Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-11
! FRYE BANQUET.
The Senator Guest Of Lewis
ton Board Of Trade.
Speaks Of Our Immense and Growing
Commercial Interests
And the Great Field Opened Up by Our
New Possessions.

'
William F. Frye was given, this even
ing, by the Lewiston Board of Trade.
The number of tickets was limited to
$50 and that number of gentlemen were
present. Col Charles II. Osgood acted
as POSTMASTER. Letters of regret were
read from the Hon. Henry Lord. presi-
dent Of the Maine Board Of Trade, and
from Secretary NJ. q. Rich Of that
board.
\ short speech was made by Hon.
George POttlc. mayor ~ the city. When
Senator Frye arose to speak he was
greeted with round after round Of an
plause. lie seemed greatly ~ appreci-
ate the compliment paid him ana gave
earnest expression u his gratitude.
He said that the banquet having been
given by board of trade H. felt sat-
isfied in discussing commercial ques-
lions rather than INDUCING Jpn the VI
binary after-diuner attempts at Nit.
humor ana anecdotes. He gave 4
glowing description Of the natural at-
vantageS of our country, the us we
had made Of them. the discovery by US.
from 1894 forward. that our splendid
home market could no longer be our
entire dependence; that we must look
u foreign markets in which To dispose
of our supplies. He then showed how
associations had beer formed to secure
this end. The active work done by
them: the result in 1898. our imports
in round numbers, s761. 900, 900: our ex-
ports $500. 600, 900; the balance of trade
in our favor. over 5000 900.
He accounted for this in part by the
skill and intelligence Of our labor. by
the inventive genius Of our mechanics:
by he chcapncss Of our transportation.
both by rail and water. He declared
that our railroads were carrying
freight. today, for IS-I00 Of cent per
ton per mile, one third Of the actual
cost III 1865: that water freiGhts had
been reduced more than one-half i'll 10
years largely in consequence Of the In
creased size Of our ships. He cited fig
ures proving this. Rates from Chica-
q to Buffalo on wheat. 1887. si.13 a ton:
in 1898. sl.53 ton. On iron ore from
Lake Superior to Ohio ports, in 1887.
SIS: in 1898. g. cents. on coal be-
tween the same ports, in 1857. 30 cents;
in 1896. i3 cents, and claimed that
these reductions Of iron ore and coai
coupled with new devices for loading
and discharginG cargo. enabled US last
year To compete with the world in iron.
steel and their manufactures.
He gave an interesting statement of
our domestic tonnage. its growth. its
present strength-over 1000, 600 tonnage
of iocumented and undocumented yes
sells and accredited that condition 20
proceed from no foreign ships being
permitted to engage in this trade.
What of our future? Our necessity for
foreign market Will increase year by
year. competition with foreign nations
will grow sharper and sharper. He
discussed this at some length. and how
we should meet it. He favored a deep
waterway from the great lakes
10 the Atlantic ocean. He insist
ed that We must carry our
our imports and exports in merchants
ships pay to our own people the $500,
000 q day we are now paying foreign
nations. He advocated substituting our
ships as other rival nations did. and
claimed that it would prove econom-
zeal to our people i'll reduction Of
freight rates to the extent Of $50.
annually.
He said the unexpected had hap
pened. increasing our chances 10 fold.
the war with Spain, the treaty of
peace, the acquisition of commercial
supremacy in Cuba. though not of
sovereignty. through a friendly gov
eminent to be established there. and
in contiguity Porto Rico and its trade
Will be ours.
He said. more promising than the
acquisition of many such islands was
the requirement of the Philippines I'M
der the terms of the same treaty. He
showed. from the report of Commits
sion"r Harden. that not withstanding
the oppression of Spain and rebellion.
the exports from Manila. in 1897
amounted to $i1,3f2. the imports. Sill
3i3, leaving a balance in her favor of
$500
He described the islands, their fcrti-
ity, their mineral wealth, their capa-
city to increase production under a
good government, rendering life and
property secure. He said that their
domestic trade was insignificant com
pared with their importation as bring
ing us in touch with the 700 600 900 or
0000d, 900 of the people of the Orient
where trade last year amounted to ST.
50oo00.OoO that our sovereignty there
gave us great moral force with the
nation. and might prevent the division
of China and the closing Of the door of
trade against us: that the trade Of the
Pacific would in time exceed that of
the Atlantic: that the possession of
these islands would tend to give us a !
fair share of it. and would certainly
help sustain our treaty rights in |
China.
He opposed surrendering the Islands to !
anybody. but intimated that in the dis
tant future, under our tuteiage the na-
tives might be found by us to be compe- |
tent to form a stable republican govern
ment capable of affordng protection to |
life and property. of making treaties sus-
tanning their rights under this and per- |
fectng their obligations: that then we /
might surrender them the sovereignty |
retaining to ourselves such naval ami |
coaling stations as should be necessary
for the protection of our commerce
He advocated the construction of A wa I
ter route across the Isthmus neutral II !
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