The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-09-20

~A@S ASlt Va SOOoS .1SuSu LIlllSS. uASLdUCS
saved will give American manufactur-
ers an advantage of from Is to Is Cd
a ton. on all goods. supplied to ports
between Melbourne and Wellington,
N. 2.
"Tolls-Panama differs from Suez
here. Suez had an immediate monop-
oily; with Panama there is in many
instances a choice of routes, and high
tolls will defect tonnage.
"Freights-To benefit American
shipping freight must be available
both out and home. To benefit Ameri-
can manufacturers freights must be
low. At present Europe supplies Aus
traiasia with manufactured goods, and
the shipping goes via Suez. This route
gives a maximum Of trading possibili-
ties and great facilities for coaling.
The Cape route, too, offers to fully
loaded steamers the advantage of
cheap bunker coal. For the homeward
voyage from Australasia, a partly
loaded steamer goes via the Horn to
pick up cargo at ports like Monte
Vldeo. The canal would not attract
these ships. When Panama Is open
Will all-round -the-world services be
organized? y ~
Britain in Best Position.
Great Britain Is in a better position
to DO this than any other country. The
rumors current recently that an exist
ing shipping combine was trying to
arrange an amalgamation with one Of
tne Oldest far eastern shipping COM
pan1es were probably due to the hope
OF being able to commence such a
service. having some Of the chief
trades of h world as tributaries.
from the moment that Panama is
available. America hopes to open up
new markets, e. g. wool. This now
concentrates at London, but there is a
tendency TOyynr6a Ho1nrA-a1f-a@s~
and If America develops the wooden
industry, she will get a wool market
without necessarily constructing a
Panama canal.
Fuel Stations-This will be one or
the decisive factors, and will lead to
the keenest commercial rivalry. The
American government is planning to
supply good coal at either end of the
canal at 19s per ton. The English
coal on the Suez route is at present
much dearer; to maintain the Suez
route In its integrity the supply OF
cheaper coal is a necessity. When oil
replaces coal the British empire re-
sources will be ample to- maintain our
commercial position, but this must
not in the meantime be placed in jeop-
ardy, or disaster nay ensue
insurance rates will probably be
the same on both routes.
; Working of imperial Ideal.
1.-THE Political Factor-The working
OF the imperial idea in Great Britain.
America and Germany should be not
ed. Preferences granted by the do
minions have materially assisted Brit
ish trade. The possession of the Phil
ippines has displaced Spain from the
position Of chief trader there in favor
of America. The importance of this
factor can be traced in the case of
Japan, and China, when settled gov
eminent comes, will be another not
able instance.
Rates of Exchange-The far east
has a silver. Europe and America a
gold standard. Rates of exchange af-
feet trading relations. The whole
question should be carefully studied.
About seven years ago., when a Chi
nese merchant could get exchange on
the west coast of America at the rate
Of l19 taels for 500 gold, it paid him
to import thence timber and flour;
put at present rates, namely, 100, taels
for $500 gold, this ceases to be profit
able business, and he can trade to
greater advantage locally. This factor
works independently of trade routes.
investments and Banking-Great
Britain Is a. great creditor nation. Her
advances have been really made in
goods, and though the interest has to
pc paid in gold, it comes in goods
covered by bills in terms of sterling,
so that investors get their interest in
gold: The British, too, have banking
establishments all over the world.
London is the great settling place for
international trade. All this gives
England a very great advantage. Ger
many has followed England in this.
Briton Is Mar in Possession.
Finally, the Englishman is, roughly
speaking, the mar in possession, and
though at n time he seemed somno-
l~escent, at present he is very wide
awake. He Ia many advantages: Cd
for the transport services; cheap, eco
nomically worked ships, carefully or
ganized trading facilities throughout
the world, and the knowledge and ex-
p%erience which enable him to retain
old trades and be the first to enter
new ones. (ii) So far as retaining the
markets for manufactured goods is
concerned he has an unrivaIled labor
force endowed with hereditary skill, he
can get the pick Of the raw material,
thanks to his knowledge of markets.
and a fiscal policy which favors Eng
land as a buyer of, raw and semi-man-
ufactured materials; finally, British
goods are known all over the world
for their quality. Honest goods and
honorable dealing on the part of the
seller are their own market"