The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-09-23
COMMERCIAL BLINDNESS.

rCnlZln0 smile lot Cno DeHeHC Oi NCiudib
people who suggested the possibility of
trade being diverted from New York City
In one or another of the numerous new
channels now opening to western traffic,
has Just been assisted by the Chicago Tri-
bune to hear "the echo of paddle wheels"
in the St. Lawrence, and discourseth as
follows:
sThe Chicago Tribune returns to its discussions Of
direct importations from Europe that CITY, and
that the Custom House charges here the rates Of
age and carriage, and the delays and dctentions will
compel Chicago merchants to import by way Of the
St Lawrence. 1t adds, moreover, that the Obstacles
and restrictions thrown in the way of landing goods
for the West have virtually defeated the law OF the
last Congress- and rendered direct Importation by way
of the seaboard more difficult than ever. During the
wear past Chicago has sold foreign goods the value
of $4,000 900. OF these only S6, 000, 600
directly imported During the coming year a trade in
foreign goods to the amount of 1000 900 is expect
ed 1t is claimed that by the St Lawrence these
goods can be imported at a saving of 90 per cent in
money and time over New York. Montreal already
imports goods to the value of S25 900 900, and sup
plies much smaller population than that dependent
Chicago. The st. Lawrence moreover, offers
turn freight cheaper than by way of this city These
are the inducements this direct trade and they
urged by the Chicago paper with great force and per-
sistency. Whatever weight they have is well known
cheapening the charges imports that New York yU
continue 10 oter the supreme inducements long Pc
culiar to her commercial policy and standing II the
Custom House regulations, the "customs of trade"
present Obstacles they must be modified and altered
so as to suit and anticipate changing condons There
be Determined EFFORT to enlarge and cheaper the
facilities for internal transportation and the canals
be made practically free. IL IS possible for trade
directed by intelligent and courageous enterprise to
seek and make new CHANNELS and when trade is once
diverted Il Is difficult to restore it."
We have italicised enough of the fore
going TO show that the Advertiser has be
gun to think it "possible" that there may
be ''changing conditions" of trade between
the West and Europe; and that New York
may see the !making Of new channels" for
that trade which shall SO "divert'' it as to
make it :" difficult for that city to "restore"
her commercial supremacy, and as to re-
quire even now, r " determined effort" to-
ward that end. The advertiser closes its
article with consolatory reflections such as
that New York capital and importers after
ali are too much for small cities to contend
with, and it & will not believe the commerce
Of New York is IN danger, until We see
more marked signs Of peril than now
threaten it." 1t must have been badly
scared to write this last sentence, which is
obviously desperate attempt to shut the
editorial eyes to dangers that dictated most
OF the article.
Well, Mr.. Advertiser, wake up and hear
the truth of The case. Western wheat is
going down the St. Lawrence while you are
reading these lines. And you never said q
truer word than when you spoke of coura-
geous enterprise masking new channels Of
trade. That is just the secret Of the
changing conditions you are trying to suit
and anticipate.
Commerce is no longer a haphazard af-
fair that by some mysterious law Of nature
must pay tribute to New York city. Cap
itasts have discovered of late that if they
owa long line of railway IL the West,
they own the trade Of that region and can
send it just where they please, without ask
inc leave or license of New York. The
Northern Pacific men are sending their
steamers % Ogdensbure and patronizing
tie Vermont Central instead Of going to
Buffalo, and patronizing the New York
Central because they own the Northern
Pacific, and c. Vanderbilt does not. And
Jay Cookies big steamers take trade TO
Erie and bowl it off to Philadelphia, instead
of patronizing the n. i. and Erie r. r.
because Mr.. Cooke owns the Lake Superior
& Mississippi r. r., and Daniel Drew does
not.
You NAV deepen and widen the Erie ca
nal till it floats the Great Eastern, and it will
not help you as long as New York city
owns no roads west of Lake Michigan and
Lake Superior When the courageous
enterprise" of New England developes the
great West it does not intend to build mp
New York, but Boston and Portland. And
when Pennsylvania capital developes Min
nesota it does not mean trade with New
\ ork but Phiiadelphia. All the railroads
and canals YOU can construct ip the State
Of Yer York will not help you particle.
It is like man trying to lift himself over a
fence by pulling at the straps Of his boots.
Boston and Philadelphia can defy your
determined efforts" as long as you work
only in your own state, and give up the
great West to their control. What New
York city needs is the ownership of rail
ways in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and
the farther West terminating at the head
ofLake Superior, or on the west bank o1