Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-11-26

tending our trade and making de-
mand for It, we should not build ships
for those countries which have not the
resources to build them for themselves?
GRAND RESULTS OF WISE POLICY.
While the whole capital engaged on
the ocean by England is 100000, the
United States have invested in lOcOmO-
tives and cars since 1880, at the lowest
estimate, $1,146,675,O0O.
France has engaged in her shipping
100000, or about one-twentieth OF
the capital we have invested in lOcOmO-
tives and cars.
Germany has engaged in shipping
$32 100000, or only about 0ne-thirtieth
OF our investments in locomotives and
cars. We now build locomotives cheap
er and better than in any other cOun-
try in the world. These cars and loco
motives are built of iron, steel, and
wood from the American forests and
mines by American labor.
Ninety per cent of the enormous sum
referred to has been spent ct home for
labor which has not been reduced to the
European price, and helped to give the
farmer his home market. By these
hOme-built locomotives and cars we
bring our surplus products to the sea-
board to put them into ships.
But then we are told that while we
can build the locomotive and the cars
we cannot build the ship, though that is
built out Of the same material and from
the same forests and mines, and though
the labor required to convert 100 tons of
pig iron into locomotives is much great
er than it is in the finished ship and
just as high priced. But we had poll
cy for building the locomotive, by find
ing use for it, and you see the results.
RUYING LOCOMOTIVES ABROAD.
What If it had been decided upon fifty
years ago that we must buy our lOcOmO-
tives from England because at that
time she could build them cheaper-and
that was actually proposed by men who
talked exactly as the free-ship men talk
tO-day-what should we have to show
now in place of this grand record? If
our locomotive building had been
strangled in its infancy, as efforts are
now being made to strangle ship-build-
ing, we should be buying locomotives
still from England. But does anybody
suppose we should have been able to
own and maintain such vast plant in
that line as we now have? What
would have been the consequence of
draining the country of such an enOr-
nous amount of money as is represent
ed in this interest, and of having sup
ported with it foreign labor and for
eign government instead of our own
And we should still be dependent, still
sending our capital abroad. The result
that have shown proves what comes of
a wise policy. Both nations have ac-
cOmplished wonders; the one directing
her policy to carrying on the land,
while the other directed hers to carrying
on the ocean. [ ask you now, gentle
men, if you had depended on England
for your locomotives, she having no
competition, what price would you have
to pay today.
THElRIGHT POLICY.
Such policy as we pursued with re-
gard to the railroads, If applied to our
Ocean-carrying trade, would prove the
remedy which you, gentlemen, are in
search of.
That policy of holding out induce
ments to capital by which England
built up her merchant marine and
America her railroads is the policy
which alone will build up for US an
ocean carrying trade, such as not only
rightfully belongs to us, but is absolute
ly essential to our growth and prOsperi-
ty in the future.
But some one will say, part of Eng
lands policy was to buy ships where she
could get them the cheapest. Let me
say in reply to that, she never bought
any iron ships. Her policy was to de-
velOp her own resources. Having the
raw material, she did precisely what we
have done regarding the locomotives
built them cheaper than any other
nation, gave employment to her own
people, kept capital at home, and made
herself Independent of all other nations.
She could not afford to buy the $50 mil
lions Of ships she owns, of which 80 per
cent of their cost is labor paid to her own
people. To make up for those lost and
worn out would require 5 per cent, or 30
millions year to keep the fleet up. The
history of the world does not show where
a nation was great maritime nation
that did not build its own ships. Have
not France and Germany free trade in
ships, and iron, besides cheap capital
France has so millions in ships, Ger
80 millions, England $50 millions,
France has just passed law. Germany
has only 32 millions invested.
When England commenced iron ship
building her iron interest was better
developed than that of any other country
She could build cheaper from the start
and, to complete her success, she held
out inducements to capital TO invest in
the business. From 1910 to 1880 she
paid 200 millions for contracts. 1t was
equal to 10 per cent on the capital in.
vested in her steamers for the last ten
years,