Arizona republican., 1912-12-09
Are We to Lose South America?
(World's Work Magazine)

tWOrd's Work Magazne)
 The United States has spent sum to the Panama canal. For every American dollar spent in that task other nations have spent two dollars getting ready to seize the traffic which is expected to experience a mary awaken Ing as result of the canal, and strengthen commercial foOtholds own Pacific coast and in the orient
 It has been estimated that Great Britain Ger many, France and Holland five of the South American states-Argentna. Uruguay. Brazil. Chile and Peru-have already spent more money in the aggregate. new railroads and harbOr prepar;l- u"ns than the United States has spent at Panama
 Government expenditure however is but part of the commercial struggle. Governments build bors push forward railroads. subsdize ships for mail and sometimes for traffic of all private capital that builds fleets and puts them In practically every shipyard of Europe today work is rushed the building ships for the Panama trade. Some are 10 be put the long Europe to the Orient through the Panama canal others into the South American trade still into the trade with Pacific
 By way of contrast consider the work in the harbor of New York The city has just completed two new piers. The demand for them small that of them has been leased a price that means less than two per cent of its cost. Private capital ceased to push forward in competition with the city. The only powerful private that builds docks the harbor front has appar- ently ceased to compete with the city and has turned it's attention the building industrial buildings lofts for manufacturing in which the city compete with it. Nothing goes forward. Instead of the hopeful rush and hustle the ports of Europe and of South America. New York stands still.
 Many other American ports move forward the commercial battle of tomorrow. New Orleans, perhaps. leads with one new steamship line of ships already trading the south. Other ships may be future. In that city the canal is a great commercial watchword In New Orleans they hope that 1t will be the beginning q mighty growth In New York they only seem fear that perhaps it will make it harder for New to hold the commanding place she has always held in seabOrne commerce on the coast
 It is possible to exaggerate the possibilities trade of South America, under the stimulation of the canal; for hundreds of millions of pounds of English money have been poured int" these Latin American countries during the past ten years building railroads, preparing for great wheat harvests and droVes of cattle and a dozen other vast industries that have brought the South American countries forward with d rush equaied only before in history. namely, when our own west settled and developed.
 n South America they are subduing great areas equal acre, any the North American continent Ensland,France and Germany both through their governments and by private capIta have grasped the truth ard rushed to grasp in turn the fruits their knowledge. Even Canada has organized building fleets to trade with South America of Vancouver and the other Montreal Japan. China and India, at the hands of private capital will send their ships presently into these southern ports. It is to be the commercial battle ground of tomorrow.
 It seems pity that because of minor matters as public jealousy of railroad power. our government should be unwilling or unable to fur- ther measures that will strengthen the hands of American commerce in the south. Again, it seems a pity that for lack of d plain common policy in administration. the port of Nef York must sit by with folded and make serious effort to be ready bid for the commerce of the south
 One hears always that if the South American markets become great they will fall into our hands That always been our excuse for inertia, the reason for a do- nothing policy. both governmental and private Meantime the South American mar kets have become great and they trade with Eng land, Germany and France. Commerce follows usage may be that already the habit of direct European trade become firmly fixed that the United States never regain the advantage that have lost.