National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-13
Table Letter to tho Preslden.

breakfast Table Letter to tho President
Mn. PRESIDENT In the month ofDecember.
17y0 in washington's address to his fellow
citizens of the Senate and House of Represents
itives no said '1t requires also that we should
rot overlook the tendency Of war, aud even
of preparations for war, among the nations
most concerned in active commerce with this
country, to abridge the means and thereby at
least enhance the price OF transporting Its
valuable productions to their proper markets.
II recommend IL to your serious reflection how
for and in what mode 1t may be expediont to
guard against endorsements from these con.
tingenoles by such encouragements to our own
navigation as will render our commerce and
agriculture less dependent on foreign bottoms,
which may fail us in the very moments most
interesting to both Of these great objects"
These wcighty words of wisdom, spoken
nearly one hundred years ago by the first
President Of tho republic, address themselres
with cqual force to the Congress and people
of the United States of today while they are
considering the question OF interoceun
transit
L Geographically, this nation holds the want.
age ground of tho western hemisphere. For
productions ofthe soil, the mines, and facili-
ties OF transportation with Europe and Asia
we should have no equal. On the ocean our
lines Of Transportation are simply insignificant.
Our coastwlse commerce is enormous, because
we do not permit foreign competition in that
trade.
|, The tillers of the soil on the Pacific slope are
obliged to seek n market for their surplus
cereals, fruits, and heavy staples over long
lines Of railway, or by the circuitous route of
Cape Horn. To improve navigation and
cheaper transportation and thereby give
market and increased profit to agriculture is
the problem we are called upon to solve By the
construction of interocean communication,
Our sister republic OF Mexico owns strip of
land between the two oceans called the
isthmus Of Tehuantepec, This country can
well afford to pay Mexico literally for that
territory, and If reports are true she is per-
feotly willing to sell to us, friendly and
neighboring republic.
It must be evident that our coastwlse COM
merco and tho great Interests OF agriculture
and manufactures require the protection that
such q purchase would insure for all time.
The United States government should ar
range by treaty the control of the route and
construct rail highway, with as many tracks
as the demands OF commerce may require,
with harbors, docks, and deep channels at the
termini The transfer of cargoes and passen-
gers over this highway will be made by trans
| portation companies who furnish the rolling
stock and may desire to use IL a small toll to
be charged, and under the rules that may be
established by the government. for the operai
ton Of the road. The maximum freight tariff
that these transportation companies cancharge
should also be flxed by the government
II is estimated that the cost Of transferring
wheat nom ship 10 ship need not exceed one
dollar per ton. or three cents q bushel. The
Eads ship railway bill permits q charge oil
three dollars a ton, or nine cents a bushel.
This, on one hundred thousand bushels would
give tho ship railway six thousand dollars
over the rate estimated over tho rail highway
Yet their chief engineer.c In n communi
cation to the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, that the
ship and cargo can be transported quicker and
cheaper than TO break bulk.
Mr.. President, in tho contest in the congress
siopal election OF this fall this question will be
discussed, and the verdict will be uniavorable
IN hnsa ubo vote for ., rx MI nj ri
tax ofsix cents bushel upon wheat; tag
upon agriculture by the aid OF the government
and your recommendationin your first annual
message. f.-
This subject should receive, your serious con
sideration, and ID should result in such meas
ures aswill encourage commerce and agricul
ture. This government could well afford tc
Construct the harbors, daapen the channels
purchase right Of way, construct roadway
ofsteel rails, and permit the transportation
companies to use 1t for a toll that would main
tain the roadbed and pay Gsmall interest OF
the amount invested,
Your attention is invited to the map printet
in this issue. A glance at 1t is sufficient L
| u Nitlioub phVtohaiOiA
to statesmapship, Of the, commercial necassit!
to our coastwiso commerce and varied indus
tries, to the producers andthe consumers o
THIS and other lands, that this government
should purchase right of way, and construc
and control highway across the Isthmus o
Tehuantepec.
May the executive and legislative depart
ments of the government have the foresight
10 comprehend the magnitude and importance
of the design, and the patriotism to labor 70
its accomplishment, without the use Of flnan
cial methods that would produce entangle
ments with European nations, or create
monopoly at this gateway of commerce to eS
act tribute from the hardy sons of toll.
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICANS.
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