The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-06-10

a.is 10 sell to at least q i of s. slses
nat ions included IN tlte iitsl.s itsss
VIII be more ciined to puTcflass
We have purchased from hem
Transports ion Question
Another factor to- be consids cred 1 I
IN this question of comm n e e r:
extension is that of Transporter to !.
IN the first place. the question oI6
han1ing to the shipping port io =, q Il:
ing. and transportation from tne:
ports of entry require carefui con ssln-
sideration. OF these problems tn TAT
of railroad transportation to the
mort Of export or from the port Of
import, is one that most concerns
Uncle Sam
Our transportation system Ast
though the best of any nation IN
the world, is Insufficient to handle
the amount Of traffic demended Of
lit. : When a company can not snip
the things. it produces, only one
course remains, that is, 1t mus
shut down This has happened TO
many Of our industries In dlffer-
ent sections of our country. The
consequence has always been
loss OF much money not only 70
the company directly concerned
but also to commerce as a Whole Il
1t certainly is self evident that
lit prevents extension. The gov
eminent has been severely critl-
cized for not purchasing more
equipment while the roads were
under. its control. The railroads
when returned to their owners
were terribly run down dilap1dat-
ed and impaired
| 1t has been estimated that e
would require billion dollars an
nually for several years to place
+ our inland transportation system
Ion an efficient basis This pelns
the case, the people are SLOW II. ~
simplifying the money for an IN
iyestment. from which profits are
SO doubtful.
For. the good Of commerce. the
railroads should formulate some
plan for consolidating the various
roads into larger units, or have
common system of organization
| in all the departments.
Terminals should be subject tc
common use. Railroad managers
should perfect plans to keep :afs
in motion and at the same tine
have them loaded/t to full capac'ty:
iA+ the mort terminal Of the rail-
road. better facilities for LOADING
should be provided SO that the ships
would need to spend less tirne N
port. The freight for sh1pu S''s
should be classified and the more
valuable shipments should be rSted
higher than the shipments 1nciH''-
ing cheaper products.
Like Mail Classification.
This classifying should be done
in much the same manner. as Oncis
sam lists and Classics MS. man.
All this would make for un1tlcatlon
and unification, would reduce costs,
waste. losses, loss OF time. n1lsut
derstandings, and failures. y
would induce coo-pertlon, arouse
lnnbucs interest, and stimulate joint
operation and concurrent l az;
The results could be none Other
than. positive, and consequently. II
would mean better and greater
commerce.
Now that plans have been pre-:
sented whereby a more efficient
and better system of conveying
goods to shipping ports can pc
worked out, how shall the goods pc
taken care of at the port? Shall
Uncle Sam have definite Mer-
[ chant Marine policy? If SO, what
shall it be? Should he own the
ships himself or should he permit
| them to be owned by private 7ndi-
vidIiaIsq Or should be enter INTO
competition with privately owned
! ships? /.
| sThe last of these plans has al
ready been tried and has not prov
en- very satisfactory. Most OF
! Uncle SANS ships are now lyirs
| idle in the harbors. The first or
these plans does not seem TO De
| fea sible for Uncle Sans methocs or
work in times OF peace are too SLOW
and inflexible. ~
Neither do I favor ship subsidy
such as is being discussed at the
present session of Congress. We
I, do net desire foreign trade sup
ported by taxes or protected by
threats of war. Without these
| aids we may not be able to get
| trade as fast as do other nations
| but we will be able to get 1T with
| less expense and it will be more
! permanent because it will have a
.firmer foundation.
Both Of these factors, economy
| and permanence, are important IN
! the matter of commercial founda-
ton. Public opinion would not
| maintain government ownership
even if we should begin 1t.
That we need a merchant mar
! inc is just as certain as that
government ownership or charity
is not the way to get it. Hence,
| but one method is left, that OF
private ownership. Private owners
will discontinue steamship lines
when they cease to be profita Bile.
Exports to countries from which
we import goods would be more
! profitable to US for then our shlps
! would be laden both ways.
Exchange Cost Less
Cost of exchange would be less
also. for either nation would have
SO large balance of trade. Thus,
| in addition to being economical
Aand = permanent our commercial
enterprises would be more purely
! American. a valuable and inpor=