The morning call., 1893-07-09

ported by them. Originally it was en-
tirely supported by subsidies from the
Governments of New Zealand and New
South Wales and the through passenger
traffic. There was almost no freight bust
ness and but little local passenger traffic.
That was seventeen or eighteen years ago.
and in the interval the line has Of itself
developed healthy and promising little
commerce, but one which is not fraction
OF What it should be.
fthe merchants of San Francisco we're
to make proper and energetic effort to
develop the possibilities OF trade with the
colonies the present first-clasS steam ser.
vice would have TO be augmented. and yet
would be continually crowded with the
finer lines of freight. while an auxiliary
fleet of sailing ships would find profitable
employment in carrying heavier goods.
The key 10 the vast possibilities Of this
great Australian trade, as we'll as
to the commerce of the South
Sea islands, is to be found in this
magnificent mail service which has
Deen created and supported without
single eXertion on the part of our mer-
camille classes, and even with the KEY thus
placed in their hands they have for seven
teen years past almost neglected TO avail
themselves of the splendid opportunities
offered to them. The history of neglected
commerce does not contain more strik ing
Incident.
Another thing. we cannot EXPECT this
condition of affairs to continue. AL
ready an opposition line of steam
ish Columbia and Australia, which
is backed by the CANADIAN Pacific Railroad.
of which 1t will! be a feeder. AS the British
Government, for the purpose of having a
second route to Asia open to 1t, is backing
the Canadian Pacific Railroad, which it
naturally desires to have in self-sustain-
ing condition. it can readily be appreciated
that there are powerful influences behind
this new steamship line. But even these
powerful influences will be futile as against
the geographical position and commercial
facilities OF San Francisco if those who are
engaged In trade will only wake up and try
to do trade on a progressive and energetic
basis.
But the same neglect and apathy which
IS observable in regard to the Australian
trade is to be noticed in other directions
we should have large trade with China.
japan and even India. We should, in
deed. control the oriental trade of large
portion OF the United States-that is to
say, that trade should be transacted
through San Francisco houses, as should
that of the South American republics clear
down to Cape Horn. But, as a matter of
fact. we control very little of this desirable
commerce, ana Tor the simple reason tnat
our merchants do not reach out for it as
would those Of Boston, New York, Phila-
delphia or Baltimore. We have allowed
interlopers to slip in and take from us that
which the laws of commerce assign to us
as our legitimate mercantile territory.
And now that we are face to face with
this lethargy and past neglect. and its in
evltabe consequences. the question which
arises is. in the language of Boss Tweed :
What are we going to do about it? Sit
still and allow our grand possibilities to
drift where they will? Surely not And
then comes the other and more momentous
query: What should we do and what can
we do?
In answer to this last query. would say
that, in the first place, those who are in
terested in and control our mercantile and
financial affairs should get together indi-
vidually and collectively and take counsel
one with another. There should be meet
ings of business associates ana meetings
Of commercial organizations. There shonld
be plenty of talk. for we are confronted
witha grave crisis In an epoch, and then
there should be intelligent and vigorous
action.
More capital is needed than seems to be