New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-31
NEW YoRK's INERTIA
Lewis Nixon Says Commerce Must
Increase or City Will Fare Ill.

Sir: II came to my knowledge lie"
DAYS ago that a company that had Deen
spoken of In the press as intending "
erect factories in certain parts OF inc
country had received forty-seven COM
munications from commercial oooles III
various cities calling attention 10 ''0
merits Of their respective communities aS
Industrial locations, many OF whicn com
munlcations had been followed UP oy
personal interviews
In no way Is the insinuation lntenoeo
that the commercial bodies or Ne" io'A
City are at fault, for outside Oh CA
cessive zeal In the interest OF the lot
eicner on the part of some they are all
Woodworking, efficient and public spirited
bodies.
But my correspondents tell Of the Keen
est interest and busnesslike ard search-
ing examination Of conditions 10 DC
brought about by the opening OF the
Panama Canal.
Great activity is apparent along the
Gulf coast and / look to see a great
string of prosperous cities girdling the
Gulf Of Mexico, repeating the lesson OF
the Great Lakes. We, however, are con"
cerned with New York. The frettings OF
politics concern us but little as a mass
New York City will grow at the rate OF
not less than 10000 year. Unless COM
merce grows in like proportion the city
will not advance and the welfare as an
average will grow comparatively worse.
We must not content ourselves with say
ing that our commerce Is increasing, even
though not at the rate that that OF rival
cities is increasing.
New York is the metropolis OF the
United States. and as It increases In popu-
lation It must have increasing business
to have values, as otherwise increasing
assessments TO raise taxes is like a bear
living off his fat.
The people as a whole must rouse them
selves. Think of the complacency with
which an absurd limitation of dock
lengths is received or the possibility OF
great steamers seeking other ports for
lack Of accommodation In this great
harbor' Resolutions by commercial Do
dies read, Endorsed and fled VIII not
safeguard our harbor.
All other countries are rising to needs
Of canal readjustment. We are content
10 have others do our work for us, es-
pecIally II they will soothe us by saying
that they can do II better than we can
II is a trinity OF effort We confront
government, ship and bank-throughout
the parts of all the seven seas.
Just an object lesson-Canada. COM
mon sense banking system, responsive 70
the DomInlon's needs land they are
nightly like ours. flexible and, through
extensive use by drafts, utilizing to the
fun credit based upon production And
now some one ignorant OF the rudiments
OF banking will tell us we must do noth-
ing because Andrew Jackson did some"
thing he cannot just explain. But we
find Canadian branch banks growing
throughout the West Indies, and we shall
see that from west and east OF the
Dominion vessels will take Canadian
rroduc q, finding a ready return cargo IN
sugar now brought from Java. And as
Canada pushes out her banks she pushes
out her ships. Think OF the results or
n war between great European nations
growing out Of the Balkan troubles. Bot
tie I'D our exports for five or six months
and units OF millions would be necessary
10 spresent our losses In comprehensive
figures.
we can regulate commerce through the
canal I'm such way as TO drive trade into
American bottoms. establish markets Tor
American goods and develop foreign COM
merce in our products.
Canada can ship grain from Alberta 10
Liverpool, paying canal tolls, by the way
OF Vancouver at 81 60 less than by the all
rail winter route east, and l look TO see
this rate cut fully 20 per cent to our east
ern seaboard via the canal.
We are being distanced In the race
through self-imposed hobbies. Has New
York City grown so unwieldy and help
less that in seeking light 1t must LOOK
through glasses tinged by foreign In
terest?
We want the buyer OF South and Gen.
trail America to come here. Are we max
ing any effort TO bring him?
We want share OF new business war
ranted by our location, our wonderful
harbor and our production, but we have
reached such a point that unless radical
advance Is made the cost OF handling our
commerce Will increase as It's volume In
creases.
The citizens OF New York cannot shirk
the question Our public officials, legis-
lators and Congressman are willing
but they do not know. No mere
be It enacted" will solve the problem.
Every calling, profession and trade is in
terested, for as the cost of doing bust
ness increases the prosperity of all will
be affected inversely. While we suffer
here from foreign influence on public
opinion. there Is enough American senu-
ment to demand action in the interest Of
our own people once It Is aroused.
LEWIS NIXON.
New York. Oct. 80. 1912.