The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-08
ITS EFFECT ON INDIANA
STATES INDUSTRIES INTERESTED IN
AN IsTHMIAN CANAL.
An Instructive Lecture by Prof. EN-
DRY II. johnson, "a Member of
the Commission.

Prof. Emory R. Johnson. a member of
the isthmian canal commission, last night
lectured at the P~ropylaeum in the univer-
sity extension course on the work of the
commission i'm finding a route for a canal
across the Isthmus of Panama. His lecture
was preceded by stereoptican views show
ing maps of all the proposed routes across
the isthmus. He practically eliminated all
routes other than the Panama and Nicara-
guam, and compared these two as to their
commercial value and financial and indus
trial cost. He said the commission decided
that the Nicaraguan route would be more
advantageous from a commercial point of
view. but that the cost of construction. es-
timated upon the work already done on the
Panama route, placed the latter in favor.
Abiding TO the interests the central
States would have in an interoceanic water
way, he said that while in indianapolis one
year ago he was received by the Board of
Trade and submitted five questions to that
body with the request that they be cir
culated among the prominent manufac-
turers of the State and requesting them to
give their opinion as to the benefits the
central States would derive from a canal.
The questions were as follows:
ID you have an export or import trade
with the west coast of the United States,
west coast of Central and South America,
Hawaiian islands, Japan, China, Australia
or other parts of O%ceanica?
. what does the trade with each of
these sections consist and what is the APP
proXimate tonnage?
by what routes is the trade handled?
Please state any facts that may seem i'm
portant regarding rates and time required
for shipment.
Would the interoceanic canal enable you
to trade in markets from which you are
now debarred, or enable you TO increase
the business you are at present doing with
the Pacific markets of the United States
and foreign countries?
please state the general effect which the
proposed canal would have upon your par
ticular business"
Regarding, these questions. Professor
Johnson said: There were $50 answers re-
ceived by the Indianapolis Board of Trade
and forwarded to Washington, and these,
together with letters which the canal COM
mission had previously received from man
ufacturers in different parts of Indiana,
afforded a fairly clear picture of the rela-
ton which the proposed canal will have TO
the progress of the leading industries of
the State.
INDIANA AFFECTED.
"An analysis of the letters received by
the Indianapolis Board of Trade shows
that sixty-three of the $50 firms making
answer are now doing business either on
lii hGSl COdSl l. liz OHll6u SldleS U X III
foreign Pacific countries. Eighty-seven of
the $50 firms nave as yet developed no
trade in those markets. -Seventy-seven
say that the canal would either directly
or indirectly assist them in the develop
ment of Pacific trade. Seventy-three of
the firms make no suggestion as to the
effects of the canal. 1t is probable that
these $50 firms may be taken as fairly rep
resentative of the larger manufacturing
concerns of Indiana, and, if so, somewhat
more than two-fifths of the indiana manu-
factories now have trade in American and
foreign Pacific markets. Somewhat over
half OF these representative Indiana firms
foresee that the canal would be of direct
or indirect assistance to them.
Among the letters received by the Canal
Commission from Indiana firms with
which direct correspondence was had was
one from q firm I'm Richmond, Ind, en-
gagged in the manufacture of agricultural
implements. What this firm reports in re-
gard TO its experience in shipping TO Aus
tralla and In regard to the general condi-
lions governing the future development of
an export business from Indiana to Pacific
countries Is instructive. The following
statements were made under date of Octo-
I'VE ship goods now from here to Aus
trala for about the same money that it
costs us TO ship goods from here to San
francisco. We made a shipment only a
short time since from here to Australia.
and the freight from here to New York
was 500 and from New York to Australia
only 500, and TO ship these same goods to
San Francisco or Portland the freight
would have been about $3.50. Consequently
we can reach Australia cheaper than we
can San Francisco. due to the fact of
water transportation being so much
cheaper than the rail transportation. If
this is true of points in Australia, how
much greater it would be true of points in
California and Oregon
One of the largest manufacturing firms
in indianapolis and in the central West
that is now selling engines in nearly all
parts or the world reports that an inter
oceanic canal would not only make accessi-
BILE TO us the territory now entirely under
control of foreign competitors, but would
improve the facilities we now have for the
trade in foreign countries tina we now
occupy, thereby enabling us to more thor
ougnly control the trade and make our
progress in all foreign trade much more
rapid
AN Indianapolis firm engaged in the
manufacture of saws that are exported to
nearly all Pacific countries reports that
the canal would enable the firm to increase
its business with all parts of the country
The lecturer concluded with figures as to
tonnage and freight rates and stereopticon
views. OF scenes along the proposed canal
routes.