The times., 1898-08-11
NEW YoRK's DOOM.
Her Loss of Commerce Means Her
Early Downfall

1t will surprise many to learn that New
York is steadily losing her trade. and that
SO conservative a journal as the Tribune
speaks of the handwriting on the walP'
and quotes the words which Byron put
into the mouth OF Marino Faliero. as
applying to Venice in her incipient de-
cay, "the doom of this proud city" The
Tribune says that to-day they come to
mind with scathing potency regarding
this city of New York. Only by prompt
and energetic action can our supremacy
be upheld and the menacing end be avert
ed. But those who should take such ae-
tion. and who alone can take it. prefer
"a little more sleep, a little more slumbcr,'
and while they sleep ruin comes near.
These are not exaggerated words. nor
are they novel ones. They are well with
in the bounds of fact. and they are mere
ly a repetition of what has been said be-
fore a thousand times. until their momen-
tous purport has become as tedious as
a twice-told tale.
"a report of the Bureau OF Statistics
upon the foreign trade of the United
States is at hand. Its most salient fea-
ture is the same as that of It's predeces-
sors in years past, the decline of exports
from the port of New York. That is
mot because of any general decline of ex-
ports, for there mas been none. On the
contrary, the bountiful year which closed
on June 30. 1898, saw a material increase
of exports. amounting 10 I7.3 per cent for
the whole country and 17.51 per cent for
the Atlantic ports. In this prosperity New
York did not share. On the contrary, II
suffered loss of more than l per cent
since 1897 in its proportion of the entire
exports, and Of more than per cent
since 1894. Nor is this because of some
temporary condition. some mere fiuctua-
tion in trade. 1t is part of steady, per-
sistent process. A few years ago New
York had more than half the export
trade of the nation Now II has little
more than one-third. In 1894, even. it
had 41.3 per cent. 1t fell remoFselessiy to
40l per cent in 1885, TO 37.2 in 1897 and TO
/ 36.1 in 1898. Next year il will scarcely
amount TO 50 per cent. True. there is, on
the other hand. a gain in imports, but
this by no means countfTbalances the loss
in exports, and it is really not an actual
gain, but merely q smaller loss than that
suffered by Atlantic ports as a whole.
The total foreign commerce of this port.
both imports and exports. shows a steady
and not slow decline in its proportion 20
that Of the whole country Only a few
years ago New York's foreign trade was
nearly two-thirds of the whole foreign
/ trade of the nation. Now it is much less
than one-half. AS late as 1890 it was 52.5
per cent. In 1896 it was 5l.i per cent. In
1897 ii was only IS per cent. In 1858 il was
only 45.9 per cent. By the end of the cen
| tury il threatens TO be less than 10 per
cent.
That is the handwriting on the wall
which tells the doom Of this proud city
1t is not yet too late TO avert the doom,
and even 10 regain some measure of the
advantage which has been lost But what
is being done in that direction? Look at
the Erie Canal scandal, the in1erminabie
dawdIing over the Harlem River and
Bronx Kills improvements the suspend
ed animation of the North River Bridge
and tunnel schemes the terminal trans
fer system which seems 20 have been de-
signed 10 obstTuct rather than TO facili-
tate commerce. the all but prohibitive
elevator charges, the apathy lethary,
penny wisdom and pound folly that pre-
vail-Iook al these, and in them read the
answer. II is idle to blame the State OF
the nation. or TO look 10 them 10 take the
initiative in relief and reform True. the
State has grossly mismanaged is own To-
cal terminal arrangements The nation
has been niggardly in its appropriations
for Improvement and maintenance of this
harbor-as much so. perhaps, as the city
has been wanton and criminal in lis i'm
pairment of the harbor. But If the city
did its duty State and nation could not
refrain from doing theirs. Twenty-Five
centuries or more ago the carter was re-
buked by Hercules for clamoring for help
instead of putting his own shoulder TO
the wheel. Has this fin de steele city not
learned that lesson yet?"