The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-05-27
cANAI. PROBABILITIES.


place in the mainland press regarding
the changes in great trade channels
which are liable or likely TO result from
tbe opening of the Panama canal
Hask e Robinson. firm of New York
and Boston bankers, have had prepar-
ed for them by DR.. J. P. Norton OF the
department of trade statistics of Yale
University what is termed an indus
trial map of the United States, showing
tl,e advantage of the gulf ports. by rea-
son of their favorable location, with
reference to the Panama canal Is
sought, by this graphic mode OF argu-
raent, to establish the proposition that,
as the coast ports from Pensacola 70
Galveston are from 500 TO 500 miles
nearer to Colon than are the ports OF
PhiIadelphia and New York, and from
zoo TO 500 miles nearer to Colon than
is fine port OF Boston, the trade go
ing from the United States through
the isthmian canal, which represents
the production of the central part OF
our country from the gulf to the Can
adam border, will go via the gulf ports
rather than by ports on the Atlantic
seaboard.
An Eastern exchange, while admit
ting the force of the charted demon
stration thus made. presents an elab-
crate renly to show that, while trade
ros1tes ultimately follow the line OF
least resistance, it is not always the
case that the line of least resistance
is the shortest route The first exam
pie in support of this proposition is
that of large shipments of grain ship
ned during the past few months to Eu-
rome by way of Galveston and New or
1aa1,s-grain that had been grown IN
fxansas Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois
and even Iowa. The distance from the
gulf ports just named to the Landing
ports in western Europe is many nun
dred miles longer than the distance pc
txyaen Boston, New York and Philadel-
rtfa and these same European points
Of discharge. It is pointed out that
the saving made in this instance IS the
saving in railroad transportation,
which, under modern methods OF ocean
TRANSPORTATION, is much more costly
than water carriage.
The article goes on to argue thai the
main reliance of the guls ports upon
securing isthn1ian traffic viii be the
PRODUCTION by the south and central
sections of the country of the com
modtties needed by those who are 70
purchase merchandise sent from the
United states by way of the Panama
cana1 southern cotton and lumber are
mentioned as sure things among enc
exports by way of the canal to the west
coast OF South America, Austraiasla
and eastern Asia. AS to the great fu-
fure demand in China for American
wheat and -four which is predicted II
Is. promised that California, Oregon
ard washington will, by long ODDS. De
the chief source of supply for these
commodities. The cost of sending gram
by rail from the middle west to the
northwest Pacific ports and to the guAI
ports. respectively. would be about
equal. while the difference in distance
,,asween seattle and Shanghai is thou
sands of miles less than the distance
between Galveston and Shanghai VIA
the Panama canal.
Al prophetiea1 claim Is made that IN
value at least, the shipments Tor canaii
"a ssaa,e westward made from the At
.antie seaports will be far greater than
tf,ose made through the gulf ports, as
they viii represent to great degree
the products of manufacture =
Is argued, eve are to have-as by the
construction of the isth1nian canal and
tf.a adoption Of more or less settled
eastern policy. 1t is plainly thought
that we shall IN the future kave-a
great trade with the continent OF Asia
is To be hoped that this will be larges
" made up in its export features nos
Of raw materials or unprepared 1909
supplies. bur finished manufactured ar
fieles of all kinds. representing in theii
nrof,,etion the largest possible employ
,,,e,at Of American capital and labor.
Hawaii need not be greatly concerned
ever the probabilities of canal frafns
with regard to the relative shares there
IN which may be obtained by the At
lantic and the gulf ports. What noti
capture IN combination will al cofh'
this way. There Is a probability from
the opening of the Panama canal which
should be realized Ii prospective By tn
Territorial Government. as wen as com
nercial Honolulu, 50 that due prepare
lion may not be neglected ard tina
costly mistakes may be avoided Ref
erence is not to the prospect Of vast in
grease in the mercantile marine max
g.. rr<,,3<.s.s1,. q mort xaf call which ha