The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-04

to commercial greatness The markets
OF the Orient were open TO everything
that can be furnished from the North
west, and trade from Puget sound TO the
Asiatic coast could not be impaired by
opening way for the whole world 20
assist in the development of that trade.
The canal would be a great factor In the
development OF Alaska, which, in his
opinion, would be the greatest OF all mar
kets Tor the products Q. me Nor,hwest-
show a broad conception OF the question
and not regard the temporary effect on
local conditions
oicott PAYNE spoke of the great differ
ence in the price of wheat at Liverpool,
where the worlds prices are fixed. and
that paid the farmers OF Eastern wash
ington With the shorter route through
the canal, he asserted. prices in Wash
ington would be greatly increased. He
believed that the greater share of Seat
tivation of large trade in this state and
Alaska.
Make Great JobbiBg Center.
Following the same vein OF thought, NJ.
ID. Leehey suggested that the open canal
would SO reduce freight rates TO Seattle
as TO make this city great jobbing
center and permit the extension Of trade
far into the Interior He believed. how
ever, that II would have the effect of at
once cutting of the heavy shipments
from the East and South through Seattle
to the Orient, and that Seattle would
cease to be a distributing point for ORR
entail products He insisted that the canal
should be built and absolutely controlled
by the American people, and asserted
that no American army or navy officer
had ever declared In favor OF the canal
as a military project except on the con-
dtion that 1t should be subject at all
times TO the military requirements of the
United States
George e. De steiguer excepted TO Mr..
Leehey's statement, and declared that
both Can't Alfred r. Mahan and Admiral
~
the canal and favored a free and open
highway for vessels of all nations both
in peace and war Mr.. De steiguer ven
tured the assertion that the Atlantic
ports were now nearer TO the Orient by
way of the Suez canal than they would
be by the Nicaragua route, but TINS
statement was promptly contradicted by
a number Of those present.
!. A. Nadeau deprecated the frequent
assertion that the railroads were par
ticularly opposed 10 the canal He had
never heard an expression OF opinion
from an officer OF any transcontinentai
line. Speaking of the effect of an open
canal on Seattle steamship trade with
the Orient, he said 1t would be absurd TO
suppose that Southern cotton, Pennsyl-
vania iron and such other products of the
East and South as now passed through
Seattle in immense quantities would con-
tinue coming this way II an open and
direct water route TO Asia existed. Under
present conditions, he said, nothing
could prevent Seattle from becoming a
great manufacturing center. As trans
pacific trade developed Eastern rnanuiHc-
turers, now shipping this far by rail.
would find IL necessary to locate plants
In this city In order TO reduce the ex-
pense of transportation and shorten The
time required for the delivery In the
Asiatic market
Watson c. Squire, who energetically
supported the canal project at last
Wednesdays meeting. spoke again in It's
favor, He asserted that many army and
navy officers had personally assured him
OF their belief that the canal was neees-
sity. In the event OF war with an Asiatic
country II would be absolutely indispens-
able. So far as the Oriental trade now
passing through the city was concerned,
Mr. Squire asserted thai few longshore-
men and a donkey engine could handle
the transshlpments. He trusted that the
chamber would do nothing SO detrimental.
so inIudcious and so stupid as 60 go ON
/, record against the canal
Effect of Treaties Questioned.
Willis n. Horr said the question before
the chamber was not as TO construction of
the canal, but was. should the pending
measure. the Hepburn bill, be indorsedS
This precipitated "A general argument as
to the nature OF the bill: the effect Of the
Clayton Bulwer treaty II not abtogated.
and the probable effect 81 the Hay
Pauucefote agreement II approved by the
senate. This debate reverted 10 the sub
stance OF Mr.. Leehcy's argument that alb
solute American control was wanted
Those who favored the canal maintained
that such control was provided Tor In the
Hepburn bill
Austin y. Grifith pointed out the fact
that what Senator Foster asked for was
an expression on the pending bill and be-
lieved that the Chamber ~ Commerce
should express itself positively on that
point tie found in All the argument ~
the opposition no valid reason and assert
ed that Tacoma's opposition 70 the Lake
Washington canal was based on Just such
motives as actuated the members 81 the
chamber who advanced local interests a.
an excuse for their opposition to the Mica
ragua project.
Ira G. bronson said that those who be-
liNNed the open canal would benefit
Washington commerce must admit that
Il viii give a new route Tor the com
mcrco now passing through Seattle. All
sidon were founded On their foreign
commerce Seattle stands today ln the
highway ~ commerce across The Amer
team continent spd should b. careful how
the lines ~ that highway were changed
81 modified
NJ. Ia Augustine humorously referred 20
the carly DAVIS when merchants % coast
cities dspl0rcd the opening ~ the hrst
railroad Tor the reason that u would IN
iuro their business Seattle pow enjoyed
better freight rates Than interior cifies
Tor the reason That the feasibility ~ hip
meets around tns Horn makfF this a
competitive point These rates - ouid be
made stiii more favorable With 2 shorter
competitive water route
J y McGivra the c9mmitier leader Of
fhe canal supporters. then closed Tie De-
bate briefly Stth IN appeal IN savar ~
the adoption - thc majority report,
The motion Wns put on ths Adoption ~
the repuFf whom W. " ALISON offered
substitute declaring against the passage
~ the NFphuTn higI The suhSfituft was
lost and the majority rrpagf adopted Is
q viya vnce vote ~ decisive that No s.
Vislon wss calie1 Tor, and thf chamber
adjourned