New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-17

LIVES OF COMMERCT.

There is scarcely more familiar law of
nature than that forces move en- the lines OF
least resistance. That IS true of the wind, OF
flowing water of electric currents. 1t Is one
of the governing principles of natural philoso-
ply. II is equally true. and is equally Il gov
crning principle. Of commerce. The fact is too
often overlooked 1t cannot be too often
brought to mind. nor too forcibly emphasized,
here and now. when the commerce of this port
is declining. and when sincere effort is be-
ing made 10 ascertain the causes Of that de-
cline and tO remove them.
We print in another column Of today's paper
a letter from citizen Of Ncw-York whose
name is not unfamiliar to our readers in con-
necton with this subject and who has for
many years been one of the most persistent
and energetic agtators fol improvement OF
NETWORKS commercial facilities. Mr.. Slough
ton reminds MS that many years ago he called
the attention of Congress To the fact that Il
ncghboring Government a commercial rival,
was about TO spend great sum Of money in the
Improvement of its lines Of commerce which
came into direct competition with ours. tine
obvious result of which would be to divert
traffic thithcr from our lines, and especially
from lines convcrgng upon this city and port.
needed Canada spent in improving her short
Welland Canal sum by the side of which
our expenditures upon our whole canal system
from Buffalo to the sea. including the harbOr
of New-York seem bcggarly. Nor did she stop
there. The 81. Lawrence Canal WAS corrc-
spondlngly improved. and 50 were all the links
of the chain of waterways frcm the Great
Lakes to the sea. To-day the total cost Of those
works amounts 10 about S7NOoOOo0 That is
an enormous sum. Yes. But the results are
that the line of least resistance for commerce
now runs through Canada. and commerce in
crca-ingly follows IT, and the ocean going trade
Of Canada i'm United States rs well a. in Cana
dian produce. Is rapidly increasing, and the
export trade of Ncw-York is steadily declining.
What are the elements and conditions of re-
siStance that check the flow Of commerce TO
and through this port: The inadequate ca
pacity of the Erie Canal: the obsolete meth
obs and means Of operating IL: the lack of
suitable canal terminus here: tine oyercrOWd-
ed state of that small portion Of Ncw-Yorks
waterfront which is now available and actual
w in use: the wide separation between the
canal and railroad terminals on the one hand
and the steamships on the other; the cost,
labor and delay Of storage, lightcrage and Gle
yator service: the narrow shallow. tOrtuOus
and dangerous channel at Sandy Hook all
these and others. and every one of them could
be forever removed in a tWelvcmonth. If We
had the energy Of our Canadian cousins and
would spend for the purpose small fraction
Of what they have expended upon their rival
route.
The Commission which tho Governor OF this
State has appointed is Investigating the whole
subject, and VIII doubtless consider these
things Il will do we'll 10 pay It's first atten-
ton not so much to dcvlSing artificial ways
and means of attracting commerce hither rs
simply 10 removing the obstacles which men
lave fatuously placed in the way or have per-
mittcd 10 remain in the way Of commerce. ana
thus to giving commerce chance 10 flow I'M
hindcrcd through its natural channels. Make
tins the line of least resistance and the COM
mcrce OF the continent will seek II and follow
II rs n matter Of course Until it IS made the
line Of least resistance you can no moro get
commerce 10 follow il than you can get water
to flow up bill.