The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-03-21
COMMERCE ON THE PACIFIC.

Seattle Intelligence.
In a bulletin taking 4 general survey
Of the foreign trade Of the country, re-
Gently issued by the state department.
which was compiled by Frederick En-
ory. chief Of the bureau Of foreign trade
me growth Of commerce on the Pacific
is referred to at considerable length.
1t is the conclusion OF the writer tha,
tina development Of transportation IA
cilities is one Of the leading il no, the
most important item in the growth OF
/ foreign trade. and the facts which he
deduces seem to bear this out. In the
absence Of gool transportation facili-
ties with Brazil, for example this coun-
try ranks but sixth in the volume of
its exports to that country, being led
by countries with whom the United
States is enabled to successfully COM
pete in their own home markets. but
which have better transportation facil-
tiles TO Brazil than this country pos
sesses.
1t is observed: Conspicuous iIustra-
ticns Of the benefit Of direct transporta-
tion and of the fact that increased trade
follows its establishment are found in
the recent growth in the export of Amer
lean products TO such unlikely quarters
as Turkey and Peru. Some two years
ago the consul-general at Constanti-
NOBLE. Mr.. Dickinson. exerted himself
to secure the running Of a direct line
Of steamers between the United States
and Turkish ports on the Mediterran-
can. The Barber line Of New York de-
cided to make the experiment. and the
service. begun in February. 1899, has
greatly stimulated the sale Of Ameri-
can products in the Leyant.
Enlarged transportation facilities un-
doubtedly account to a considerable ex-
tent for the steady growth of our COM
msrce with Japan"
The latter statement is absolutely cor
rect, as experience bsr- has shown.
Since the establishment Of the first di-
rect line Of steamers from Seattle to
Oriental points a trade which did not
exist before has been created. and has
grown TO such proportions that sew
eral more transportation lines have
come into the field TO shar- in its car
rying; and the growth Of the trade
seems likely to b. so great as to tax
to the utmost the transportation facili-
ties which can be provided
The report calls especial attention to
the Improvement Of transportation ia
cilities from this port to the establish
ment Of the Oriental steamship line be-
tween Seattle and Manila. to the line Of
the China Mutual Steamship Company,
lust established, and 70 the magnificent
fleet now building for the Great North
ern and which is TO ply in this trade,
and further remarks: The Pacific slope |
is being rapidly converted from a mere
outpost Of trade into a great hive of |
commere." The figures given in foot
note show that exports from this coast, !
which in 1895 amounted TO but $3s, ,8OO,-
OOO arose in 1900 to s71,6O0,O0O years
ended June 3O.
It is observed that the growth Of !,
sea-borne commerce at these points
means much for the great extent Of the
country tributary to them and promises
to work marked changes in the indus
trial condition Of the vast regions west
Of the Rocky mountains"
All Of the recent literature upon the
subject Of the extension Of the Pacific
commerce but emphasizes the necessity
Of the building Of American ships in
which to handle it, that in this manner
the fullest amount of value may be re-
allied to the country from the trade
which it is developing. Dependent as
we are upon foreign ships for our trans
facilities, there is the ever
present risk of a complete destruction
Of that trade by the occurrence Of CON
1itions which would prevent the utili- {
zation of those foreign ships in that
trade. That this is not q remote con- I
-ineencv experience within the past 9
year has shown. The withdrawal of
such large amount of tonnage for