Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-12-10

, a sanitary conference in Washington, begin.
, ming the first of January, The acceptance
} of this invitation by many prominent Pow
ers gives promise Of success in this impor-
tant measure designed to establish system
of international notification by which the
spread Of infections or epidemic diseases
may he more effectively checked or proven
ted. The attention of Congress is invited &c
the necessary appropriations for carrying
into effect the provisions of the act refer.
red to-
Our FOREIGN COMMERCE.
: The efforts Of the Department of State tc
enlarge the trade and commerce of the Unit
ed States, through the active agency Of con
sular officers and through the dissemination
of information obtained from them, have
been unrelaXcd. The interest in these eff
forts, as developed in our commercial COM
munities, and the value of the information
secured by this means, TO the trade
and manufactures of the, country
were recognized by Congress at its last
session, and provision was made fol-
the more frequent publication of consular
and other reports by the Department OF
State. The first issue of this publication
has now been prepared, and subsequent
issues may regularly be expected The I'M
portancc and interest attached to the reports
of consular officers, are witnessed by the
general demand for them by all classes OF
merchants and manufacturers engaged in
our foreign trade. 1t is believed that the
system OF such publications is deserving of
the approval Of Congress, and that the
necessary appropriations for its continu-
ancc and enlargement will commend itself
to your consideration.
The prosperous energies of our domestic
industries, and their immense production of
the subjects of foreign commerce. invite,
and even require, an active development of
the wishes and interests Of our people in
that direction. Especially important is it
that our commercial relations with the AT
lantic and Pacific coasts of South America,
with the West Indies and the Gulf Of Mexi-
CO should he direct, and not through the Cir
emit of European systems, and should be car
ried on in our own bottoms. The full
appreciation of our opportunities which our
front on the Pacific ocean gives to commerce
with Japan, China, and the East Indies,
with Australia and the Island groups which
lie along these routes of navigation, should
inspire equal efforts to appropriate 10 our
own shipping, and to administer by our
own capital, 4 due proportion OF this trade.
Whatever notifications OF our regulations
of trade and navigation may be necessary or
useful to meet and direct these impulses TO
the enlargement of our exchanges and of our
carrying trade, am sure the wisdom of
Congress will he ready to supply. One ini-
tial measure, however, seems to me so clear
" useful and efficient that | venture to press
il upon your earnest attention. Ii seems 10
be very evident that the provision Of regu-
lar steam postal communication, by aid
from Governmct, has been the fOrerunncr of
the commercial performance of Great Brit
ain on all these coasts and seas, Il greater
share in whose trade is now the desire and
the intent of our people. 1t is also manifest
that the efforts of other European Nations to
contend with Great Britain for share of
this commerce have been successful in pro-
portion with their adoption of regular steam
postal communication with the markets
whose trade they sought. Mexico and the
state OF South America are anxious to re-
ceive such postal communications with this
country, and to aid in their devclopcment.
Similar cooperation may be looked for, in
due time, from the Eastern Nations and
from Australia. 1t is difficult to see how
the lead in this movement can he expected
from private interests. In respect of foreign
commerce. quite rs much is in internal
trade, postal communication seems neces-
sarily matter of common and public ad-
ministration, and thus pertaining to Gov
ernment. | respectfully recommend to your
prompt attention such Just and efficient
measures as may cOnduce to the develop
ment of our foreign commercial exchanges
and the building up of our carrying trade.
In this connection | desire also to suggest
the very great service which might be ex-
pected in charging and facilitating our COM
mercc on the Pacific ocean, were a trans
marine cable laid from san Francisco To the
Sandwich Islands, and thence to Japan ut
the North and Australia at the South. The
great influence of such means of cOmmuni-
cation on these routes of navigation, in de
veloping and securing the due share of our
Pacific coast in the commerce of the world,
needs no illustration or enforcement. 1t
may be that an enterprise, useful and in the
end profitable as it would prove to private
investment. may need to he accelerated by
prudent legislation by Congress in lis aid,
and submit the matter To your careful con-
sideration.
An additional, and not uuimportant, al
though secondary, reason for fostering and
enlarging the Navy may hr found IN the
UNREASONABLE service to the expansion of
our commerce, which would be rendered by
the frequent circulation of naval ships in the
seas and ports of all quarters of the globe.
Ships of the proper construction ami equip
ment, to be of the greatest efficiency in case
of maritime war, might be made constant
and active agents in time of peace in the att
vancemcnt and protection of our foreign
trade, and in the nurture and discipline Of
young scamcn, who would, naturally, in
some numbers, mix with and improve the
crews of our merchant ships. Oar mer-
chants at home and abroad recognize the
| Va1nn th t,r,.itsp n