The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-10-24
A TIMELY MOVEMENT.

n NV ENAE4Nla
Governor Gillett Of California has
initiated a movement for the purpose
OF improving the American merchant
marine. The governors and Iieuten-
ant governors and the congressman q
the eight Pacific coast states and Ha-
waii have been invited 10 a congress
which viii be held in san Francisco
"a the middle OF November.
Comparatively few people residing
! inland have the least idea OF the i'm
pOrtanee OF this subject At the pres
ent time American goods are shipped
abroad ia foreign bottoms. the COM
panies patronized being almost in-
varlably subsidized by their home gov
ernments. IN fact. a ship fying tho
American nag is a rarity IN all the
/ harbors OF the world.
In season and out Of season these
facts have been presented to Congress.
stress being laid upon the loss OF
| hundreds OF millions OF dollars 10 tbs
merchants and manufacturers OF this
country, so far without avail
Upon the completion Of the Pana-
ma canal a short cut from the E1-
ropean ports 70 the Orient. Australasia
and the west coast OF South America
will be provided and We shall suffer
still further loss OF trade uulsss We
build up our merchant marine IN the
meantime. This fact is painfully ap-
parent on both the Atlantic and Pa
cific coasts OF the United States
We believe the movement inauEu-
rated by the California executive Is
worthy OF support. and hope enough
interest viii be created TO inhuenos
Congress TO take action in the matter
before it is too late.
There Is an unreasonable and IN
warranted prejudice in the United
States against the payment Of subsi-
dies to steamship companies. out It is
the only way by means Of which We
can regain our lost prestige upon the
I high seas. II is the common practice
/ OF all the other commercial nations.
and new lines are being established
continually. Why should we lag be-
hind in the race?
British, German and japanese ves-
| sells do the bulk Of our CARRYING
trade. while the smaller nations with
fewer ships take what is left. Even
Spain, so much derided in the United
States, has been constantly extending
her commerce by means Of subsidized
vessels ever since the Spanish Ameri-
can war, ana this IN the face or p7-
HticaI strife and turmoil in that coun-
I try.
There was time when Spanish yes
sells plowed every sea. but with ths
rise OF Holland and Great Britain as
maritime powers Spain gradually
dropped behind and became a third
rate country in consequence. Row
the dons are putting their best f0o-
forward and seeking TO recover their
lost trade. or at least hold what they
have.
We learn that the first Of feet Of
nineteen vessels OF the new African
Nail Steamship company called az
Malaga on August 2. The new COM
pany. with principal onces in Valen-
cia. is organized under the Spanish de-
cree OF April 8. which provides for a
subsidized eosstvise and African
service OF fast and regular saiiings
between the chief ports OF the Medi-
terranean, the ports In Spanish North
Africa. weekly sailing 70 Cadiz, Tan
gier, Algeciras and Ceuta. and a
monthly round trip 10 Santa Cruz.
Teneriffe and Puerto de Ia Luz. Grand
Canary.
This is real commercial enterprise
upon the part OF the spaniards and
viii win. The government contract
calls for a total stssming distance OF
2s2,2S6 miles. The company viii
receive q yearly subsidy OF S396, 900.
The first months operation Of ms
new line resulted in 4 great increase
in trade. especially between the Pc
ninsula and the ports OF Spanish
Africa
The people Of the Pacific coast
states are vitality interested in the
establishment OF a merchant marine,
for our future prosperity depends in
a measure upon the trade OF South
America and the Oriental countries
now springing into life ana vigor after
slumbering for ages. We must md
a market for our surplus products.
Il is an old axiom that those who
do not advance 90 backward. Why
should we emulate the crab while
others are crowding ahead under
steam ana sail? Give US the merchant
marine.
RETrER HALF EExFn REN.