Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-05-08
of Hartford check for $120,oO0, ac-
cording to the Insurance Press.
DREAM OF Centuries
Continued From Page One.)

lily seen that the beneficial effect of
this new transportation line can easily
be destroyed by rates which are either
prohibitive or excessive. The issue OF
free passage through the canal for
American ships has been acutely raised
by the minority report filed by Con-
gresham Knowland of California, and
others from the Committee on Inter-
state and Foreign Commerce of the
House of Representatives both in the
interest of getting the best results from
the canal as competitive .trans-con-
tinental route, and for the purpose of
assisting in the building of an Ameri-
can merchant marine. Free passage
through the canal should be given to
all American ships There is no treaty
with any foreign country which will be
involved or violated by this course; and
if there were such treaty in matter of
great vital policy of the nation, i'm
mediate steps should be taken to modi-
fly or abrogate it.
"The trans sentimental railroads for
years VIGOROUSLY have obstructed and
delayed the building of this great wat
erway and now that its completion is
assured, the same interest, of course,
will attempt to modify or destroy its
competitive effects through the rates
which will be charged; the ownership
of lines of vessels by the railroads;
various other means. Several hundred
millions of the peoples money have
been invested in this work both as a
commercial and military necessity 1t
is not only a wise policy (now that the
work is about completely to get the
fullest possible benefit from it, but it
is the duty of those in authority, to
the American people whose money has
been invested there, to take that course
in every respect with relation to the
canal which will insure the largest pos
sible returns to them.
ut is obvious that free passage
through the canal for the American
people, their ships, goods and passen-
gers, so far as the commercial aspect
of it is concerned, is the greatest re-
turn they could have from the canal
In no other way can the greatest ef-
feet upon transcontinental freight rates
be obtained. In no other way will the
canal be of equal effect in bringing and
binding together in closer relations,
socially and commercial, the two
coasts of the nation, and all the seaports
of the Pacific, the Gulf and the Allan
tic.
Free passage through the canal for
American ships, not only those engaged
in the American coasting trade, that is
plying between American ports, but al
so for those engaged in foreign trade,
will operate as subsidy to American
shipping, so far as the advantages are
and yet be entirely free from
the fatal defects of subsidy sy,tem.
There is no other single agency which
Our government could employ to en-
courage and develop the American mer-
chant marine upon a perfectly natural
and substantial basis than by giving 1t
this advantage in the use of wha. is to
all intents and purposes domestic
waterway. Such a course will tend to
stimulate especially lines of American
vessels between the Atlantic and Gulf
ports with the west coast of Mexico,
and South and Central America. and as
a natural result aid also in the devel-
opment of our trade with these coun-
tries.
"This is matter OF great Importance
and calls for immediate attention"