The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-29
ADVANTAGES OF A CANAL.
Hencsits of nm Isthmian waterway to
the Cotton Trade.

isthmian canal to the cotton trade Of the
United States.
The report states that New Orleans and
all Of the Gulf States would be wonderful
ly benefited by such a waterway. The de-
mand for raw cotton in Japan and the
East is cited as an instance. and an all
water route would enable Americans to
| lead the world in this trade since the Chi
nese product is inferior and not desired.
| The current season illustrates what will
| probably result from an isthmian canal
| OF the 100000 bales as shipped this this
| season 10000 went from United States
ports on the Pacific. $1,000 from Gulf ports
New Orleans Galveston. and Pensacola) =,
| and A. GOO from Atlantic ports New York
and Savannah).
The cotton via the Pacific ports stood
| the rail transportation westward overland
from the cotton fields and thence by water
across the Pacific; that from the Gulf and
Atlantic ports crossed the Atlantic Ocean,
passing through the Suez Canal 10 final
destination. bearing water transportation
much in excess Of that via an isthmian
canal. il built. Both routes are tremend
ously long and enormously expensive. II
trade can increase under such conditions.
OF an isthmian canal?
But while the cotton planters of the
South and the Southern ports Especially
those Of the Gulf would reap great benS.
fits from improved demand and increased
shipments Of the raw material, by far the
greatest benefits would be derived through
the manufactured article. AT present the
export Of cotton goods from the United
States is a drop In the bucket compared
w hat Of 9TH
home consumption, the manufacturers OF
Europe export something like $4,000. coo
in values OF cotton goods. The United
States exports Tin round fgures) but ST.
10000, and even that total Is far above
the average of the past ten years, for In
1890 it was but s10.000.e0O; in 1895. $14,-
100000; in 1898. s17. 000, 900. and in 1899.
S24 600. Round figures are given be-
cause they conduce to clearer compre-
hension Of facts as a whole. But We are
more directly interested in the cotton
goods trade with the Far East and the e.-
feet thereon of an isthmian canal. We
have not convenient the figures OF this
trade from Continental Europe. Those of
Great Britain. however, will be sufficient
for our purpose
In 1899 Great Britain exported of all
kinds of cotton goods to the value Of Esq.,,
$50, 900, or. say. over 1896. 100000. OF this
total e5S. 931, 900 were piece goods and
yarns. Forty-two and si1ty-four one hun
dredths per cent OF the piece goods we're
to British East India and 1906 per cent
were to China. Japan, Java. etc., or, say.
in all $50 per cent were to the East. OF
the exports of yarns. 1914 per cent were
to British East India, and 11.21 per cent to
China. Japan, ETC., making a total TO the
East of 1882 per cent. In short, Great
Britain shipped more than one-half Of the
piece goods she manufactured and nearly |
cne-third OF the yarn to countries which |
will be rendered easy Of access to US by /
water on the completion Of an isthmian |
canal. The trade In piece goods and yarns |
OF Great Britain with the East In 1899 was |
valued at over $4,000. 600 sterling. or more |
than $l55, 900 eco. an amount exceeding 80 !
per cent of the value OF the United States |
cotton crop Of 1S9S-99.
ut is this trade for which an isthmian |
canal will aid Is to successfully compete. |
Today its value to US is not quite twelve |
and quarter million dollars. or less than /
eight -hundredths of what Great Bril- +
tain enjoys. And yet we have the advan-
tage OF location of raw material practi-
cally at the mill doors Especially in the
South, the latest improved machinery
and labor saving apparatus in our mills.
and the most intelligent and able class of
labor, which. if paid higher than that of
foreign countries, yields greater returns
in both quantity and quality Of work
1T is to secure part Of this hands 1me
excess over the cost OF the raw mater al
that 1t is desirable the manufacturer of
american cotton should be placed on a
healthier and more lasting basis. To do
This We must have more favorable Quiet
for exports, and none can be found bzt.er
than through facilities afforded by an
Isthmian canal. The American mills.
North and South. took in the year 1890
]. SAG, 900 bales, and Of this the census OF
that year tells US 2, 259 coo bales were
consumed. In 1899 American mills con-
sumed 1865, 900, or 10000 bales more.
Dur mills now turn out more goods than
necessary for our country alone. and it 10
essential to their prosperity that export
ABILITIES be had that will enable them to
compete successfully with other oountri s
n the great markets of the world, es-
,ecially those OF the Far East To tae
Southern States particularly. which have
increased their consumption from 5i7. 900
n 1890 to ACC. 600 in 1S99-and give prom
Sc OF still greater progress in the rear
outlet through an isthmian
anal is OF the last Importance. Given
uch an outlet. affording cheap COMPETE
i've transportation and ready foreign mar
iets in the Pacific countries, and the en-
ire cotton-m manufacturing industry In the
inited States will reap substantial b,neft.
The hundreds OF millions of dollars thus
invested will be made to yield safe and
rofitable returns, and ample room will be
fforded for doubling the industry. With
ut a proper export outlet a serious CLASH
etween the manufacturers of the South &
nd other sections is inevitable sooner or ,
,ter. ,
THE South. as stated. is steadily and
argely increasing her capacity as man
facturer of her own cotton. In few
ears this section will exceed the rest CT 9
he country Either q safe and healthy 4
utlet over and above the domestic demand il
lust be afforded the increased output or t
he result must be disastrous to the indus v
ry. AS stated before. this outlet is now
ut drop of water to many gallons COM Ii
AIRED to what it should be. With an 18TH q
iian canal the Gulf ports would prove n
ne natural channels OF large Quantities OF I,
he goods transported to Pacific countries. s.
nd they in common with the Southern Ii
tates. are directly and deeply interested. r,
To-day the raw material is transported =,
YER 5000 miles across the Atlantic. there Il
and then sent in its altered =
,rm to its final destination in the Far :
asst From Europe via the Suez Canal to =
ANY important points in the East is II
,orter than from the United States via an d
thmian canal. but with exceeding 4,01v e
lies from the cotton fields of America to
urope added. over which the bulky raw u
aterial must be transported 10 the foreign e
the advantage Of location is II
acidedly in our favor. 1t is natural pro- s.
ction that would weigh heavily in secur- r.
x to us victory in the competition for Il
ade New Orleans. Galveston. Mobile
ensacola, and, in fact. every Southern 4
ty and every Southern State. their mer-
iants. farmers. and manufacturers. have Y.
,eir future welfare closely allied to th- .
lccessful completion Of an isthmian canal.