The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-02-15

The world has 6hrunk curing the
lifetime Of the writer to one-third its
size. In the remarkable speech which
Sir Thomas Sutherland, the able
chairman Of the Peninsular and ORR
entail Company, addressed on Wednes-
day to the Institute Of Marine Engi-
neers, he pointed out that the speed OF
steamers had increased fifty per cent.
within fifteen years, the maximum
now reaching twenty-five miles an
hour; but even that amazing state
ment does not reveal the whole truth.
In 1s44-that is, fifty years ago-the
maximum speed was much nearer
eight miles than fifteen, and we have
to add the reductions in time effected
almost everywhere, but conspicuously
in the grand routes to Asia and Amer
lea, by the diffusion Of the railway
systems. Add the reduction of cost,
even for passengers, which is quite
thirty per cent, and the immense ad-
ditions to comfort, all of which in
crease the ease Of travel, and the
shrinkage will be found to be at
least as great as we have stated.
China, for instance, is today only one
third the distance 1t was In 1874, even
IL we strike out Of the calculation the
electric cables which make Picking
seem at least as near US as Berlin or
Vienna. This speed, moreover, will
probably increase; for not only will
vessels grow bigger, as Sir L. Suther-
land says-that being the secret OF
oheapness - and steam machinery
more perfect, but electricity will yet
yield us q new auxiliary moter, ana
the last word of science In abolishing
the friction Of the water-we do not
mean the resistance, but the friction
which Stephenson hoped to overcome
has not yet been uttered. III we
could coat great steamers with silica,
az the goldsmiths now coat silver, we
might, by that one device alone, add
i've miles an hour to their speed and
even that IL not the final limit to in
Ventiveness. II the japanese do not
conquer US, or civilization burst up
from below under the blows OF social
lists, our children will yet see steam.
ers Of 1900 tons rushing through the
Atlantic and Pacific at the ordinary
speed OF railway trains, and perhaps
dragging floating RATS which will
hold In safety and comfort i've thous-
and soldiers or emigrants to Australia
or South America.
We suppose this progress" Is all for
good, though science, as the anarchists
show Us, can be bitterly malignant;
but there is one great effect of 1t upon
civilization which does not attract
half enough attention. It is useless
to dream that Observation-Disclosures
can 60 on at this pace without O gen.
eraI pooling, both Of the resources of
the-world and the characters Of man.
kind. The products Of the world will
be distributed through the world on
nearly equal terms, and will form in
the great centers OF commerce vast
tpools," In the card players or law
advantage In the commercial battle
from locality, but must stand his
chance OF being beaten in price or in
quality by an unseen somebody thous-
ands Of miles away. This Is already
an operative truth as regards wheat,
f1esh'meat, fruit and timber;
aud 1t will shortly he true
as regards all textiles, most
kinds of ironwOrk, glass, china and
and cheaper In Japan and China,
where, indeed, some kinds of goods,
supposed to be English, are already
made in enormous quantities, and at
rates which, to English artisans, seem
unintelligible. "Where does the profit
come in?" they ask with the incred-
ulity OF dismay. This process must
go on IL communication goes on devel-
opiDg, and it must mean that the
races favored by climate or habitual
freedom from wants will defeat their
rivals-that, In fact, when wages are
fairly pooled the average will be q low
one. We cannot see any escape from
that proposition, or from its corollary,
that the man who lives in the cold re-
gions and needs fire, q brick house,
ind 1t very hard TO maintain himself,
and must either depart or allow his
civilization to sink to O lower plane.
He has only his energy to help him;
and IL may be doubted whether, in
presence of nearly automatic machin-
cry, energy is Of much value, or, IL it
Is, whether the japanese has not q
SUFFICIENT supply. Cannon, for in
stance, are supposed to be things spe-
cially requiring the energy aud skill
OF the Northern races; but is it GER
tain that q Japanese founder would
not make them, and file, or rather
plane, them, and mount them on car
riages as well as Krupp or Armstrong
can do? If he can, then in the end
the foremen at Essen or Elswick must
contrive to live on very little more
than japanese foremen think sufh
cient. That prospect seems to Us seri-
Gus, and that it may arrive will not
be doubted by anyone who has
watched the effect of Indian competi-
ton on Lancashire industry and even
Lancashire Ideas. The county is not !
foremost In the rush for easier hours,
because coolies in Salsette are willing
from traditional habit to do without |