The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-03-11

snrunk from 2496894 tons In 1861 to 940068 tons in
1908, shrinkage 1556S26 tons of American foreign
shipping in 43 years.
No American steamship line connects us with South
America, beyond Venezuela and Panama. Not single
Peru.
The most means of travelling from any of
the great Atlantic ports of the United States South
America is by way Of Europe, involving two voyages
across the Atlantic That too most regular
and sometimes the quickest between the
United States and South America-our greatest natural
market which defend from foreign spoation accord
ing TO the Monroe doctrine There is absolutely no
American mail service south Of the Caribbean sea-
Two years ago the Oceanic Steamship Company of San
Francisco withdrew it's steamers carrying the American
mails to Australasia. Even with the mail subsidy of
$16,659 voyage paid by the United States it could not
compete with German subsidies Of $41604 voyage,
French subsidies of $4714 voyage Japanese subsidies
OF s21sl7 voyage and British subsidies Of s23077
voyage.
In three years the number Of American steamships
regularly crossing the Pacific has shrun fifteen to
Alas for renown maritime nation and for
the past prestige of our flag in the Of
the most distant countries! Where the American
merchant fleet that mastered every seattle nurs-
cry and background of naval power.
1t is almost gone. No more American vessels are
being built for the foreign trade and, ships
and die few under present conditions will see
the American flag disappear from international com.
MERGE.
Our hearts beat high when we think OF our noble
array Of battleships. We cheer the mighty
launched. We watch with growing thrill of pride the
digging OF the Panama canal. We great nation
We sit in the world council Of the great powers.
We are the protector of the American republics We
saved the Chinese empire destruction We brought
peace to Japan and Russia Our foreign trade has
banded to three and third billions of dollars annually
But in 1925, IS years ago, 80 per cent Of
with other countries carried by American
ships and to-day only 10 per cent our imports and
exports is borne under the American flag. than
63 cent of British foreign trade British
ships.
We have spent hundreds of millions Of dollars to
hI6 rQaf Wo have o11 oH
national territory and hosted flag Philippines
Hawaii Porto Rico and the Panama canal zone Yet
flags and it is estimated that American shippers pay
5000 900 annually in freight
rivals in American trade.
Not American ship being built for that trade
the remaining few rapidly wearing out and flag
being hauled down some Of these.
beyond the dwindling of the American ship build
ing trades; beyond the surrender of 5000 1000
freight charges to foreign rivals beyond even
honest and wholesome pride in flag at sea- beyond
the notifying lack of mail service possessed
by other nations-there graver consequences
to the disappearance of the American ship from inter-
national trade.
We send forth great fleet to show both the civilized
and uncvilzed world the immensely of armed
That fleet is powerless without COAL Yet all 13 per
of the coal sent to keep batteships
carried in foreign merchant ships.
is matter of record that the small army provided
by the United States for the last Intervention
taken there in foreign ships under foreign flags
Philippines carried in Japanese ships under the
Japanese flag; and that too while there widespread
newspaper talk of a possible between the United
States and Japan.
1t was Washington who declared that ito an active
external commerce the protection of naval force is