The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1896-07-02
COMMERCE IS CALIFORNIA;
HOPE.
Errors which should be EradIeAted
Prom our Pilot Laws.

Errors which should be EradIeAted
Prom our Pilot Laws.
1t must be evident to the thoughtful
mind that the high compulsory pilot
age and other harDor charges and the
heavy direct tax placed by the State of
California on ocean-going vessels is
almost equivalent to an embargo upon
her shipping, and retards the growth
and development Of the commerce
which should crowd the water of the
hsrbor from January to December, but
does not.
The entire commonwealth Of Califor-
MIA has a direct interest in her ideal
harbor and its wonderful possibilities,
and every citizen should cherish feel
ing of pride in making it constant
resort for the fleets Of all nations.
Fully realizing that what will help
to bring about this most happy con-
summation will insure to the good of
an entire State and of all her people, it
is the purpose and ayowed object of
the San Francisco Committee ON Com
composed of representatives from the
Shipowners' Association of the Pacific
Coast, the Chamber of Commerce of
San Francisco, the Board of Trade of
San Francisco, the Manufacturer and
Producers Association of California,
the Board of Manufacturers and EN-
ployers of California, the Traffic Asso-
citation of California, the Merchants
Association of San Francisco, the Half
! Million Club of San Francisco, the Me-
chanics' Institute of San Francisco, the
State Development Committee of Cali
fornia, the SanFrancisco Fruit Exchange
and the Builders Exchange of San
Francisco to work for and with the
good Will, cooperation and influence
of the other communities throughout
the length and breadth of the State) to
secure such legislation at Sacramento as
will place California more on footing
with other maritime States, which
have come to an earlier realization of
this important question and have re-
moved all obtructions to the rapid in
crease of their shipping interests and
Importance. The nations and States
that have been the most progressive,
liberal and broad-minded in their treat
ment of floating transportation facili-
ties, which they have recognized as a
means to general prosperity among
their people have always dictated to
the other peoples of the earth. 1.-THE
mistress of the seas has her palaces ON
land. !" 1t behooves California, then,
to awaken to the possibilities of her
navigation and to foster, encourage
and build up this powerful resource
by making good use of what nature has
bestowed upon her. 1t is the wish of
the Committee ON Commerce to induce
spirit Of patriotism among Califor-
mans that will be given practical ex-
preston when the time comes for action
as outlined above.
The most eminent writer of the gen.
Grafton upon naval subjects, speaking
of our new navy, says: Can this navy
be had without restoring the shipping
1t is doubtful. History has proved
that such purely military sea power
can be built up by despot, as was
done by Louis XIV; but, though so
fair seeming, experience showed that
his navy was like growth, which,
having no root, soon withers away"
Then the vital question for us must be-:
How shall our shipping be restored ?
What can we do in this direction?''
The entire American merchant
marine is at very low ebb, our coun-
try and little Italy being the only two
of the ten nations, controlling nine
tenths of the sea-going tonnage of the
world that have less carrying capacity
now than twenty years ago. In 1894
the total number of voyages, both
going and coming, made between the
United States and Europe by American
merchant vessels was two hundred and
tifty-two (252); while vessels under
foreign flags made the voyage 0,233
times. y 1t is humiliating to write and
read such figures and facts, and to
realize that during the entire year
only two American vessels made the
voyage from the Atlantic Coast to
Liverpool and not any to Hamburg or
Berlin. What share shall California
take in the reincarnation of the spirit
OF American Independence, that shall
dot the broad oceans with the white
winged messengers Of American Com
merce, announcing to the world the
dawning OF an era of American prestige
on the high seas heretofore unknown
The answer must come from the PEG.
pie. What will it be?
(To be continued)