The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-03
ENHANCING OUR FOREIGN COM
MERGE.

What can be done in the way Of build
ing UP trade by the opening OF new lines of
transportation IS shown very convincingly
in the results that have followed the es-
Enlistment Of the Puget Sound s. Central
American Steamship Company. The steam
or Transit. OF this new line has made one
round trip. and only recently started on a
second. carrying out both times full car
20 largely made up OF the products Of the
state OF Washington. It was a venture Into
a new field and. If we can Judge of the
future by the past. It is almost certain to
prove an eminenly successful one.
Up to the time of the organization Of
this new line. hardly a dollars worth Of
merchandise was shipped from Puget
sound to Central America. The Transit
cleared from the Sound last week with n
cargo valued at over 10000. Here Is a
new market created without a dollar OF
subsidy merely by bringing two countries
into communication through the establish
ment OF a steamship line. The people of
Central America can use the products of
tho state OF Washington, and supplying
means for the transportation of these prod
ucts has. resulted in the opening OF trade
tho possibilities OF which the people for
tho arst time are beginning to appreciate.
This IS only another striking example Of
how a profitable business can be created
by the establishment OF shipping commu1!-
cation between people who naturally desire
10 trade, but are prevented from doing it
by a lack OF transportation facilities. And
Il indicates how largely our foreign deal
ir-s might be Increased II an energetic at
tempt were made to provide the means fer
a profitable exchange OF commodities. No
nation can build uV trade in foreign mar
kets unless It provides some way OF getting
% those markets. and Il viii Invariably he
found that those countries which deal eX-
trnslveiy with foreigners are enabled TO DO
* only hecause regular lines Of steamships
have been established by which people
can be brought together IN a business way.
How much We could sell in the markets
or the world. were We IN regular commuai-
cation with those markets. II Is difficult 10
estimate. but the modest beginning made
bv our local company fairly indicates that
fta EXPANSION OF our trade would not 30 in
considerable We have immense quantities
OF raw materials and manufactured prod
.s.ts which other countries could use and
would use Il there were means Tor trans
pertln- them 10 ports where they could I've
q. .possd or Il is a question OF transpo-tl-
ton. and there Is hardly more important
orc Tor the consideration OK the American
people than this o; developing our NOR
chant marine 1or che purpose OF bringing
us into close trade relations with the rest
OF the world.
Referring IN recent address TO the
trade q South and Central America, %
vHich the United States has SO small a
share. ex-senator Miller. Of NV York.
sad: why should We rot control this
V.st trade. both 20 thtv and our rroa:2
We have not controlled e n the past he
cause We have not made It possible 20
carry on asrect trade vlth sho~e countries
IN order TIA, We uay secure this trade
Il rs necessary. first. that We develop our
merchant marine ara establish regular
limos ~ steamers between ports 81 the
Cetst states ana AN TIE lea3ag ports
80 Cea;ral ans South Amer-ca- II the
American manufacture vvul3 reach ,he
rrlrkets - Erazl s53ay or 50 there in
person re must frs, take snip so Liverpool
ana fyon there 20 RIO JAnei7o. There is
~ possibility - ar securing a-v. cons.d-
ersnle portion ~ the trade q those coua-
tres except y the establishment OK steam
SIP Ines whicH shan give as Regular ana
rapa waa communication and NJ che
same tFae enable Is 70 pat cur products
fr-o their markets through Grst hands.
irs,eaa % through the English factor or
g. nua;ss.ea merchant TIE proposition IS
made - clear ~ the experience % au
commercial nations that 81 aeeds 70 arrl-
men, % eom9el - acce2'ance.
Because of recent tateraa;ional compli-a-
tons there IS n better time than me pres
ct for as,sHp;tns - Develop with Cen
trAl aac south -AnsoFiea tie trade a.eA