Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-08-07

available capacity. The average s1se
of the large boats on the German wa,
terways is now from 300 to 400 tons.
on the Elbe 1900 to 1900 tons, while
on the Rhine are many barges of 1000
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, ]. Ellis
Barker, careful British student of
the subject, and DR.. Fritz Hartmann,
distinguished journalist, Berlin cor
respondent of the Hanover Courier,
are significant. These show that,
with well-filled ship on a new and
perfectly equipped water course, the
cost of transportation Of freight, dur,
Ing ten months shipping season, is,
in vessels from $50 to 1900 tons capa.
city, one-fifth to one-twelfth of cent
per ton per mile. But as all German
waterways are not perfectly equipped
and all boats are not well 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 a cent; on the
Elbe, one-fourth, and on the Rhine one
sixth OF a 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 a 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 car
be diminished must be welcomed ant
be considered as a progress, for 1t in
creases our strength In our industrial
competition with foreign countries
Every one who desires to send or t
receive goods wishes for cheaI
freights. Hence the aim of healthy
transport policy should be to diminish
as far as possible the economical!
unproductive costs Of transport. 4
country such as Germany, which Il
happy enough to produce on her owl
soil by far the larger part Of the raw
material and food which 1t requires
occupies the most Independent and tn
most favorable position II, owing 4
cheap, inland transportation, its econ
omic centers are placed as near a
possible to one another. When thi
has been achieved Germany will b,
able to dispense with many foreigl
products, and 1t will occupy a posi-
tion OF superiority in comparison wit
all those states which do not posses
similarly perfect means of transport
MANY circumstances which In fol
mer times gave superiority to certai
countries, such as the greater skill O
their workmen, superior machinery
cheaper wages, greater natural ferti
ity OF the soil; all these advantage
are gradually being levelled down b
time and progress. But what will r,
main is the advantage OF vel
planned system OF transportatio
which makes the best possible use Q
local resources and local advantages.
L. The last sentence, in italic in tn
IS German original, may we'll be read |
" America in connection with BIZ
g, marck's deliberate statement:
ly ''In discounting future events W
,e must take note OF the United State
IS who will become In matters economi
n. and perhaps in matters political q
i'd well, much greater danger than mot
Is people imagine. The war OF the futur
J.. will be the economic war, the struggl
n for existence on the largest seal
In May my successor always bear this 1
k. mind and always take care that &c
T. many will be prepared when this ba
n, tie has TO be fought"
~ And Bismarck was dismissed by III
present emperor, not because OF di
agreement but because William H.,
n. twentieth century Frederick the Grea
of would be his own chancellor and, ca
10 rying on Bismarcks policy as his ow
n. make Germany foremost in all mil
r.. tary and material things.
Il. The New Germany Commercial.
n. The new Germany is not land
IN philosophers, poets, and composer
Mt sleepy officials and dull peasants, da
m. dreaming. sentimentalizing over mus
In and philosophy and beer. Tho ne
IN Germany Is land OF shrewd, calc
d. lating, hard.headed, matter-offact bu
n mess men with no sentimentnlity an