to repeal the statute and to confer on the Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steam Vessels discretionary power to adopt a suitable system of signalling. ADULTERATION OF FOOD AND DRUGS. At the request of the National Board of Trade, the Chamber joined in a memorial to Congress to pass a bill, prepared by a Committee of experts, under the direction of the National Board, and by it endorsed, to prevent the adulteration of food and drugs. INTERCOURSE WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT. During the entire course of his administration of the State Department, Mr. Secretary EVARTS manifested an earnest desire to turn the resources of the Department to the advantage of American commerce with foreign countries. Last year the Chamber memoralized Congress to authorize the monthly publication of consular reports, and in April Mr. EVARTS made a favorable report to the President in answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives on the subject. The authority was obtained, and these valuable documents, which are full of interesting information |