The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1921-01-03

fs+ASiout SINll al SYSTEM AI1Gfl-
Sreign trade is faced with the
fHicsllties inseparable from doing
business over system largely owned
and managed by the commercial rivals
of the United States.
British interests own and operate
more than hall of the cables now
In Use. At the present time, too, Great
Britain posse ses practical monopo-
iy of cable manufacture, which ia
strengthened by British control of the
gutta percha market. Although far
behind the British system in the point
or mileage, the American owned cables
rare second In Importance and connect
ali the American possessions as we'll
as the Canal Zone and the naval base
at Guantanamo, Cuba, with the CONT
mental United States, thus providing
the nucleus OF comprehensive Ameri,
can system.
The present system of information
al communications, largely cable.
while comprehensive and efficient has
been built primarily on the basis of
lconnectifg the commercial world with
THE old world centers of finance, COM
lmerce and industry. National inter
tests and prestige, competitive enter
~. Use and local influence have govern,
q: ocation, extensions and combina-
so that these facilities have not
N all cases arranged to be pro-
EFFORT ' Of the maximum efficiency or
Republr.
noep ~ Become World Center.
1.-THE United States is connected
VITA this worlds system, but as con
kributing Geld to b reached and en-.
plotted and not primarily as a center.
pc the United States is to maintain the
position which 1t has wesgM the trade
OF the world, 1t must become the focus
or world system of electrical inter
communication. 1t must become one
of the most important centers of com
I munication, perhaps the most impor.
tant, as 1t has become In many re.
Fpects the center of the worlds trade
and finance Without quick, reliable
1 communication, Independent of other
national interests, the vast sums we
nave invested In our new merchant
marine and our organizations for for.
8 eliza commerce will never yield full
value on the investment.
The entire cost Of an American ca
pie system which would give us direct
communication with the principal
commercial nations of Europe, South
america and the Far East, would be q
comparatively small sum compared with
fhe cost OF the newly built American
merchant marine. 1t would give the
commerce Of the United States what IL
needs and what the commerce Of the
pfder countries already has. The
spending Of thousands of millions ON
means OF transportation for American
trade Is doubtful prospect as long as
Ais country has no proper facilities
FOR the agents who spread that trade
and as long as the ships which carry
e can communicate only with the con-
psnt OF foreign nations OF through for.
hlgn owned agencies
Would Relieve Congestion.
In certain regions present cable IA
Ellifaes are 30 congested that, apart
from national considerations, new
American cables would serve a press
ang international need The most
acute need for additional cable facili-
ties at the present time is In the Pa
cific ocean. While over the north At
pRntic cables traffic has practically
Auadrupied since 1913, In the same pc.
Fiod Pacific cable traffic has increased
Mnearly nine fold Proposals for thu
Wing "a new Pacific cable have been
nsldered tentatively. The cost of
- new Pacific cable is large sum
money, but the $40,000,O0O which il
- estimated japan and the United
States will expend upon each of their
newest battle cruisers, would probably
suface to duplicate the entire existing
plant
The experience of the last Ave
years has conclusively demonstrated
that the amount of business which I'm
available for the cables is limited only
by the physical capacity Of the lines
and the ability of the operating com.
panies to keep rates at a point which
viii attract business"