The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-02-27

on the Rhine are many barges OF 2,OOO
tons or more.
Low Freight Costs.
The Importance of this method OF
transportation in affording low freight
rates can scarcely be over-emphasized.
Figures obtained from reports OF
Major Kurs, leading authority on in
land navigation in Germany. J. Ellis
Barker, a careful British student or
the subject, and DR.. Fritz Hartmann,
a distinguished journalist, Berlin cor
respondent Of the Hanover Courier,
are significant These show that
with a well-tilled ship on a new and
perfectly equipped water course. the
cost Of transportation Of freight, dur
ing ten months shipping season, 3D.,
in vessels from $50 to $500 tons capa-
city, one-tifth to one-twelfth Of a cent
per ton per mile. But as all German
waterways are not perfectly equipped
and all boats are not we'll fitted
and as the season of navigation In
Germany, as in the United States, is
interferred with by ice, these figures
are exceptional.
The actual business conditions pre-
vailing today may be better shown by
selecting representative German riv-
ers and quoting the actual average
cost of transport therefrom, allowing
for the fact that during a part of the
year large portion of the tonnage is
partly or wholly unemployed. These
figures show that the actual cost of
transport per ton per mile on the Oder
river is about one-third of cent; on
the Weichsel, one-half cent; on the
Elbe, one-fourth, and on the Rhine one
sixth Of cent. The rivers Oder and
Weichsel flow through agricultural
regions, corresponding to a degree
with the country through which the
Missouri river and its tributaries flow,
while the Rhine drains country cor
responding to that adjacent to the Up
per Ohio, where manufacturing Is
more largely engaged in. This cheap.
ness Of transportation explains in
great measure the fact that the most
prosperous industrial centers of Ger
many are situated close to the water.
ways Of which they make extensive
and increasing use.
The Governments View.
In an official publication Of the Ger.
man government we read:
ANY means whereby the distances
which separate the economic centers
OF the country from one another can
be diminished must be welcomed and
be considered az a progress, for it in
creases our strength in cur industrial
competition with foreign countries.
Every one who desires to send or to
receive goods wishes for cheap
freights. Hence the aim Of healthy
transport policy should b to diminish
as far as possible the economically
nproduetiuo~- aost~~~sA~~thpeaart A
country such as Germa ~ which Is
happy enough to produce on her own
soil by far the larger prt Of the raw
material and food which it requires,
occupies the most INDEPENDENT and the
most favorable positi b it,, owing to
cheap, inland Transportation, its econ.
omic centers are PLACED as near as
possible to one >anotfr. When this
has been achieved Grmany will be
able to dispense will many foreign
products, and it will occupy posi-.
ton Of superiority in comparison with
all. those states whic do not possess
similarly perfect mems of transport.
MANY circumstances which in for
mer times gave superiority to certain
countries, such as TIE greater skill of
their workmen, suprior machinery.
cheaper wages, greaer natural fertil.
ity of the soil; all ;hese advantages
are gradually being levelled down by
time and progress. But what will re-
main Is the advantage Of a we'll.
planned system 4 transportation
which makes the bet possible use of
local resources and heal advantages"
The last sentence in italic in the
German original, ma we'll be read in
America in connection with Bis.
marck's deliberate sitement:
I'm discounting f1ure events we
must take note Of te United States.
who will become in matters economic
and perhaps in maiers political as
we'll, much greater danger than most
people imagine. Thew of the future
will be the economiewar ). the struggle
for existence on tb largest scale.
May my successor d ways bear this in
mind and always tae care that Ger
many will be prepaid when this bat.
tie has to be fought
And Bismarck wa dismissed by the
present emperor, ut because Of dis.
agreement but bechse William H.,
twentieth century gederick the Great,
would be his own Sancellor and, car.
rying on Bismarckipolicy as bis own,
make Germany fomost in all mill.
tary and material lings.
The New Gern1hy Commercial.
The new Germag is not land Of
philosophers, poet and composers,
sleepy officials and dull peasants. day.
dreaming, sentimetalizing over music
and philosophy al beer. The new
Germany is q Ian of shreWd. calcu.