The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-03-26
Before the Geographical SocI-
ETY. Of Japan.
Prob bic Influence Upan Japan.
Notes and Facts Relating to he In
HupHce OF an International Cable
Upon the World Ana Upon Com
mcrce in the Pacific Especially.

L
two sections of trade world, not
two distinct, ever sundered, CONNER
cial world spaces. Those sections
were not strangers in trade TO each
other before Suez was opened; since
the dawn of history slow lengths of
innumerable caravans toiling through
sand deserts have necessarily deploy-
ed upon the shores of the Eastern
Mediterranean, bringing the rare and
costly products of Persia and India
to the ships of Phpnicia, of Greece,
of Rome and later to those of Venice,
Genoa, Spain and England. The
Suez Canal did not create new
trade-it improved and increased a
trade already existing between sec
tions and only between sections.
| will not be suspected in saying
this of trying to belittie that great
and noble work, whose usefulness to
mankind cannot be over estimated.
1t has doubtless been of greater ser
vice for that very reason that it has
not created new trade, but has vastly
helped that which was already exist
ing.
The Nicaragua Canal, on the con-
trary. will connect two areas of com
merce hitherto without connection,
Independent of each other-nay,
almost ignorant of each other, each
with its own trade channels and cur
rents circL.g and eddying in res
ponse to the various and changing
demands of merchandise and the
needs of its transportation. 1t is
true that the Atlantic system reaches
out in some degree to Australia,
China ard Japan, and that Alaskan
fish and lumber, Chilean guano and
nitrates pass in limited quantities
around Cape Horn to New York and
Europe, but the intervening distances
are too great to produce anything
like union or joining of the trade
systems of the Atlantic and Pacific.
They are distinct and separate,
and will so remain, unle-S joined by
a waterway through the American
Isthmus. This done, we should with
reason expect gradual mingling Of
tie elements and factors of transport
tation and, as the new necessities
were felt and the new convenienccs
realized, there would gradually be
effected changes OF great importance
to the commerce of the world-far
more so than the changes which
Suez effected as between the Allan
tic and Indian oceans. More re-
markable still, however, in my be.
lief, will be the great increase of
trade; the creation of new produc-
tiveness in many fields hitherto I'M
worked, resulting from the compile
ton of the canal and the consequent
opening of convenient markets and
active demands for the various com
modities produced.
Let us 90 little more into detail
and, with our eyes upon the map,
once more discuss the effects of the
canals completion. | shall be glad
at any time to be interrupted in this
description with suggestions, for
there are many doubtless among you
who have studied the trade routes of
the Pacific aud to whose knowledge
as to details | will readily defer in
this division of my subject.
The most marked of the immedi-
ate effects will be observed between
New Orleans in the Gulf of Mexico,
and Guayaquil and the other ports
on the west coast of South America
and Mexico. The distance by water
now from New Orleans to Guayaquil
is ,683 miles; by the canal it will
be 2340 miles, saving of 9343
miles.
New Orleans is the natural port of
the populous and productive states
of the Mississippi Valley, while the
Peruvian coast has for exchange its
guanoes and nitrates.
Next in order of benefit is the
communication between New York
and San Francisco-between Phila-
delphia and Puget Sounds well as
the Alaskan coast. Also the trade
of England and Germany with the
west coasts of North and Central
and South America. By the Nicara-
qua Canal the saving in distance be-
tween New York and San Francisco
is l0,O80 miles, between Liverpool
and San Francisco 1882.
The bulk of the traffic passing
through the canal will at first consist
principally of shipping plying be-
tween these last mentioned localities.
Upon these lines will, 1 believe, be
seen the development of new trade
increasing with great rapidity. The
difficulties and expense of the voyage
around Cape Horn have restricted
the transportation, and hence the
pro iuctlon of many commodities to
the point almost of prohibition.
When the products of Peru and
Chill, the coffee and cocoa of Mexico
and Central America, the grain of
California, the lumber of Vancouver
and Alaska can he placed in the
markets of the United States aud
Europe at prices largely reduced Ivy
the cheaper transportation afforded
by the canal, then we snail see a
greater demand for these products,