The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-13

the fact that the United States sub
treasury is represented in the Clear
ing House association.
1t is, of course impossible to trace,
upon any large scale, at least, the in
dividual trade or barter which these
clearing house transactions represent.
If that could be done, then we should
learn accurately how much of these
transactions represents domestic trade
and how much foreign trade.
Enormous as was the international
trade in the year 1911 and amazing as
is the increase in the trade for that
year over the trade ten years earlier
nevertheless this is almost a trivial
amount as compared with the domes-
tic trade of the United States. The
trade which we carried on at home in
the year 1911, Notwithstanding the
fact that this was a year of alleged
business depression, was of the money
value of many billions in excess of the
worlds international trade for that
year.
The Underlying Meaning.
1t is the enormous increase in the
domestic trade of the United States.
especially that carried on between the
citizens of different states which is
the fundamental reason for the atti-
tude of the public toward Interstate
commerce. Business men who have
travelled through many parts of the
country and the bankers who last fall
met at New Orleans and who, as a
whole, represented the entire United
states, have admitted at least in pri-
Vate conversation. that it was the half
conscious realization of the fact that
our domestic commerce, especially
mat between the states, has increased |
SO vastly that the figures which repre- |
sent IL may be compared with those |
which represent the astronomical |
measurements in space, together with |
the certainty that this colossal inter-
state com mGrCe is fn
Wh1ch has led to a demand for ade- /
quate legislation for the control and !
regulation of this business
The exports of all nations were, in |
the year 1911, according to the de-
Partment OF commerce and labor sew
enteen billion dollars The exports
from the various states of the union
to other states of the union are known |
to have been vastly in excess of sew
erteen billion dollars in the year 1911.
although there is no entirely satisfac- |
tory method of fixing the precise
amount of this commerce Much of
it is carried on in ways of which no
public record can be made.
The Economic Side.
Furthermore, it is this vast increase
IN the domestic trade of the United |
States, representing, as it does. com
merce stretching from the Atlantic ia
the Paclr!c and from the great lakes
TO the gulf, which has brought to the /
attention of railway managers prob-
Amy the most important problem thew
nave ever oeen called upon to solve. 4
70 also explains the agitation which is
now under way for the Improvement
Of natural waterways and the CON
of artificial ones like that |
Whlch is now in progress a Cape Cod |
ana also the improvements to the Erie
canal in New York state Further
more, tests are soon to be made of
ne capacity of some of our great ma
,urai waterways, especially the Missis-
'lppl' Tor the transportation of certain |
Kinds OF freight which hitherto have |
been hauled chiefly by the RAILWAYS :
1t was demonstrated to the salts
action of the late President A. T. IA
,assatt of the Pennsylvania Rail
Dad company, about twelve years ago |
nat production in the United States
md domestic business and trade he
ween the various states were increas-
ng so greatly that in a few years the
would be unable to meet the
demands for transportation. Conees-
ion of traffic was inevitable in Presi-
lent Cassatts view, especially in the
ions We're made to meet the demands |
n the future; Congestion meant
tagnation and partial paralysis of III
The railroads now, supple
nented by water navigation, are Just II
bout able to meet the demands for
of the mnodities
reduced by the various states and II
xported to other states. The fore
9AOWln OF the
United States after the expected re- IL
wal has come figure that within ten
ears production and trade will haveIt
increased at least so per cent, pos
IDLY IS per cent, over the like trade
nd production of the year 1910.
The steamships of the worId'sIt
omm ercial navies are still sufficient II
satisfactorily to handle a Commercial
represented by yearly exports aggre-
ating seventeen billions and yearly
IMPORTS aggregating a little over eieh- -
cen billions. Much the greater part
the worlds international trade is
epresented by the capacity of ocean
teamships river boats. There is
o conceivable increase IT the worlds ..
International trade which may not =.
asily be provided for through the ~
uilding of new vessels. u
But in order to meet the demands 10
hitch the producers of the United n
tates will make upon the railway c