The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-03
PANAMA CANAL MAY
AFFECT THE RAILWAYS
Interesting Discussion of
Traffic Problem.
MAY DIVERT HEAVY FREIGHT
What Is Expected to Take Place When
Ships Sail Through Isthmus to
Pacific Ports.

Now that the construction of a Pana-
ma canal seems to be an assured fact, /
II may be well 70 inquire what effect
the waterway may be expected to have
upon the business Of American rail
ways. There have been many asser-
lions made from time to time by par
tisans and opponents OF the canal
project, but such statements have con-
tanned very little information
Unfortunately a precise statistical
measurement of the effect which an
isthmian canal might exert on the rail-
way traffic between our Atlantic and
Pacific seaboards cannot be made. be-
cause no one knows what the tonnage
of that business amounts TO. For a
while, the Traps-C Continental Freight
Bureau complied figures of the through
business of the lines. but that compila-
ton was obtained a decade ago. The
managing editor of "Poor's Manual of
Railways" made the statement. three
years ago, thaf the statistics of trans
continental railway traffic has been the
subject of inquiry for some time and
without resaL"
Effect of Canal.
There are several ways in which the
isthmian canal may affect the traffic
OF the railways serving the different
sections q the United States. The
canal will introduce new and COM
peting route for traffic between our two
seaboards and between the eastern half
Of the United States and Pacific foreign
countriei. There may result from this
one or All of four consequences:
The rAilway lines competing with the
new witer route may reduce their rates
nd he oh 70 hold hafr Fr-afH u.
again1t the new competitor
This waterway may divert from the
railway lines a greater or less share
of Tteir through business
Tie canal may bring new business TO
therailways by making them collectors
an distributors Of the commodities
carried between our eastern and west,
eff seaboards by way of the isthmus.
The canal may make possible the es-
Enlistment OF new industries along the
hilway lines, or cause an expansion of
Activity in the business of existing
plants and thus add to the local traffic
of the railways.
Choice of Shipment
II is impossible to draw a sharp line
between the classes Of commodities that
would be liable TO move by water and
those that will move by rail after both
agencies have become available to the
shipper. II seems probable that the
competition of the canal route win not
be confined entirely TO the buIkier COM
modities of comparatively low value per
unit of weight OF bulk-articles univer-
sally recognized TO be especially adapt,
ed TO water transportation-but that the
lsthmian route will be available for the
shipment Of practically all articles ex-
- -
whose unusually high value demand a
quick service and a prompt delivery
The distance between our two seaboards
by the isthmian canal will be abou,
5000 nautical miles and the time re-
quired 70 make the run will be about
three weeks for the slow freight steam
ers Of ten knots an hour. and about
two weeks for the fifteen-knot vessels
May Divert Traffic.
AS 10 the effects which the canal viii
have upon the traffic of the railway,
in the Central West. the opinions ar,
not unanimous. The manufacturers o.
that section expect a large diversified
ton and a considerable increase in bust
ness TO result from the new route I,
and from the Pacific. There are som,
railway officials who do not think thi
will take place. and who believe tina
the canal will do little more than e
change the direction in which part o
the outbound and inbound traffic of tn
railways of this section is handled
There are other experts who hold tn
opinion expressed by a prominent traf
fic manager who stated. in substance
that 1.-THE canal viii doubtless TAX
from the railroads some shipments the
would otherwise secure. but by increas
ing the total volume of business. b
causing the centers OF distribution an
manufacturing TO grow and multiply
and population 10 increase. the waite
route viii add TO the traffic seekin
transportation by the railroads"
Help Central States.
The Unbiased investigator can hardly
doubt Tat the canal will have an i'm
portant influence upon the State.
north II the Ohio and Missouri Rivers
No one can visit the great industrial
centers Of the Central West. study IN,
vast resources Of the States Of tina
section, and acquaint himself with tn,
activities of the business men, withou
feeling certain that increased trans
poration facilities are sure 20 result
ina very large expansion Of industry
TIE history Of the great Central Yves
SLOWS that the measure Of it's indus
tial development has always been IN,
Measure of its transportation facilities
Sew facilities mean new business: an,
this Is more true today than it wal
twenty-five or even ten years ago.