Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-07-11
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about 30 per cent of the swag-I mean
subvention-for their own obsolete vessels.
| object to this. 1 appeal to congress to
give all ships an equal showing
AS I understand it, about 3.500.009 of
the hard earned dollars of the taxpayers
of the United States are to be openly do
mated to the shipping industry.
AS the Morgans and the Griscoms on
the Atlantic coast and the Hills, the Har-
rilnans and the Spreckelses on the Pacific
coast own the steamship lines, naturally
they will get all the subsidy.
But. | submit to all fair minded men,
they don't need the money. | do
In asking for an airship subsidy under
the pretext that it is needed to encourage
our trade with South America and the
orient it would be a reflection upon my
intelligence if I did not admit that 1t
| would do nothing Of the kind, but it is not
| necessary to tell that to the farmers.
They know too much now.
But the subsidy would encourage me in
establishing my Aero Commercial Naviga-
ton company, 100000 900 stock issue of
which l shall have ready to unload upon
the public as soon as the subsidy bill
passes.
Under these circumstances you will per-
ceive that 1t will be impossible to make
the subsidy too large to suit me, i'll get
my share of it. Otherwise I shall feel It
my duty to show it up as an obnoxious
graft upon the public treasury.
Airship lines are of vital Importance.
The commercial possibilities of the Pacific
are unlimited, and for reasons of Japa-
| nese impertinence at present it is imper-
alive that we should have direct airship
| communication with the Philippines and
with Hawaii.
Unless the airship builder and airship
owner gets sufficient aid to give him an
enormous and fair profit upon the bust
ness he cannot afford to furnish such lines
| and will not do SO.
Even in France. where the tandem CYL
inder petroleum motor airship has reach
ed the highest state of perfection, there
is no profit in merely making it.
Congress can't expect a genuine infant
industry to make money unless the gov
eminent is willing to furnish the funds
1t has been said that the government
cannot afford to subsidize American air.
ships. l think this is dead wrong, but il
it isn't suggest that we take enough
from the tariff taxes upon other ancient,
honorable and baldheaded industries for a
sum sufficient to substitute my airship
building plant ard my cloud ship packet
line to South America and to the orient
This country must have airships It
| cant get along without them, and I can't
build them without the subsidy.
That makes our interests mutual.
The freight airship is necessary to for
eign trade and is the backbone of the
profitable commerce of the future and
betray no secret in saying that unless the
government comes to the front with this
subsidy it may be years before the air.
ship carrying trade with foreign countries
can reach a profitable basis.
With the wireless telegraph lines work
ing. it won't do to cry down the airship
industry.
The airship is a necessity not only to
commerce, but to the navy of the future.
If the subsidy is large enough, 1 may
take contracts for warships but of
course, would give preference to the de-
mands of trade.
AS long as the tariff lasts the subsidy
should last for the American airships and
the Williams Aero Navigation company.
If the importance of this subsidy APP
peals to congress, how can any one doubt
that it appeals to me?
With the public treasury overlooking.
what is to be done with the money if it
is not distributed among deserving insti-
tutions? Among whom I am one of
which.
With the assurance of my most distin-
guished consideration and thanks in pro-
portion to my share Of the subvention,
beg to subscribe myself
CHARLES ALT WILLIAMS,
President and General Manager and All
Round Pooh Bah OF the Williams Aero
Commercial Navigation Company OF
Seattle.