The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-06-10


A first-class privateering equipment
is rather an expensive affair in the nrst
place, and there are so many risks to
be run and such danger of capture and
demolition that the chances are as
about fifty to one that the offender
would be brought up with round turn,
stripped Of the munitions and ensigns
of warfare and popped into prison,
there to ruminate on the vicissitudes OF
human affairs and the changes that
have taken place since the days when
Captain Kidd made his record and
when thousands of bold and adventur-
GUS spirits manned ships, cracked
skulls, cut off heads, meanwhile Justify
shouting the old song, Full many
year, pirate bold, I've sailed the Span
ish main
A Spanish privateer must be ex-
tremely well posted in these days to
successfully carry out his nefarious en-
terprise. He will need not only a
small arsenal at his belt, but certified
bill of lading to give him information
as to the articles he seeks, and wheth-
er they are American or belonging to
some other tribe or nation.
OF the enormous amount of foreign
goods brought to this country but a
mere trifle comes in American bottoms.
For example: "In January, out of
total value Of imports of $50,S25, 721,
American bottoms carried only $S,71l,-
500, and out of exports valued at $685.
753,524, only $685. in value were
taken out under the American flag.
The figures for February tell the same
story, for out of total importation
of $50, 1875, American ships brought
only $9,270,058, and of expectations OF
500, 317 ,2O2, only $4,442,327 was under
our flag. OF the exports in February
carried in American bottoms only ST.
029,066 were to Europe and Asia, and
the imports so carried from those con-
tinents were valued at $4.399.1S4. The
European and Asiatic countries with
whom the largest trade was carried on
under the American flag are France,
the United Kingdom, China and Brit
ish East Indies and Japan"
Our waters are full of foreign craft
that find it to their advantage to bring
in all sorts of wares to our shores
and take back such articles as their
trade demands. The trade with Cuba
has been something enormous. OF
course, this is largely cut off. In 1892,
Cuban imports and exports were valued
at nearly s1OOOOOOOO. In 1896, the
trade had dropped off about one-half;
the present years business shows
still further reduction. This Cuban
trade was largely done with American
vessels. OF course, everything Amer
lean being now barred, recourse must
be had to foreign handling for what
ever we may receive from Cuba during
the continuance of the war.
The best authorities are of the opin-
ion that if Spain undertakes to sift
out goods intended for the American
trade, from the great bulk of CONNER
cial products, she will find that she
has a greater job than she bargained
for.
Domestic trade, that is, the coast
trade, she cannot possibly interfere
with. In the event of any attempt to
do so, all articles can be put upon the
railways. In January, 1898, merchan-
disc actually handled by railroad cars
and land vehicles amounted to nearly
Sc, 100000. The transportation by Wa
ter was something over $5,OO0,-
900. The shipments were made by
land to Mexico and by way Of the
Canadian Pacific railroad
It would be the work of a very
short time in case privateering became
annoying to transfer to foreign ship
ping whatever goods Americans de-
sired to handle. 1t is, therefore, easy
to see that Spain is reckoning with
out her host and in the event of her be-
coming particularly insistent or saucy
and interfering with foreign vessels,
she would be quite likely to receive a
rebuke that would, to say the least,
convey a lasting impression.