The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-08-22
Will Always Be the Princi-
pal Port.
BRITISH METHOD OF PATRONAGE
Baltimore and Other Eastern Ports
Losing Ground, But New
York Is Gaining.
Now York Tribune.

New York Tribune.
There appeared Simultaneously in the
public prints last week rhree Items OF
news relating to ocean shipping. They
were brief items, and were probably
passed over by many readers as uncon-
s.dered trifies. They came from three
different countries and relate to three
entirely different and distinct occurrences.
Each, however, was in its way highly
significant land all taken together were
harmon.ousy suggestive of some of the
most important considerations regarding
the American mercantile marine.
One was a dispatch from Baltimore,
stating that the North German Lloyds
company has decided 10 suspend Its first
class pssenger service from that port to
Bremen during the coming fall and win
ter. It's four large vessels will probably
be transferred to the New York route,
and three freight and storage boats of
another line will take their place. The
change, 1t was added, is to be made on
account of poor business at Baltimore.
Undoubtedly, that Is not pleasant for
Baltimore. 1t viii hurt the clty's pride,
and Its business interests, too But 1t was
practically inevitable. Other things be-
ing equal, travel will seek the shortest
and quickest routes; and northern routes
are OF course shorter than southern ones
Hundreds of thousands of dollars have
been expended on a single ship, just to
shorten its time of transit by a few
hours In such circumstances 1t Is not
to be expected that much passenger trave.
will be by Baltimore, when the fastest
and best ships sail from New York, on a
much shorter route, and the two cities
are only four hours apart by two Of
the finest railroads In the world. Ac-
cordlngly, 1t Is not surprising to find
In the next of the items, a dispatch from
London, report that a new line OF
steamers is Ito be established from Great
Britain to this country, landing, not at
Baltimore nor any other port, but New
York.
This city 1t is evident, is destined to
remain The commercial capital, as it Is
also the general BUSINESS and social capl-
tai of the United States. Other ports
have made and are making great efforts
to rival 1t, but in vain. 1t is greatly
injured by neglect and abuse, but MOI
destroyed. In spite of all rivalry, anu
in spite Of the Indifference of its own
citizens, who have never half realized
their great opportunities, 1t still holds Its
place so far ahead Of all would-bo COM
petitors that "there is no second" Nor
ls 1t difficult to discover the reason.
New York has a harbor unequale1 by any
on the entire Atlantic coast. 1t has the
best railroad connections with all parts
OF The country; and 1t is, OF all ports
having adequate railroad service, the
nearest to Europe. These facts alone
assure 1t supremacy. Nevertheless, DIT is
mischevious folly to rest idly upon them.
The advantages they afford should be
supplemented by generous and earnest
efforts to add to them all that lies within
the compass of human skill and power.
The deepening and preservation Of the
har'bor and approaches, Improvement and
extension of the water front, and the
enlargement and perfection of all ter
minal facilities, are works that should
be pressed as vigorously as though New
York were struggling for existence In
competition with powerful and successful
rivals.
The third item was from Ottawa, and
told that the New Zeaiand government
has granted a yearly subsidy OF 100000
TO the Paclhc steamships for calling there
on both journeys between Canada and
Australia, for mails to and from Great
Britain, the mails being carried across
this continent by the Canadian govern
ment free of charge. That indicates the
only serious rivalry with which this city
and this country have to cope; and indi-
Gates, too. the source of It's strength.
1t is by such a policy that Great Britain
and her colonies have built up the great
est mercantile marine In the world. There
Is scarcely one British trade route that
Is not marked from end ITO end with
postal subsidies or other forms of gov
ernment encouragement There are also
In this country-,Anglomania too, by
perverse lrony-who profess to have
an utter horror even OF the word "subS
sidy." II their salaries, or dividends. or
other incomes. should be called subsidies,
they would probably refuse to receive
chem. They have other and better plans
for the extension of trade and develop
ment of commerce, II so, 1t would be
a sweet boon for them to unfold chem.
Unless they do so, we are afraid a great
many people will continue to think that
II nation wants a mercantile marine it
should use hts best ports, make them as
commodlous as possible, and then ex-
tend to Its own enterprises the reasonable
encouragement of Its own patronage.