The San Francisco call., 1899-11-17
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES.

\ Q feature of the prevailing prosperity Of the
u United States has attracted more attention or
=. is more worthy OF it than the extent to which
the demand for transportation has ourun the supply
and the efforts now being put forth to meet the in
crease in the demand which is certain to come next
year. According to reports that come to us there
were placed during the month of October with
single car company orders for II 100 cars to be de-
lvered by next May, and with another company up
ward of 1900 to be delivered by the same date
These are the orders received within the space of
single month by two ar-building corporations alone
1t is said the New York Central will expend In pre-
pairing for the transportation demands OF the coming
year upward of $8,oooooo for rolling stock and the
expenses OF the Pennsylvania Central will not be far
short OF that sum.
This enormous increase in the railway facilities Of
the country will be required to carry the produce of
American farms, mines and factories down to the
seacoast, for very large and increasing proportion
OF that produce is intended for foreign markets
When it has been carried to the sea, then whatl
While we are making such preparations to transport
the freight across the continent why not finish the
work by providing transportation to carry il across
the sea? ....:. 49,.
This is the only great nation in the world that neg
ects its shipping interests and yet there is no nation
that would derive greater benefit from the promo
ton OF those interests AS has been repeatedly pointed
out, Great Britain Germany, France, Italy, Russia,
Spain, Holland, even Japan, now expend from two
iillions to six eight millions annually for this
purpose Norway, which long stood alone In
Europe, has lately established bounty for domestic
hip-buildng. The United States, the chief expo
nent in all the world of the protective idea is the only
nation which adheres to on-protectiye policy
toward its merchant marine. -. -. =. ..'=.. 4
There a when nerenrs directfy inse
in the shipping Industries stood almost alone in ad-:
yocating policy OF protection To- our merchant
marine. 1t is for that reason mainly that such pro-
lection has not yet been accorded. OF late, how
ever, the manufacturers are perceivng that their in
tereSts are to be served by liberal shipping laws and
their influence is added TO that OF ship-budefs and
shp-owners in urging the importance of the subject
upon Congress g.. b.. .- III -: =
f. A recent number of the American Manufacturer in
discussing the export trade OF the country
said: 1T is estimated that $2oooooooo is annually
paid for transportation of American goods from
American ports in foreign bottoms. We are selfish
enough to say that if Congress should enact egis-
lation to enable American vessel-owners TO handle
the bulk OF this enormous tonnage which is increas-
ing, a ship-building boom would be started
which would continue for decade or more that
would the capacity of all the steel and iron plants
and the shpyards OF the United States together with
hundreds OF enterprises that would be born
from such a necessity the building OF American
vessels. a subsidy paid to American vessel-owners
would bring boom that would totally eclipse the
wonderful prosperity the country is enjoying"
Such are the transportation problems which our ex-
panding prosperity has brought about We are to
have vast increase in railway facilities and ought
to have proportionate increase in our shipping