The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-29
A Magnificent Prospect.

ness men in recognition of his part in
securing large appropriation from
the government for the deepening of
the channel leading into New York
harbor, Senator Frye presented some
facts concerning the reasons for Amer
ica's growing commercial supremacy
which deserve attention even if not al
together new.
1T is easy" said he, "to account for
our exports of agricultural products;
hungry people bought our wheat, needy
manufacturers our cotton, craving ap-
pctites our tobacco. But the products
of our manufactures were compelled to
meet the ficrcest competition, to seek
the same markets sought by England,
Germany, France and Belgium. In
this commercial war the disadvantages
were not all with us. Our coal and
iron were inaccessible, while our rivals
sought them deep down in the bowels
of the earth. Our workingmen were
better fed, clothed, housed and paid
than theirs, did more Intelligent work
and accomplished greater results. The
inventive genius of our mechanics was
decidedly superior to theirs. We had
another advantage. Transportation
| was lower with us than with them-a
very important item in the cost of the
finished product. Our railroads tra-
Versing every portion Of the country,
are today carrying freights at an aver
age charge of 7S-l00 of a cent per ton
per mile. not one-third what it actually
cost them in 1865. In 1891, when our
| average rate was a little over one cent,
! the London Economist asserted that if
! the same rate had prevailed in Eng
! land as in America the saving to the
/ people would have been over 800 1000 900
! a year.
! "Our great stretch Of seacoast, our
| river navigation and our great lakes
! played a most important part in this
| commercial drama. On the water
/ freight can be carried by steam, on
! long voyages. for one-quarter, and by
sail for one-eighth of the cost by rail.
Water rates have decreased rapidly the
| last decade. and the carriers have been
able to make the reduction by about
doubling the capacity of their vessels
in that time. This, of course. called for
a corresponding improvement in the
depth Of our rivers, harbors and lake
channels, and congress fairly well res
! ponded to this demand. The wheat
rate between Chicago and Buffalo in
1887 was $i.13 a ton; in 1898, $1.53 a ton.
| Iron ore. between Lake Superior and
Ohio ports, in 1887 was $223 in 1898, 81
cents. Coal, between Lake Superior
and Ohio ports in 1887 was 80 cents; in
1898, 43 cents. Having no occasion to
investigate, few men appreciate the
enormous domestic commerce carried
on our waters. They hear, and correct
ly, that we have lost our ocean carry
ing trade. and forget our lake. river
and COastwse. While in the former we
employ only 200, 600 tonnage, and pay
100000 a day to foreign ships to carry
our exports and Imports in the latter
our tonnage of documented and un-
doCumented vessels exceeds seven mil
lions, is nearly, if not quite, eight. and
is greater than that of England,
France and Germany combined in like
trade. 1t took last year nearly 400O. 900
Mississippi river alone. More ships
sail the Detroit river than enter Liver
pool or London. The Suez canal, which
carries the commerce of the world
passed last year S,5OO,O tonnage. while
there were floated through the locks at
Sault ste. Marie 16,50OOO0 in eight
months This fleet moves annually
1GS, 600 tons of freight and nearly
900, 600 passengers"
But what of the future? on this sub
iect Senator Frye is an intelligent OPP
timist. The commercial war upon
which the world has entered will be-
come tiercer and fiercer," says he
Germany will be our most dangerous
rival. Her wages paid are not one.
half Of ours. Shall we reduce ours tC
the plane Of hers? That might breed &
discomfort which would cndanger the
rcpublic-wOuld certainly reduce the
purchasing power of our people and
still more increase the surplus. Shal
= we run our mills on one-third or one
, | ndll tlmC' lndt WOulu reduce Oul
t purchasing power and largely increase
1 ! the cost of our product. l do not be
I lieve that our railroads can reduc,
l freights much unless n new mOtiv,
r power is found, but our water carriers
= can, and probably will Freight ship
1 will be increased in carrying capacit!
= and rates still further reduced. lie
I me illustrate the effect OF such in
: crease. When the largest freighte
u was 5000 tons, the rate across the At
7 lantic was $3.50 a ton; when 5000 tons
g 5000 4 ton; when 5000 tons, $3.50 a ton
n when 10000 tons, $3.50. All the neccs
II sary facilities for these deep draugh
f ships must be provided for. Anothe
= thing, in my judgment, is imperativel
g required. We should carry in our ow
e ships, under our own flag, all OF ou
: imports and exports. We should pa
e to our own people the $500, 900 a day W
/. now pay TO foreigners. We shoul
II make of the officers Of those ships ac
j. tive, intelligent and interested agent
y for the discovery Of new markets an
# the promotion of our trade"
It AS for new trade fields, these are
be found now chiefly in the Orient, an