The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-07

mensely develop the maritime commerce
or the Pacific coast. In the movement of
one years wheat crop of the Pacific coast
10000 to 100000 will be saved in
freight, insurance and interest, and the
onerous expense of sacking, amounting
to about s1.25 per ton, will be saved 10 the
producer; for, through the canal, grain
may be as safely carried in bulk as it is
carried across the Atlantic. The wheat
crop Of the Pacific coast will increase
greatly in the future, especially in North
ern California, Oregon and Washington.
The canal will make overproduction of
horticultural products on the Pacific coast
an impossibility, for, with the aid of re-
frigerator steamships. fruits, vegetables
and all other products of the Pacific coast
orchards and farms can be supplied to the
markets of Northern Europe in p days, at
a time of the year when those markets are
unsupplied. With the completion Of the
canal the lumber trade of the Pacific coast
will receive an enormous impetus, for
Europe and the Atlantic states are COM
paratively denuded of timber. The canal
will open our fisheries TO the Atlantic
fishermen. When cargoes can pass
through the canal unbroken IN bulk, and
at cheap freight rates, or in the same ves-
sci that made the catch, our fisheries will
increase enormously. The ocean carrying
trade which will use the canal will be of
immense importance and profit to the
Pacific coast, as well as to our entire coun-
try, and the industry of shipbuilders will
receive great impetus; in fact, new ship
yards will be necessary to meet the in
creasing demand for ocean carriers, even
between home ports. The canal will
create mercantile steam navy, and re-
store the American flag to the ocean.
The building of the canal will enor-
mously increase the material development
of Central America on the Pacific side, and
create prosperity in which the American
Pacific coast cities must share. The
shortest route from the ports of China and
Japan to the Nicaragua canal passes
within $50 miles of San Francisco, and
still nearer San Diego. Consequently, all
steamships in this great trade to the
eastern coasts of North and South America
will make our Pacific coast cities ports of
call for coaling, and for discharging and
taking up cargoes. This is a fact of great
significance, tending to cheaper freights
both eastward and westward.
Our trade of Japan has more promising
future than our commerce with China, for
Japan, with much smaller population,
is rapidly being Europeanlzed in
its civilization, at least to the extent
of adopting European. clothing, tastes. etc.
With the building of the Nicaragua canal
our trade with Japan. with New Zealand
and Australia. new and growing countries
of English speaking people, must newt
ably increase rapidly, and if our govern
ment will connect our continent and theirs
by cable via Honolulu and Samoa, and
pay reasonable compensation for the
transportation of ocean mails in tirst-class
American steamships, the development of
commerce in this direction will be remark
able, and Pacific coast ports, as well as the
whole country, will be greatly benefited
thereby.
The ultimate development of the Pacific
coast states, when the Nicaragua canal has
given them cheap water transportation for
their exports of surplus products and their
imports is illustrated by the following
comparisons between the group of Pacific
states, viz. California, Oregon, Washing
ton, Nevada and the territories of Arizona
and Utah, and the group of Atlantic states,
viz, the New England states, New York,
New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and
Maryland
Pacific Atlantic
Area in square miles.......... 7i366l ls2,9l2
Reputation IN $50 .-......... l,S2JYJ0 lS6j7,O0O
The Pacific group, therefore, has more
than four times the area of the Atlantic
group. and If it were populated proper
tionately would have 100000 people.
New York city in 1910 had population
of $4,000, approximately that of San
Francisco in 1891. The state of New York
the same year had population of 2.42S,-
92l. Compared with the Eastern states
above named. with proportionate trade
based on our imports and exports, the Pa
cihc states and territories will have a trade
Of 81, 600 600 600 annually when we reach a
proportionate population while our man.
ufactures will be worth nearly $4,000, OO0-
coo annually.