The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-06-22

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NEW YORK LOSING THE WESTERN TR4DE
The TINES rang the tocsin Of commercial
danger in the ears of the New Y ork press
year or two ago, and was laughed a for
its pains. Some of the metropolitan jour
nails assured us that all roads led to New
York, and that her harbor would not cease
to echo to the sound of the paddle wheel,
and all that sort of thing. 1t was very fine
writing. If we had been running the Her
ala, or the 1dyertiSer, we should have re-
assured the frightened country papers OF
the Northwest in the same way precisely.
It is the duty of metropolitan journal to
air its omniscience and make these coun-
try papers know their place.
But we must confess thattho ''undesigned
coincidence" of late editorials in some of
these very papers, with our own humble
opinion on the subject of the possibility of
dirertiaq the aoestern trade from New York
city to other ports, has shifted the laugh
from the east to west. Here is a humorous
thing from the Commercial -1dcertiSer,
though it is not found among the jocose
editorial notes, nor were its statistics pen
ned by that witty statistician Eli Perkins.
It bears intrinsic evidence Of having been
written by man whose face was less than
= ward in length But better long face
than long ears, III ciphering out commercial
problems. We italicize the funny phrases:
There is a very decided tendency Of grain this year
toward the St. Lawrence. During the week ending
Nav 81, there shipped from Chicago, Toledo, and
Milwaukee 1871 96l bushels OF corn W TINS amount
tstrly one-haf 500, 900 bushels went to Canadian
rorts There are now three lines of foreign steamers
which sail from Montreal, and three ships sail each
week. They have capacity oi about lSo,oU0 bushels
of grain The grain trade OF Canada increases reiy rap
i'm. Commerce goes to the cheapest channels. Oar
laws impose expensive burdens on everything and the
Dominion offers advantages once possessed tP u.s. The
Erie Canal opens this year at "a disadvantage. The
water is low The supply is inadequate. Legislation
has failed to promote the Canal interest, and drought
Of two years continuance has enhanced all the neon
veniences aud hindrances which before existed Nor
Is grain alone the only product which IS 1c1aogea from
It's port The Bulletin states that few days ago no
less than fifty vessels were receiving lumber in Quebec
for the South American and other markets foy11GHy
H this traae belonqed to Nnc York but while Quebec
i crowded there are scarcely haIf dozen vessels
celsing lumber in this port for foreign destination"
We rejoice in the prosperity OF our neghbors but
New York NAV not any of its legitimate traffic
slipping away from 1t without concern. Energy and
economy cN bring It al back.
The last sentence is the most laughabie
thing we have ever seen in the Advertiser.
Something or other will "bring it all back"
The lumber trade, and the grain trade are
diverted already, but energy, and economy
will "brinn it all back" Shade of Momus
and Dcmocritus how does the 1arertiser
propose to bring this diverted trade back to
New York? Why, by fooling with the
Erie canal You might as well talk about
bringing it back by building new docks and
warehouses in New York harbor. or having
GOV. Hoffman lift himself over a fence by
pulling at the straps of his boots.
In this age, dear ADVERTISER, trade goes
7rhere It IS sent In old times one man
owned a commission warehouse in Chicago,
and another owned a lake vessel, and ano-
ther controlled an ocean line, but nova
davs men are worth enough TO do the 1rh0ie
acork Themselves Jay Cooke can buy grain
in the Red River valley, and lumber in
Washington Territory, and take it to any
port he pleases, and ship it in his own line
Of propellers to Erie, then b. his own rail
way to Philadelphia, and then by his own
line Of paddle Wheels" Mr.. 1d0ertiser, to
Liverpool, and all the merchants in New
York cannot hinder it.
SO J. Gregory Smith can control the trade
of the Northern Pacific, and send it by his
own propellers to Ogdensburg, and by his
own railway to Portland or Boston, and
by his own steamers across the Atlantic,
and New York cannot help herself
Here is the point, friend 1dvertiser. The
western trade is owned by men who are
aadepe,adent of New York railways, canals
ard lake steamers. Chicago Milwaukee
and Toledo can afford TO Snub you now.
Much more can the great New Northwest
with It's continental system Of railways and
steamers, controlled by Pennsylvania and
New England millionaires.
You may clean and widen your canals.
The St. Lawrence is cheaper You may
lower your frelghts by land. Their own
railways can afford to carry as low. 1ou
may multiply lake steamers. But they are
not obliged to give you pound Of freight
They have their own lines GU must car
ry, on their own terms They go farther
back than you, and even than Chicago and
Toledo They own railways and ports ~
the Wea What railway does New York
own in the West? What port on the new
IL,