Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-07-07
ARTICLE 1.


never occupied in history by any ma
ton not strong in seapower.
The first act passed by the Ameri-
can Congress was designed to aid
American shipping by making the
tariffs lower on goods when shipped
in American bottoms than when ship
ped under foreign flag.
From the time of the union Of our
original thirteen coastal states until
the Civil War, one of the leading in
dustries in America was shipping.
Through our superior ability. in the
construction of ships and the prox-
unity Of our raw materials for
wooden ships (Which were the only
shins of those days., Americas sea
annals of that period constitute a
proud page in the history of the re.
public
Treaties Forbid Discrimination.
BY 1928, through treaties, the pol
icy of discrimination, preferential
tariffs and similar legislation came
to an end Today the United States
has something over one hundred
commercial treaties forbidding such
practices
There were several major factors
that contributed to our willingness
TO neglect our merchant marine
after the close of the Civil War.
Among these was the development
Of our rich central and far west.
Not only was the adventuresome
youth lured west Of the Alleghenies
cut capital found better opportunity
.or profit in the development of our
Itch inland empire. With the find
.ng Of gold in California the lure of
adventure and profit attracted our
young men from the eastern sea-
BOARD belt to the great undeyeloped
.erritory lying to the westward. The
movement then inaugurated "a move
ment of vast Importance to ourselves
and indeed the whole world) marked
he beginning of the rapid decline of
he American Merchant Marine
At about the same time the iron
ship was perfected. In those days
America was not in position to
ouild iron ships in competition with
Great Britain whose coal and iron
ore lay practically at seaboard where
he ships were constructed. We had
lot then as yet developed our great
ron industry nor our steel industry
which followed later
In addition to these very compel
ing reasons, America required all
he borrowed capital she could get,
particularly for the development Of
Ter railroads. These roads were
,uilt as a result of the encourage
nent given by Government subsidies
# land grants and they formed the
.rteries through which the wealth of
he central and western portions of
ur country poured.
Subsidy Like Tariff Protection.
In order to insure the development
: our infant industries, America
dopted system of high tariffs for
be product of factory, mine and
arm alike. Thus, American ships
ad to be built by the highest paid
Cbor in the world and operated by
:ews receiving high wages.
None would have American stand
IDS of living lower than they are;
1t the insurmountable handicap
used thereby to American shipping
tilt and operated by protected labor
obvious
At the start Of the World War in
IA, Americas passenger fleet in
North Atlantic had dwindled to
e shameful total of six vessels.
le aid given them in the way Of
stall subsidy by our Government
IS undoubtedly the chief reason
ar of tAem were able to continue
service at that date. Our whole
ct of sea-going steel and iron ships
that time totaled only one million
oss tons as compared with eighteen
llion tons for Great Britain exclu-
of her colonies.
Fortunately for us, Great Britain
her Allies, in the conduct of the
before our entry and afterwards,
9ded all the surplus products we
I'D supply and demanded ever in
ased production from us. 1t will
recalled that vastly different
uation prevailed during the Boer
n and the farmer and wool grower
America will remember what hap
led to them during that period
en- British ships were not avail
e to carry our SURPRISES and we
l no merchant marine of our own.
Immediately upon our entrance
o the war in 1917, there arose a
for Ships, more ships and again
re ships" as the foremost con-
)ution America could give. AS
ult the Government built the
gest feet the world has ever
own, consisting of more than
entoeu hundred ships of more
n eleven million lightweight tons
ac.tv. No factor aided more In
- w&r 20 n quick conclu-
than the Kaiser's recognition
At America was verify arranging
span the Atlantic with a bridge OF
Ups.
Cannot Depend On Foreigners
America emerged from the war
creditor nation, whereas before it
d been a debtor nation. Prior to
IA the maritime nations of the
)rld, to whom we owed vast sums.
aid surely be counted upon to send
L.