The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-06-02

ages round Cape Horn from Califor-
mia, Oregon and Washington to Europe
will shorten their route by one-half, and
will equally reduce the danger and in
convenience of their trip. While it will
mean a saving of mileage between Eu-
ropean ports from 1000 t 5000 miles,
it will mean a saving to ships sailing
from the eastern part of the United
States of from 5000 to II, 600 miles
BENEFITS TO WEST AND EAST.
The benefits accruing to the Pacific
coast states alone are almost i~ncalcula-
BILE. The Pacific Slope has a million
square miles Of territory which is said
to be capable of supporting a popula-
ton equal to that of the whole United
States. When the u~ndeVelOped re-
sources of this vast region are finally
developed it will undoubtedly be one of
the richest areas in the world At pres
ent the only way for it's fruit and fish
and wheat All lumber to reach the
thickly congested districts Of the Unit
ed States is by a 5000 mile
railroad, haul. These railroads
have to clinch two dizzy noun
tain chains and the time conSum-
ed, as we'll as the cost Of transportation,
are so great that the producers realize
small profits on their Stauff. 1t takes
from seventeen to twenty n days for
ordinary freight to. cross the continent.
The canal across the isthmuS will cut
off 10, 900 miles of sailing around Cape
Horn, and fast steamers from San
Francisco to New York will be able to
make the distance in fourteen days.
When this becomes possible keep your
eye on the Pacific coast. It's growth
and development will be nothing short
Of marvellous.
] When it becomes possible to avoid
the long sail around Cape Horn, New
York and the other cities of the Allan
tic coast will be equally benefited. A
study Of the map of North and South
America reveals some peculiar facts in
distances. Although San Francisco is
almost in q direct line west of New
York, a ship sailing from the eastern
metropolis to the Golden Gate, must
first go 1855 miles to the east in order
to get around Brazil. The fact tina
| South America extends 1,600 miles far
| Their south than Africa, and bulges out
between 1000 and 5000 miles to the east.
makes the distance a ship must traverse
from New York to San Francisco $50
miles farther than from Liverpool to
San Francisco. That our commerce.
should have such a handicap between
it's own ports seems almost incredible.
After Cape Horn is turned San Francis
co is yet 3,30S miles to the west, al
| though the general impression of most
| persons, who have not locke the mat
ter up, is that San Francisco is nearly
north of Cape Horn. With such ire
mendous distances to cOVer in order to
| get around the tip of South America, il
is needless to say that it will be rather
lonesome in the vicinity of Cape Horn
when the canal is completed.
HOW THE SOUTH WILL PROFIT.
The west and the east will not be
alone in reaping benefits from the gil
| gantic enterprise. 1t will make the
southern coal fields the nearest to the
Pacific side Of South America. Ala
bama alone will be called upon to pro-
vide millions Of tons Of fuel to coal the
ships on their way across the world
There are two cOaling stations on the
SueZ Canal, and the one at Port Sale
sells over a million tons Of coal to pass
ing ships every year.. Japan has 40,
600, 600 people who wear cotton goods
exclusively. They are now buying the
most of their raw material from India
and the canal will make the cotton bell
of the south the nearst to Japan. Il
will not be long until Dixie will REAP
added millions from the advantage OF
| her position. The great territory drain
ed Dy the Mississippi river will also be
brought into closer communication with
the world, and that great waterway
will undoubtedly enjoy a renewal Of its
old-time prosperity. The products OF
this vast area can be shipped down the
river to New Orleans. which is directly
| north of Central America. and transfer
| red to ocean steamers which will n
| meet with ships of all nations at the is
thmian crossing.
The statistics show that the advanJ-
age in distance England enjoyed over
her competitors after the construction
Of the Suez Canal resulted in an ulti-
mate increase Of 40 per cent. in her trade
with the far east, and about 20 pei
| cent. increase in her trade with the
world. With the advantage Of our
| central location between the east and
the west and our great natural resourc
es. his crossing will cause our trade to
go forward with leaps and bounds. Our
! most active competitors fear that the
Panama Canal will soon make US the
J commercial masters of the world.
COLUMBIAN OPPOSITION.
There has been some opposition 10 the
canal in Colombia. BASED on a reluc-
n to make any concession of terri