Shall American Carriers Transport the Products of American Industry? [pp. 305-310]

"American Carriers."
scarcely visible, and thrusting his head
into the open door, shouted "Pap!"
Receiving no reply he entered, but
soon re-appeared, saying:
"Boys, he's asleep. Can't wake him
11p.
True enough, - the poor old man was
asleep; yes, asleep in peace, with his
face turned upward, and over his frozen
body God had spread a pure white mantie.
As we stood there the sun showed
himself above a hoary mountain top, and
smiled upon the Wenatchie, while the
clouds took wings, and flocking together
like huge gray birds, sailed off across
the sky.
"Say goodby to Pap, boys; it's
Christmas mornin', and he's gone to see
Peggorty," murmured Slim, brushing
a tear away with his snowy fingers.
H. F Bashford.
SHALIL AMERICAN CARRIERS TRANSPORT THE PRODUCTS OF
AMERICAN INDUSTRY?
THE investigation of the transportation industry during the last two or
three years has disclosed some singular
conditions, as well as some inconsistencies on the part of sections of our country which have prospered most from
the "American System" of protection.
Believing in a system that will protect
all American industries, so far as American laws can equalize different conditions, the writer takes up the discussion
of transportation by American routes,
whether land or water.
Before i86o, when the bulk of domestic carrying was done by water craft on
natural and artificial water-ways, no protective laws seemed necessary other than
limiting such carrying to domestic carriers. These were thereby enabled to extend their operations until they controlled avery large foreign commerce, unequaled except by one foreign nation.
All our domestic carrying and over sixtyseven per cent of our exports and imports
were carried by American carriers. The
rates, whether high or low, inured to the
benefit of our own people. Having ample facilities, we were not subject to
dictation as to rates, either domestic or
foreign, by inflexible statutes applicable
VOL. XIV. —20.
only to inflexible conditions. Can as
much be said now? and if not, why?
Under the law of gravitation water
seeks a common level. Under commercial or common law, trade and traffic
adjust themselves to surrounding conditions. As surplus water seeks the
common level under natural laws, so
surplus products of a country under
commercial law seek the common, or
world's market. The nation that has a
surplus of any industrial commodity
must find in some way a market for it,
or so much of human energy as was required in its production has been wasted.
Any law that restricts the exchange or
disposition of a surplus product is detrimental to the producing nation.
The American people are embarrassed
today with surplus products of soil, manufactures, and domestic carrying facilities, and a deficit of foreign transportation facilities and foreign market. As
paradoxical as this may seem, it is nevtheless a regrettable fact.
We are told by the press that Congress
must enact laws to secure the home
market. Under the present condition
of surplus products, Congress might well
considera proposition to sccurea demand
1889.]
305