Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-26
Our Export Trades Needs.

with much regret that there were
signs of a falling off in her shipping
business, that exports were being sent
from other ports to her loss. Now, we
| don't like that at all, and the feeling III
New England is how can we help
Boston hold her business, as well as
keep our other shipping ports up to date
and in line. President Henry NJ.
Whitney Of the Boston Chamber OIL
Commerce, talked to the Boston
Twentieth Century Club, Saturday, on
that subject and his words are worth
considering. AS you read the extracts
given, don't forget that Maine has some
of the finest shipping ports in the
world. Some developed. with railroads
| leading directly to the wharves, and
with others where the possibilities are
limitless. MIR. Whitney said in part;
II am impressed more and more from
year to year with the Importance OF III
creasing the area of our commercial
traffic and our avenues of trade. we
need the open door at home as well DIS
abroad, and especially in the proximity
of our metropolis. l do not mean mere
proximity in miles, but also in cost OF
transportation.
The reason why New York has so
great an advantage over Boston IS pe-
cause of her greater facilities Tor lhlaliu
transportation by water.
Keep in mind the long distances OF
transportation from the great west 10
| the cOast-cheap as it ls-only NAH d
cent per ton per mile. Boston is lOV9
| miles from Chicago, while to Baltimore
| it is but SO2 miles from Chicago, dill
| ference of 81 a ton in freight rates, and
| in cargo of 5000 tons this means
$600O"
Other distances from shipping and re-
ceiving points were given by Mr.. Whit
tney, all showing to the disadvantage of
| Boston because of freight rates, the
gulf ports being 200 miles nearer the
grain fields than is Boston.
"a man i'm Liverpool" he said, cares
not what route his grain comes by, but
he wants the shortest and cheapest.
Boston is also at a disadvantage be-
cause of the coal question, the distance
being so great to the mines. We are
nearer to Liverpool than New York or
Baltimore but that gain is more than
offset by the cost of land and water
Transportation of coal and other COM
| modities coming to the coast. This fact
has been recognized by the interstate
commerce commission, which fixed the
rate on first-cass freight from Chicago
at 50 cents to Boston and y to Balti-
more, and on grain q cents to Boston
and 90 to Baltimore.
1T follows that whatever port can
control the outward freight can in time
| control the inward. That is inevitable.
so that, in time. to the southern and
western ports will go much of the in
| ward freight which in times past has
found its way to Boston.
I'm 1850 Massachusetts produced 27.1
percent of all the manufactures of the
country; in 1880, us percent. From
| 1870 to 1880 Massachusetts manufac-
lures increased q percent; from 1880 to
1890. percent. Capital in Massa-
chusetts manufactures increased 100
percent from 1870 to 1880, and but 10
percent in the last decade.
Our proportion of the entire man.
/
to 90 percent, while the West has so
percent. Why? Because New Eng
land and Boston are distant from the
raw material. Iron and steel from the
vicinity of Pittsburg are increased by
transportation $3.50 to SO per ton in cost
when they reach Boston, and similarly
by transportation back as finished pro-
ducts.
$50 with fuel. Because of the high
tariff of 81 cents a ton we are obliged
| to bring out coal from the south, and
this is important not only to manufac-
| turcrs but to the steamers.
1T has been said that if the coal was
free, that from Nova Scotia could not
| be used to advantage. This is not so.
The Canadian Pacific railway uses
Cape Breton coal with as much ad-
vantage as we do that from the West.
so with the foreign steamers to
Montreal. The Nova Scotia coal will
| carry steamer as far per mile per ton
as any we have except some from West
Virginia, which is of higher price.
IF Boston is to maintain her position
she must take advantage of her OPP
pOrtunities. Boston occupies a unique
position, with great population
Qarger than that of Massachusetts,
lying at the north, and with her easy
connection with the Canadian Pacific
railway at Montreal, stretching away
to a region of 300, 900 acres of fertile
land only 100000 of which is as yet
| under cultivation.
1T is only $40 miles from Montreal to
Boston, while 1t is over 400 to st. John
and more than 500 to Halifax. From
all other ports except these three Mon
treal is shut up during the months of a
long winter. We are the nearest sea-
port to that inland city, and we should
see to it that we control the traffic
hither and thither.
There is Newfoundland, with its
100000 people. They manufacture al
most nothing. and produce little but
fish and lumber. They want part of
everything we have.
I'VE had a treaty drawn up by Sec.
Hay and Mr.. Bond of Canada, and the
| chief opponent was our junior senator.
He promised support, but the men of
Gloucester got his ear and he turned
right about face.
The same facts and arguments ap-
ply to the maritime provinces, with
I - l.