The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-12-22

The Entreport of the Commerce
Of Two Hemispheres.
LEADING NORTH PACIFIC HARsoR
The Canadian Pacine Controls the NertA-
west Carrying Traae-The Reason and
the Warning II Contains.


81 Paul scurnal OF Commerce
There are two subjects Of legislative con-
Germ which are eertsin 10 receive the fullest
and certainly the favorable attention OF
the Fifty-first congress, 20 which the presi-
dent adverts in bis message. One IS the
necessity OF large increase IN the naval
force OF the country aud connected there
with the establishment Of adequate coast
defenses. The other, the building mp Of a
commercial marine By government aid.
Both of these important subjects bear
the closest possible relation 10 our leading
American harbor in the North Pac4fic--
that of Seattle. Already it has been de-
termined that navy yard win be estab-
iished al Seattle, aud all recognized geo
graphical, as well ~ commercial consideTa-
tons bearing directly on both subjects
make il indispensable that at that point
will be the American terminus Of one or
more lines OF American steamships doing
a large share of the carrying commerce OF
the country with the nations OF the Orient.
Norman WHO'S not too ignorant to locate So
attic on the map OF the United States. or who
enjoys even the most superficial knowl-
edge Of the commercial needs of the eoun-
try, viii hesitate in reaching the conclusion
that il ever We are to compete seriously
with the subsidized steamers and trains
which run into and out OF Vancouver,
British Columbia. or to recover in the in
terest Of our own merchants and railroad
carriers the trade which the Canadian-Eng-
lish combine has Elched from US, will hesi-
tate in this belief
There is At present q senatorial COM
mittee in existence which has taken deal
of testimony on the subject of this Cana
ian rail aud marine competition. That
testimony makes plain number OF facts
10 which il would be suicidal for the Amer
lean people to close their eyes. Our ship
ping interests at San Francisco are endan-
gered. Our transeontinental roads at the
north are being robbed OF the traffic which
by every rule governing the direction OF
the channels of commerce belongs TO them.
Right over the northern boundary line of
the Union is established a commercial
sucking-pump which draws away trade
from It's natural channels The Northern
Pacific railroad, which would eventually
take into the heart OF the Ameri-
can continent the products of our
trade with the Orient, is COM
PEELED 10 see It's foreign rival, freed
from the trammels OF interstate commerce
and subsidized and patronized by foreign
nation. carrying away merchandise.
which is subsequently laid down in
this city. The Southern Pacific rail-
road must quietly submit 20 seeing
the carrying trade out of San Francisco TO
northern American points. which it is ex-
pressly built TO do, taken from il by coast
ing steamers. owned and controlled by
foreigners. and loaded At Vancouver, to be
taken up and carried across the continent
on foreign sol and by foreign corpora
ton. The Manitoba. which Is preparing %
reach out for its share Of transcontinental
traffic, when il arrives at the Pacific ocean.
ii viii find-What7 1t will find. unless
congress has acted meanwhile. that there
is no competitive traffic TO be done; that its
foreign rival has monopoly OF that
traffic.
We in ST. Paul are fond OF dilating on
the commerce of the Northwest This
Northwest OF which so much il said is in
process of development The local traffic
which il now to be had west of the Dakotas
is and win remain, at least until Montana
and Washington have realized some Of
their vast possibilities. OF small moment.
But the foreign carrying commerce which
is now controlled By the Canadian Pacific
and which Is awaiting increase and deyei-
opment by Araerican enterprise Is SUN.
Gent to provide our rail carriers with saffi-
Gent traffic 70 make their expenses and
some profit. while the work of building up
their local carrying is In progress. Il Is
sufficient to enable the CANADIAN Pacific,
which has no local business TO SPEAK OF be-
tween Vancouver and Port Arthur, 10
show an ever-increasing volume Of busi-
ness, and il can be made sufficient by the
operation OF judicious aud liberal policy
OF government 20 greatly promote the
prosperity of the Northwest.
Puget sound Is the natural site OF
great commercial center. Seattle pos
sesses all the facilities for the establish
ment OF vast shipping industries 1t Is
the one point on the Pacific TO which CUR
northwestern carrying trade is constantly
tending: and il congress does its whole
dnty, within the next two years Sc
attic viii be the entreport of the com
nasrce Of two hemispheres. despite
eli that the projectors and owners Of the
British Canadian highway can do TO pre-
vent It. Mere than that. unless obr gov
ernmen. Is wholly lost 10 the siRnifcanee
OF Vancouver, and the use 20 (which
it Is being put as q point Of military
and naval advantage, Seattle viii
one Of these days contain within its limits
one Of the most important ol ail our Hsai-
taYy and nayal stations.