The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-22

mercial business between the old and the new
worlds will be transferred from the Atlantic
to the Pacific ocean. The great trading ma
bending ell their energy and diplomatic skill
to secure and hold for their respective coun-
tries the Asiatc commerce.
equal or the conditions Of THIS country more
favorable for competition for the Oriental
trade. These conditions are not self-acting,
they are at the best opportunities only.
They should be made operative and effective
thru the instrumentality of the nsion. 1t is
not sufficient that we secure trading ports in
of the world. this country should give our
merchants more than a negative support.
Individual effort should be-backed by syste-
matte national support and assistance. The
business men OF The country ars ready to do
their part. One Of the very first and most
important things to be considered In our
Efforts to facilitate trade with China Is the
question of freight rates steamship and rail-
way This is receiving most Intelligent con-
sideration. st
The one man who has doEe more than any
other in the country In developing the north-
western and Pacific states-in so reducing
tho cost Of interstate transportation to
make commerce profitable between the latter
| ing. and enlarging both sections-is to-day
giving the problem OF ocean freight rates on
the Pacific the benet Of his long years Of
cost of Pacific trarsportatic ion down to the
lowest possible scale. he will soon have on
that ocean three of the largest freight steam
| ships afoat. This laudable ambiticn on tho
part OF great transportation companies to re-
duce the present cost Of trans Pacific ship
mcrts should be supplemented by every
proper effort Of the nation to develop our
trade so as to furnish sufficient bulk of mer-
chandise to Justify even lower freight charges.
| Let the government now do sll in its
| power to assist our business men-and gov
eminent influence is always most potent
factor-and our commercial supremacy 10
| assured.
on The possibilities for Ynpasallelsa In
too we'll recognized e to 1 need co ano
nent Given an Industrial people and ma
clement, modern methods, to insure wealthy
patton: China furnishes the first two
requisites. Western enterprise will furnish
the other. 1t has often been asserted that we
are neglecting our trade relations with the
souh American states while, we are giving
special attention to the Pacific trade. But
those who make this claim fail to take into
! consideration that one necessary element of
national greatness, individual industry In
dustry is national characteristic of the
mense possibilities. This element is sadl,
wanting in the South American people,
| Chlna's Great Natural Resources.
Altho of the earliest civilization China is
practically new and undeveloped country.
Chinese customs and industrial pursuits
tural resources of the empire. it's coal, It's
iron and copper, mines. have scarcely been
touched during its thousands Of years OF
of climate are capable of producing in large
quantities nearly all the known. fruits ano
cereals. These possibilities nave been Pre-
served for the present generation. 1t has
present industrial greatness-to utilize tn.
resources Of the nation. Why this long
70 dessan did NOT the
China. The people are there to-day, 400,
100000 strong-industrial people-who prob
ably work more hours per day than any other
ing for the magic touch of western civiliza-
ton. The moment this labor energy is di-
rected towards the development Of her re-
misses and be lured from her soil, to add to
the worlds commerce. That wealth must
end will be expended somewhere 1t is well
comforts and luxuries Of life to the extent
| of their MEANS there will be no exception te
this rule in the Orient
The Chinese people heretofore have not
been heavy purchasers because they have
hot had the nears When they have made
their own country prosperous that prosperity
will be felt all over the civilized world in
The avidity with which these people hav.
! purchased our petroleum oil demonstrates
that they are people who will learn to use
a new article and will adopt 1t whenever its
economy can be demonstrated. @.s. -
The Governments Part.
Now, how may the government assist in
secure this trade. We seek to sell goods
| to l. people commercially unacquainted with
them. One OF the very frst things to b.
done, as will naturally occur to us. is tt
demonstrate to these people that We do pro
duce things in this country for sale; ant
that these products are useful to them. L
the products are class of articles bithertt
unknown to them we must demonstrate the
utility. II they class Of articles o
which they have some idea thru their deal
tngs With the merchants of otner countries
we must be able to show them that our Far
tcular goods are either superior in quallt,
or can be delivered to them cheaper than Tx
articles from othe' countries In either in
stance there must be occular demonstration
1t has taken hundreds of years for Cren
Britain to work UP her present Chinese trade
The Chinese purchase from British mer
better goods OF Gun furnish them cheaper
but because they are acquainted with th
goods and are content to deal with British
merchants. Outside of petroleum oil an
cotton and little flour, our trade with Chin
Is Insignificant when compared with the trad
of Great Brta We are one Of the great
est purchasers from the Celestial empire
yet our sales to that country amount to YER
little. There might be some excuse for thl
II other nations were not providing Chin
with the same character Of goods which w
produce for export. Compare our trade wit
that Of Great Britain. Taking the year 1S9
as basis. the figures are:
Total exports Of the United States
70 Ch'na ......:.. ................. 80, 7O3, 43
Cotton and petroleum .............. s,s1s,e5