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MARINE REVIEW. 29 - NAVY AND MERCHANT MARINE. MEN PROMINENTLY IDENTIFIED WITH SHIPPING FAVOR THE REVIEW WITH OPINIONS RELATIVE TO THE EFFECT OF THE WAR ON COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES, The Review a few days ago asked from several gentlemen whose posi- tion is such as to make any statement from them of interest. an expression of opinion on the subject of the probable effect of the war and its influ- ences upon the American navy and merchant marine. The replies were as follows: FROM SENATOR WM. P. FRYE. Editor Marine Review:--'What will be the influence of this war on our merchant marine and our export trade?" is' your inquiry, to which you solicit a reply "in a few words." With this limitation, no satisfactory response can be made; nothing more than a few suggestions. This repub- lic has been born again, and all Europe is witness to its birth. China will not now be dismembered, its commerce appropriated without asking our consent, nor will all the islands of the seas be distributed' without our country receiving what seems to be required for our commercial ventures. By an act of congress, Porto Rico and the Hawaiian islands will be in- cluded within our "coastwise trade," in which no foreign ships can par- ticipate; Cuba also, if at any time hereafter annexation shall take place. The war has also demonstrated the necessity of the Nicaragua canal, and its construction will not much longer be postponed. This will bring New York 10,000 miles nearer San Francisco, the Columbian river and Puget sound than-now, and bring to our markets the lumber, wheat and other products of the great northwest at about one-half the present cost in time and freight rates. These conditions will enormously increase our coast- wise trade and fleet, while the canal must inevitably have a like effect on our exports and on the growth of our marine in the foreign carrying trade, if congress is wise enough to give the requisite encouragement. Today, by means of the Suez canal, Liverpool is, on the average, from 2,000 to 3,000 miles nearer to the five hundred millions of the peoples of the Orient than is New York, and Great Britain's commerce there has responded to this advantage. The Nicaragua canal will deprive her of it and give it to us, bringing New York nearer to this magnificent market than Liverpool and must greatly increase our exports. The subject is by no means exhausted, but the time allowed by you-is. State of Maine. WM. P. FRYE: FROM THE MANAGER OF THE DETROIT DRY DOCK Oo. Editor Marine Review:--I admire the president's attitude in the war from start to finish. I believe that we should be patient and forebearing with the 'Cubans. They have had little chance to gain much knowledge about self-government but will soon learn, for the republic is bound to be in evidence in Cuba. I look for a rapid development of the resources of Cuba and Porto Rico and a continuation of the boom in foreign trade which we have experienced during the past vear. The friendly expres- sions of British statesmen and the press regarding our position in this war will encourage her people to trade more exclusively with us, and a re- ciprocal spirit on our part is all that is needed to lead to a largely increased volume of trade. The enlargement of the St. Lawrence canals to the dimensions of the Welland canal is going to enable us to deliver our pro- visions abroad at prices to beat the world. The repeal of that portion of our treaty that prevents the building of war vessels on the lakes will doubt- less soon be accomplished, by reason of the fact that the large appropria- tions likely to be made for increasing our navy will lead to lake ship yards securing a large share of government work in the line of torpedo boats, dispatch boats, revenue cutters. etc. The performances of the Columbia and Oregon, and indeed the per- formances of our entire navy, have demonstrated to the world that the United States can and does build ships of the highest class. and as we can build as cheaply as other countries. we are bound to receive a large amount of foreign orders. While the outlook on the lakes is at present anything ut encouraging. I believe we are nearing the greatest boom in all lines of business that this country has ever seen, and the ship owner or manu- acturer who has up-to-date apnliances is bound to reap a«rich harvest within the next five years. Let Providence continue to favor the farmer, as has been the case during the past two years, and nothing can stop the wheels of industry from moving in the interest of both employer and em- ployed. A. McVITTIE. Detroit, Aug. 9, 1898. FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE LAKE CARRIERS ASSOCIATION. Editor Marine Review:--I am afraid my opinion, owing to a lack of knowledge of conditions ruling in our foreign trade. will not ibe worthy of much attention. So far as I can see, the results of the war will make little difference with lake business, except so far as it increases the demand for steel and iron in the building of a new. navy,' the extension of com- merce in American bottoms. and the opening of new markets. 'Perhaps this will be overcome by the increased imports of Cuban iron ore... For * one I am firmly convinced that the: island of Cuba will become a part. of the United States in the natural working out of commercial and industrial Conditions. The island: will be developed from-its present state of. ruin y American and English capital, and the influence of this capital for. the retention of the island under American rule will be too: strong to be re- - Sisted. If this be true, the iron ore mines around Santiago will compete on equal footing with our Lake Superior region, and the cost of produc- tion and transportation will be reduced on Cuban ore the same as it has been-on Lake Superior'ore. - - Or ae : The immense coastwise traffic certain to. be. developed: between Cuba, Porto Rico and the United States will require a large fleet in itself, and this will give.a great impetus to ocean ship building. In the case of, the Philippines, I presume: American: vessels would be given no -advantage Over foreign bottoms, even if we take those possessions. Our policy will € doubtless to show the utmost impartiality towards all nations. .