Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-05
ue of the French work already done is
estimated at $50, 1854, 1853
RECEIPTS TO ACCRUE.

RECEIPTS TO ACCRUE.
1t is estimated that the tonnage that
would use the canal will amount to T.
OSO,O27 tons in 1909.
The report says:
AS compared with Europe the Uni
ted States will derive from the canal
Tar greater benefits, both COMMERCIALLY
ana industrially. The canal once
opened our trade with the west coast
OIL South America will rapidly increase,
as will also the volume of our trade
with the Orient. The amount of the
american commerce through the canal
Will quickly surpass the total amount
OF Europe's traffic.
An isthmian canal will strengthen
the unity of the national and political
interests OF the United States and pro-
mote its commerce and industries.
BY bringing the eastern and west
ern sections of our country into closer
relations, by reducing the time and
cost of transporting our western pro-
ducts TO Europe and by enabling the
eastern. southern and central states to
reach the raw materials and markets
oil Pacific countries cheaply and eX-
peditiously the canal will more fully
Identify political and social intercourse
and quicken the industrial activity of
every section of the United States. The
manufactures of eastern and southern
states the cotton from the south, etc,
viii flow out to the foreign countries
in an increasing volume"
The commissions final conclusions
follow:
THE estimated cost OF building the
Nicaragua canal is about SOS, coo. 900
more than that of completing the Pa
mama canal, leaving out the cost of ac-
curing the latter property. This mea-
sures the difference in the magnitude
of obstacles to be overcome in the ac-
tual constructions of the two canals,
and covering all physical considera-
tons.
1.-The new Pannma Canal Company
has shown no disposition to sell its
property to the United States. Should
that company be able and willing to
sell there is reason to believe that the
price would not be such as would make
the total cost to the United States less
than that Of the Nicaragua canal.
TIME OF PASSAGE THROUGH
CANAL.
III. The Panama canal, after comple-
ton. would be shorter, have fewer
locks anu less curvature than the Mic
argua canal. The measure Of these nd
vantagcs is the time required for n yes
sci 10 pass through, which is estimated
Tor an average speed at twelve hours
Tor Panoma and thirty-three hours for
Nicaragua.
On the other hand. the distance
from san Francisco to New York is 377
miles; TO New Orleans $40 miles and
10 Liverpool 4S6 miles greater via
Panama than via Nicaragua. The time
required to pass over these distances
being greater than the difference in the
time of transit through tn canals, the
Nicaragua lines. after completion,
would be somewhat the more advan,
taseous OF the two to the United
states notwithstanding the greater
cost of maintaining the longer canal.
CONCESSIONS.
III The Government of Colombin
in which lies the Panama canal has
granted an exclusive concession, which
sui has many years to run. So far as
can he ascertaned. the company is not
willing to sell its franchise, but 1t will
allow the United States to become the
owner of part of it's stock The com
mission considers such an arrangement
inadmssable.
THE Governments OF Nicaragua and
Costa tica. on the other hand, are I'M
trammeed by concessions"