The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-28

legislation passed. would be an am
bilious undertaking. II would involve
a considerable outlay of money. II
the commerce of the world were to
stand still there might be n grave
question as TO whether We could wisely
cXpend money on an elaborate pro-
posal OF this kind.
The Of the world. how
ever. IL not standing still. The In
crease In traffic Is at a much faster
ratio tha the increase in population.
II has been found that goods may be
made cheaper in largo factories. Where
goods were formerly manufactured To-
cally they are now icing menufac-
tured in certain centres. Every one
will think OF many examples OF towns
In the United States which are noted
for one or two commodities which theS
manufacture. This tendency To spe-
c!alization has resulted In n great IN
crease in interchange II commodities
For example. the volume Q: freight
carried by our railroads in 1890 was
- billion ton miles; that Is, fre.sht
tons carried one mile. In 1913 our
railroads carried 30l billion ton mics
During a time when our popu!ation IN
creased something over one-third our
railway freight traffic Increased -FOUR
times.
The same phenomenon IL seen IN
foreign The foreign com
merce OF the United States-that Is,
| imports and exports was n ana six
! tenths billions OF dollars In 1890. In
.., - -.. S,,r anl yNn-tpnfhg nil
| ions Of dollars, New York handles
about one-half Of the Foreign coW-
| merce Of the United States, and even
| more OF this commerce would come 70
New York except for the fact or con-
| gestion. one of our largest
turers engaged IN exporting Always
ships via New York except at times or
| congestion here. Every year his raj
40 figures show considerable ship
ments from Philadelphia, baltimore
| and Galveston.
II within the rear future, a period,
saw. of twenty years. New YORK VIII
have TO handle twice the tonnage
which she IL handling to-day there Is
ample reason for considering me al
dition of very extensive facilities. IL
is only those who do not realize the
enormous rate at which both local and
foreign have been increaS-
ing who cannot see the necessity for
nroyiding new facilities in advance of
the traffic needs.
A comprehensive plan OF port devcl-
opment for New York has been con-
sidered by the Board OF Estimate and
Anportionment. Plans have been
made for the appointment of three en-
gineers OF high repute to draw up
plans for the comprehensive develop
ment OF the port. Public interest in
New York has not been what Il ought
to be. There il a great need for O
crystallization Of public sentiment In
this city 20 take advantage OF the
situation which has arisen, And II q
comprehensive plan of development IL
inaugurated for the port of New York
IL ought surely to find a place for q
free port, becaus the traffic which
would he handled by n free port Is the
traffic for which there Is tho keenesI
international competition.
In the fourth place. his countr,
must perfect foreign selling organ
ization. 1t is unfair to CRITICS,
American business generally on &C
count Of slack foreign methods. Som,
Of our companies have In fact a
effective foreign organizations a
may be found anywhere in the world
They have made Roadway In spit
Of disCouragements and they hav
made American goods known roun,
the world. American business gener
ally, however, Is not in close con
tact with the foreign market. Tn
normal American business man 4
, local where his contemporary in Ger
many or England Ia a man with wild
foreign knowledge.
International trade competition afte
peace returns will undoubtedly pu
to test our effectiveness In selling
I u manufactures In new markets
! Now Ia the time to act quickly ant
d~ecisiveiy IN order to remove disad
~vantages which every n recognize
rive have had against us in the past