New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-25

two. which makes IL $50 for one year. Taking the
average tonnage Of the ships which go through the
suez Canal as basis, this should give us annual
capacity for traffic OF 900 900 tons but as tho
locks arc $50 feet long and 20 feet wide In the cham
ber and as two vessels, each Of 1000 tons dspace.
ment, may be passed through on each lockage, this
estimate may be largely increased, II not doubled
Steamers will take about twenty eight hours pass
from ocean to ocean, allowing one hour and twenty
minutes for possible detentions in narrow cuts.
"The commerce OF the world is increasing rapidly
with the increase Of the steam feet II for the next
seven years 1t increases In the same ratio in which it
advanced between 1851 and 1888, 1t Will, In 1895.
amount to los, 100000 tons. Now from statistical
records it is possible make estimates of the tonnage
tributary to the canal. They show that the
traffic which would naturally seek the canal was, in
1870, 2,67I, 1856 tons, and that in 1857 1t had in
creased to 044 tons, percentage OF increase Of
nearly sxty-nine. Maintaining this rate OF increase
1t would be, in 1895, 10000 TONS
as it your opinion that such great increase may
reasonably be expected"
"There isn't any reason why 1t should not be real.
lied It u.s. in fact, assured by the industrial devel
opment of our Pacific States, by the settlement Of
Alaska by the growing importance Of Chill, and,
which Is by means the least important fact to be
reckoned on, by the evident disposition Of the en-
terprsng, wealthy and progressive empire OF Japan
TO become dealer In the markets OF the world.
ain these estimates have not taken into account
the tonnage which will be furnished BY vast
sources Of traffic. such and timber, OF which
practically there is nothing carried now, and which
are only waiting for facilities for transportation
william II. Seward said: The entire region OF Ore
gon Washington Territory, British Columbia and
Alaska seems destined TO become shipyard for the
supply of all nations 1t is estimated by lumbermen
in Washington that the opening Of the Nicaragua Canal
will add 81 to the value Of every thousand feet OF
lumber standing around Puget Sound, and the same
is true of the still larger timber fields Of the Alaskan
archipelago the estimate being based on cheap trans
portation for the cost of ocean transportation com
pared to railroad is as IL to 10. Here Is what
a London newspaper has to say In estimating the
future before waterway connecting the Pacific and
Atlantic il must be remembered that lndia mas now
7I5O 600 tons Of shipping annually clearing iroin
her ports Australasia 10000, 900, Hong Kong
7 100000, and the straits settlements I:oOo,VU,
mnst of which comes 10 Great Britain, anc q very
large part of which would find its way through the
Nicaragua Canal. But, incalculabe as the ahvan.
tages Would fbe to this country Great BRITAIN u
probable that the United states would benent 70 a
Still greater extent. That this Is 50 Is clear rom
the fact that the greater part OF the huge commerce
NJ that country would be saved through using inc
canal sometimes between 5000 to l2'ooo miles Oh
travel "