Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-06-16

encouragement of ship building and navi-
cation as distinct from postal subven-
tions.
II cannot be said that this iiberai
policy has stimulated interest In sea-
faring life or created a fleet OF even
respectable proportions. The steam
tonnage of France has increased from
l,272 steamers of 527, 55l net tons In
1900 to $50 steamers of S3S. l1S net
tons in 1911, or SIS per cent. The per-
centage of French tonnage to all
tonnage entered and cleared at
French ports In 1900 was 2s.s, in
1911 it was only 26.2. The report of
the suez cana direction for 1918
shows that of the tonnage which
passed through the canal during that
year 90 per cent was English. II per
cent German, and only 47-1o per
cent French. If the tonnage of the
two highly subsidized lines which
together enjoy annual bounties OF
about $4,000, 900 We're eliminated, the
French flag would rarely be seen
on the ocean.
Germany pays subsidies to only two
steamship lines; namely. the German
East Africa line, of Hamburg. and the
North German Lloyd. of Bremen, which
together receive annually about 81, 750, 900
for maintaining mail service. The for
mer of these two and the German Levant
line also receive what is equivalent to
a subsidy i'm the form of preferential rail
rates over the German state railroad on
cargo to or from German East Africa
and the Levant. Her great freight and
passenger carriers. we'll known to the
American public, and her purely cargo
steamers receive no subsidy; and YET
her fleet has increased within 10 years
by almost 100 per cent. 1t is highly eff
midable rival of the English merchant
fleet for the worlds carrying trade.
Italy pays. annually in subsidies about
$4,000 600. Her seagoing steamers. how
ever. register only 700. 1000 tons, and
the growth of her fleet during the last
1t has made mas been in passenger steam
ers engaged in carrying emigrants to
South America and the United States.
Hollands annual payments in subsidies
for mail services to her colonies and to
the Argentine Republic amount to only
$3.50, 600. The largest and most success
full of the Dutch companies. the Holland
American line, is not subsidized. The
tonnage of Holland, Notwithstanding the
slight assistance which the ship owner
receives from the state, is almost as
large as that of France.
Norway has a population OF $500 con, and
expends annually the insignificant sum OF
$4,000: vet despite this. the Norwegian
fleet has shown a steady and healthy
growth. 1T Is larger than tina of France
or Japan, and the Norwegian flag is seen
In ports where French and Japanese
are unknown.
England. whose example If we seek an
~Xanpl we might prof1tably follow. pays
no subsidies except for the maintenance
OF fast mail services to and from her
colonies. and for the right of presumption
or hire in the case of the two fast Gu
narders. The reports for the fiscal year
l9l2-i3 show hat there was paid out OF
tho ~ Al IA
respect OF steamship subsidies G761, 120, or
3,7O6.654. OF this sum only $73O.ON was
charged to the naval account. this being
the payment to the Cunard line for the
right of preemption or hire OF the Maure-
tania and Lusitania. The remainder was
charged to the postoffice account. To
those familiar with the character of the
service required of the subsidized mail
lines, 1t Is apparent that they give full
value for what they receive.
There are many who imagine that the
commerce of the world is carried on by
the great four-funnel passenger liners that
make an imposing sight within the har-
Dor OF New York, quite ignorant of the
fact that these 81, OOO-ton steamers carry
little or no cargo. The of the
world Is carried by steamers of a muc},
more modest type-the 7,O0O-ton cargo
or liner. No one of the many thou
sand British ships of this type receives a
'HSiNy aLu yet lney may be
on all seas. The traveller to whom
the sight of a passing cargo tramp is not
must be dull indeed. Rusty and
weather beaten, homeward bound with
cargo or outward bound, often in ballast.
no government favors, she defies
the competition of her subsidized sisters
France and Japan and finds "A liyeli-
hood in the remOtest navfgable quarters
OF the globe.
England, whose example. If we seek an
or hire In the case of the two fast Gu
The British merchant fleet, which in
cludes half the tonnage of the entire
world and today carries to England and
to France the produce of happier lands.
more than any other one
thing the genius OF the English race. 1t
was not built In a year OF a decade, but
was evolved out OF many years of expert
ment and patient perseverance. The early
laws of England were as alb
surdly restrictive as our own. Where
from time to time they were seen to throt-
tie her commercial progress. they were
until nov the British ship owner.
under reasonable and proper restrictions.
may purchase. man. and run his ship
when. where. and as he pleases, with the
result that he handles almost 70 per cent
Of the worlds
maintain tho Onod IN ,Sknv.,