The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-05-22

that the margin OF profits al such
prices II practically MI In many lines
OF American goods.
Seoond-The bulk OF the American
goods travels overland, via the trans
continental lines both in the United
states and Canada. The English and
German goods travel via the two great
sea routes. namely, through the Suez
Canal. Red Sea. Indian Ocean and Pa
enc ocean " Honolulu; a distance
OF some sixteen thousand miles. and
the Cape Horn route, n distance OF
about fifteen thousand miles.
Third-The cost OF building a mer-
chant vessel in he United States Is
appreciably greater than that OF build
ing a similar vessel in the shipyards
Of any OF the great maritime nations
of Europe. The cost OF operating an
American vessel is very much greater
than the cost OF operating the vessels
OF these European powers. This lat
ter for h reason that the United
states has made and enforced statutes
providing for very expensive regula-
tons Of American shipping In the
shape OF special pay. treatment and
o or seamen. extensive life saving
regulations, wireless telegraphy. etc,
and In addition the fact that all the
great maritime powers of Europe
heavily eubsidize their better class OF
shipping while the United States does
not.
Saving In Distance.
Fourth-Upon the opening of the
Panama Canal. the saving In distance
for the European vessels will be. via
both the great water routes above men,
toned, between seven thousand and
eight thousand miles. or practically
half. In other words, the foreign
manufacturers freight rates will be
cut in half. The water route from.
New York TO San Francisco will not
be very much shorter via the Canal
than that from British and German
ports.
F1fth-The opening OF the canal
means the transfer OF all bulk freight
from n transcontinental railroads TO
the water route via the canal. This
for the reason that the transcortincnt-
al railroads. which already make excep-
tionally low rates TO the Pacific coast
IN order TO meet the competition of
the water routes from Europe, will
not be able when those water route
freights are cut in half TO meet the
competition at nll. and the transconti-
mental railroad business will therefore
be largely restricted 10 higher grade
freight requiring quick transit.
Stxth-The opening of the canal will
be the signal for a tremendous devel-
opment OF the Pacific coast.
Seventh-If this DEVELOPMENT Is to
De made with American goods carried
in American vessels, 10 will mean an
enormous commercial development OF
the United States as a whole. the in
vestment OF many millions OF dollars
In the building Of ships. practically all
OF which will go 10 the labor OF the
country. an increased demand for
every form of manufactured article:
IN short, one OF the experimenting ad-
vances In the wealth and prosperity
OF the United States.
Eighth-ln order. however. 10 re-
cure such a result. there must be
American shipping able to run and
I've on freight rates equal TO British
and German freight rates. This IS so
because the American manufactures.
to sell his goods on the Pacific coast.
must be able to lay them down in Pa
1 CHIC coast ports as cheaply as English
or German manufacturers. and he has
no chance OF doing 50 unless he en-
joys az least an equal freight rate in
American ships (which alone can
carry his goods between ports OF the
United States). rs compared with for
eign ships.
I Ought 20 Have Advantage.
From the foregoing 81 will be seen
that IL Is necessary for us 10 do Tome
thing to affect the Inherent higher
natural cost OF owning and operating
American ships engaged in mo coast.
wise trade N they are to be able 10
carry freight on equal freight rates
with British and German ships. 9th
erwise. there will be no American
! ooastwise shipping passing through
the canal. or practically none. and
consequently h alleged monopoly re-
served to Americans is OF no value:
IN fact. does not exist. The evomp-
ton Of American coastwise shipplnr
from the canal tolls will be a consid-
cradle aid In helping q 10 make freight
rates az low as british and German
ships. In fact. II d. essential that tLev
have some advantage. Otherwise. the
great Industrial development OF tho pa
cihc coast will be made with foreign
goods paid for BY America. and tho
building up Of a great coastwiae shin
ping trade viii DO lost. with an that
that means I'm dollars and cents. to
tho United States.
u o. absurd 20 say that the e0emp-
ton n tolls viii encourage n monon-
ly. Tn the first place. there b. no
monopoly IN The second place. rail-
road owned ships cannot pass through
The canal. under tho terms OF tho
canal Act. when nor IN competition
with the trausconrnenfaf railroads
IN the third place. by that same Act
tho Interstate Commerce Commission
o. given complete control Of tho coast
wise trade passing through the Canal
and tho latter cannof charge unfair
rates or form n monopoly unless per-
United 20 do 20 BY Tho Commission
~ d. not 20 Do supposed that tho
lOmmIaaIOn viii allow such action
The whole proposition. therefore
hollis down 20 this. Tho only chance
America has of reapinr fho great in.
duefrIal development ON the Pacific
Coast which should follow tho OPENING
~ Tho Canal ia fo allow American
ships 90 pass frruuFh tho Canal FREQ
Of HnNN. that nHHHHw#HL L##HHH"H. az
millions ~ dollara Will ha paid hv
America 20 f1rrirn manufacturer
and foreign shipping which should he
paid fo Americans and rfay boz tho
country n the free PASSAGE OF
American ehIus fh~ourh Tho Canal Del
not enough fo rro. crfr tho trade GO
the United States. re- should DO on-
courarcd In addition hy other means
because DO is ~ paramount import
ance that our merchants on the At