__ As to general ocean trade, I know so little that I will not venture any views, I presume subsidies will be granted more freely, particularly to South American countries. A vast increase in our export trade to Cuba and Porto Rico will, of course, follow the war. So far as flour and pro- visions go, we will have these markets to ourselves, simply because we can sell cheaper than any other nation. In short, I expect Havana to become an English-speaking city in its business life within ten years. Nothing can now stop the upbuilding of a navy second only to that of Great Britain. Any party that stands in the way will be brushed aside. What we want are ships that can fight, no mere defense vessels. The building of monitors I regard as a mistake. Warships cannot destroy modern shore batteries. Our policy in war should be strong enough to make the other fellow look out for himself. All talk of a bombardment of American seacoast cities ended when we said we were going to send Watson across to Spain. Then as a result of the war we will have the Nicaragua canal and have it completed, so that both coasts can be defended by an overpowering fleet. A greater development of American shipping will come from the opening of the Nicaragua canal than from any other result of the war. ° . S. DUNE Chicago, Aug. 5, 1898, : Tana FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHICAGO SHIP BUILDING co, Editor Marine Review:--I believe our country is entering into an era of export business far beyond the average expectation. To aid in making this effective, an increase in our navy is absolutely necessary, as this will serve to protect us in all of the markets of the world, and as a result would naturally tend towards a large increase in our merchant ma- rine. Iam satisfied we can build ships in competition with every foreign builder, and if the outcome of the war has no other lesson, its effect will, I believe, be to build up both our naval and merchant marine. I hope and expect to see Porto Rico a province of our country, Cuba practically under our control, and sufficient coaling stations on the Pacific to enable us to hold our position in a proper way for the far eastern trade. Chicago, Aug. 2, 1898. + W.L. BROWN. FROM MR. FRANK J. FIRTH OF PHILADHLPHIA. Editor Marine Review:--The conditions that are to follow the close of the war no man can foresee. It is already evident that the most diffacult problems the war will present are those to be dealt with after its close. The general sentiment of the country appears to indicate that, in addition to the Sandwich islands, we will have added to our possessions all of the Spanish West Indies islands, including Cuba, with more or less of the Ladrones and Philippine islands. 'Coaling stations on the latter group appear to fulfill present conservative requirements. This means a strong and efficient navy, kept up to the latest modern standards; a naval policy resembling that of England. Such a policy, with its constant and grow- ing expenditure, has been made possible by the victories of Manila and Santiago. Our people--all of our people--now know what a navy means, and each true American citizen feels a personal pride and share in these naval triumphs that have so startled the entire world. The new navy that will be necessary to protect our colonial interests, no good citizen will fail to commend, and--pay taxes for. This navy must have a further useful mission. to command a continued popular support. It must protect a vigorous and healthy merchant marine, making our flag known and re- spected in all the markets of the world. Without a merchant marine, the navy will soon lose its claim upon the sympathy of the tax-payers, and it will be without the support of the fleet of transports and trained sailors that our present experience has proved are essential to naval success. The recent marvelous victories, with their even more marvelous freedom from loss of life, will attract the young men of our country to the sea, and our nation may again resume its old-time supremacy on the oceans. We should have, we must have, a merchant marine. 'We never will have an ocean merchant marine,however, as the result of individual effort unsup- ported by the national government. Nor will we have an efficient mer-~ chant marine under any illiberal national policy, such as has prevailed im the past. Our present postal subsidy law was designed to encourage the creation of a merchant marine. To secure its passage at all its friends were obliged to consent to a reduction of one-third in the subsidy rates a thorough familiarity with competitive conditions forced them to see were necessary. Under this law, with its insufficient. support, a few vessels were built and have been operated because they existed. There is no possibility of their number being increased. Whether we like it or not, we know we must meet competitive conditions if we are to share in com- petitive trade. -After the close of this war, we must have and continue to have an efficient and constantly growing navy; we must have an effi- cient and constantly growing merchant marine on the oceans, liberally supported by the nation through such subsidies, bounties or other legis- lative methods as the necessities of competition with other nations may demand: we must have our own ship yards to create and maintain our naval and merchant marine, so that we shall not depend upon any foreign country for our national life, and therefore we should not give our flag, register or controlled trade to any vessels not built in our own country. The nation should unite in aoe ea our national legislature a navy, a merchant marine, and home ship yards. phitadelpnia: Aug. 5, 1898.' FRANK J. FIRTH. FROM. A.LAKE VESSEL OWNER. Editor Marine Review:--I believe the "Spanish war" has been justified already in the results achieved by us and by the possibilities now apparent under our new departure for future benefit along many lines. - Our gov- ernment tried to prevent the war. It entered upon its consideration with hesitation and reluctance, but finally yielded to the clamor of the domi- nant American sentiment for humanitarian interference. Out of the wreck of conflict, in a material sense, we have saved Cuba, Porto Rico, the La- drones and probably the Philippines--a good real estate transaction. Ha- waii .was thrown at us, and we caught her. We probably would have muffed her, purposely, except. for Dewey's victory at the Philippines. We tossed aside our. Monroe doctrine, entered upon a policy of territorial expansion, and now regarded the acquisition of Hawaii as pee The brilliant victories of our navy evoked the admiration of the world, and we suddenly rose to a high place in the constellation of great powers. Our flag, though seldom seen on the high seas, at once acquired diene as something to respect and fear. England began to speak kindly of us and even suggested an alliance, of the two great Anglo-Saxon powers. This tickled our pride and coincided in a large sense with our inclination.