The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-11
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
1t VIII Give the Pacific Coast Market
for Our Products.


FAIRHAvEN, Nov. 9, 1891.
To THE EDITOR: have read with much in
terest your editorial of today entitled "The
Future of the Pacific States" This article
strikes the keynote OF the solution of the Pacific
coast problem. Our future salvation, in q bust
ness way, is the completion of the Nicaragua
canal. While we have increasing popula-
ton, that increase il able, by reason of the
prolific advantages existing, to produce Of
most commodities far in excess of its ability to
consume, and il is well-known fact in COM
merce that when there in no intercha nge there
IL no accretion, hence we must trade; we must
produce, sell and ship abroad. Not all of our
product can 60 to foreign countries Some must
find consumption within our own national
lines 1t is q well understood fact that the
present center of population of the United states
is in the state of Ohio. and presumably not
far from the center Of that state.
It is q further known fact that the large con-
Stunning portion of our population 10 east of the
center-that is, New York city, as an objective OK
distributing point, must De common" point
1t requires no great stretch of memory or re-
search OF commercial history to show Us the
time when corn, cattle and hogs possessed very
small value where produced In the trana- Misais-
sippi states, because of their great distance from
the ssaboard and point OF commercial consump-
ton, New York That day has gone by. The
farmer in Iowa knows the value of his fatted
steer or hog on his farm within the fraction of .
cent per pound, and the time is as certainly
coming when the products OF Washington will
have as fixed, steady and certain q value. But
We must not lose sight of the fact that it IL
much easier for company of three or
four joint owners In q business, of which
they have certain monopoly, to sit
down and agree upon price
for that which they have to sell, than it would
be for twenty partners in the same scheme,
some OF which have conflicting interests from
that o. the pool, 10 agree upon like basis. Thus
it is an easy matter for the transcontinental
lines to "cinch" Pacific producers; TO name aud
maintain such rates of freight upon certain of
our commodities as prohibit their sale in mar
ket which requires and wants the product. Thus
our lumber is shut out from Eastern eousump-
ton. An increased number of partners (rail-
roads, enabled the trans Mississippi farmer to
reach market with his product, which in a
single decade has made rich several millions of
people. Many years must elapss ere a like
condition In railroad construction will give the
Pacific states equal proportioaste advantages
yet we should be thankful that some prospective
relief is rapidly approaching in tne nearness to
completion OF the Great Northern.
You strike the keynote when you talk Nicars.
qua canal. Now my opinion to the duty of
the combined press OF the Pacific coast is: First
you gentlemen are the great educators OF the
people. The combined influence of the press
exceeds all other power in this or any other
land. TO my mind land say it reverently), not
excepting the church and clergy. Hence the
influence is simply wonderful; it is ponderous;
and because Ii is so, the greater the response
bility. 1t is likely to take strong pull and
hard one to complete the Nicaragua canal. Pre-.
sumsbly the government will be pressed hard
10 lend some material assistance, and il will be
the province of the press TO educate the people
upon the necessities existing and objects 10 be
attained, all OF which are for the peoples good
The press is supported by the people. They
pay you for advocating their interests, and ex-
pect you 10 do it The average layman who BUYS
and reads the paper has no possible oppor-
tunity to express his opinions in such
manner as to be heard and needed. no matter
how forcibly correct are his conclusions The
neighbor hears tie opinion, and continues to
toll on with the pick, sx or hoe. The province
Is that OF the press to voice loud and often the
known necessities of the people, which must be
needed by corporations which are soulless, ana
the government, which is too often mausged by
red tape systems, regardless of the prime in.
terests 4; is supposed to foster and protect Let
ne ask the press OF the Pacific coast 10
thoroughly elueidate the great importance of
the early completion of the Nicaragua canal
Our own wonderful state OF Washington is TO be
the future home OF several millions of people.
ana those of US who are now drawing upon the
sere and yellow leaf of life would like at least To
see the approach of the hoped-for iruition.
J, :. MUsDY