The herald., 1893-06-04

mediate relations With the metropolis OF
the United States.
The revolution to be created in the
commercial geography OF the world by
the construction OF that canal will be
better understood by brief disclosure
OF existing conditions. We have no con-
siderable commercial relations with the
east coast OF Asia. Cities whose great
ness is founded and maintained by COM
mercial activity find that magnitude de-
pendent entirely on the intimacy OF
their communication with the nations
OF Europe. The existing lines upon the
commercial geography of the globe con-
fer q vast advantage on the commerce OF
Great Britain. TO illustrate this, take
the principal Heaports Of the Pacific
states and territories at "A' (SRn Fran
cieco) its present line OF communIca-
tion with the Atlantic coast and Europe
is through the Straits of Magellan, or by
Cape Horn, and when that commerce
arrives at the point marked &C" off the
eaat coaat OF South America, 1t Is prac'
tically as near Liverpool as New York.
The reverse OF this 10 true. The trade
between the weet coast OF South Amer
lea, Central America and Mexico, and
New York or Liverpool, ie carried out
ward from either point OF departure to
the point OF "C;" and ct that point the
advantages are again equalized on the
southwark voyage.
The construction OF canal through
the isthmus will produce an intimacy Of
relation between New York and San
Francisco greatly to the advantage OF
both cities, and will necessarily reduce
the commerce between Great Britain
and the Pacific states and territoriea.
Ae in the case OF the commerce OF the
west coast of Sonth America, the com.
merce OF the Pacific states and terri
tories must pass New York to reach
Liverpool.
We introduce here consideration TO
which we invite the cloee analytical at
tention of the reader. The establish
ment Of greater intimacy between any
two points has it's reverse operation as
to other points. For illustration, the
construction OF the canal will shorten
the distance between San Francisco and
New York by 1000 miles. The mere
fact that the distance to Liverpool
ie relatively decreased is mielead-
ing TO the superficial view. CONNER
cially, this Ia not the caee. Relatively,
this increase OF intimacy between the
two American cities named, places the
ports OF Great Britain ct disadvantage
equal to an increase OF 5000 miles, or all
of the distance between New York and
Liverpool. This 10 true because the
commerce OF the west coast OF North and
South America must pass New York to
reach Liverpool, and therefore the dis
tance covered to reach the latter city
becomes relatively greater as against
the relative length of the present lines
OF communication. Tho construction of
the canal, therefore, Ia the equivalent of
removing Liverpool 5000 milea farther
eastward. The full Significance of this
will be readily understood. The control
OF the South American trade, which in
all time has been the dream OF American
statesmen, will then have been realized.
The effect OF these changes on the
commercial geography OF the world will
be very marked ON inland transporta-
tion in the United States. A standard
of rates will have been erected to which
all transportation must necessarily con-
form. The first effect will be the estab-
lishment of meridian line practically
through the territorial center of the
United States, from which the inland
commerce Of the country will turn it's
face eastward toward the Atlantic sea-
board, and westward toward the Pacific.
Thus the commercial relation Of the
states and territories OF the Pacific with
the world will be by way OF the Pacific
sea a-boardss'
New factors in commercial relations
establish new lines OF communication
that which under existing conditions
seems remote and undesirable will under
the new become immediate and indis-
pensable. Among the inevitable
changes to be wrought by the construc-
ton OF the canal will be q revolution Of
lines of land carriage. Lines of railroad
come into existence in response to the
demands of commerce. They are not
the results OF caprice or accident. The
creative power behind them speaks them
into existence as it were, and when
necessity calls their construction ceases
to be difficult; in fact, it becomes the
line of least resistance. Such are the
considerations which afford assurance of
the early triumph of American energy
and enterprise In the construction of the
Isthmian canal, and in view of which
the hope of the future greatness OF Los
Angeles finds justification.
With the contamination of these
changes in the near future, the import
ance OF deep-sea harbor on the south
west coast OF California to the commerce
The economics OF import and export will
call into existence railroads to the north
eaet Of our city, and the seaport for the
construction Of which we are petitioners
will inherit a magnitude of activity
scarcely apprehended at the present
time. just conclusions concerning mat
ters of this kind are never reached by
conhning our views Of the subject to i'm
mediate expediency. Happily there il
sense in which the consequences o
what we are doing in the present layt
hold OF the future by consideration
which broaden with contemplation.
The establishment ofa deep-eea hsrbol
at Port Los Angeles 10 great nationa
work, and the breadth of its Significance
measures the infinite iittleness of tht
personal and corporate prejudices which
have distorted and obscured its just con
sideration. 1t is with sense Of tht
highest pleasure that we can offer thes
reasonable assurances OF the future com
mercial independence and true greatnes
OF cur beautiful city.
Are You Thinking
What you ought to take with you whei
you go to the worlds fairP Your outfi
will mt ha pnunn nlata Vyithnnt a hottla n