The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-01-15

As the Panama canal becomes more
nearly a concrete reality the imagi
nation is more and more enkindled
with the magnificence Of the enter
prise and the full significance it will
have for the growing and progressive
south. Professor Lewis Haupt, who
was a member of the canal commission
il. 1899 and 1900 has written an able
article on the question for the New
York Times. in which he points out
some of the leading features of the
great enterprise. What the tonnage
will be is a matter Of vital interest
and the estimates range all the way
from 100000 tons as made by a rail
road representative to 10.500,000 BY
an advocate of the French Panama
canal. But the canal commission es-
timated that at the present rate of
increase the tonnage by 1914-at which
time it was then hoped the canal
would be open-would amount to l.
-7S2,240.
IL is to be observed. however, that
this estimate is based solely upon the
existing traffic, and omits entirely the
new business which is invariably de-
velOped by the increased facilities.
For instance. the price of many
commodities. such as coal. oil. lum-
Der, etc, is so low as not to bear the
cost of transportation for long dis
tances and leave a margin for the
producer. so that under existing con-
ditiOns they can not be moved TO
remote markets. With a waterway
across the isthmus the coal fields of
West Virginia. Maryland, Indiana, Hi
rois. Alabama and other states and
the oil fields of Texas and PCnnsylva-
MIA can readily ship their products
at a profit and put them in the Pacific
ports, both north and south, for less
than s. a ton instead Of from $40 70
SI4 -'
This viii exercise marked effect
in stimulating manufacturing indus
tries. encouraging immigration and in.
creasing the demand for skilled and
other labor 1t is estimated that the
lew business which would become i'm
mediately tributary TO the canal from
the Goa! traffic alone would amount 10
100000 tons during the first year Of
its operation.
The staple products Of the southern
states can now only be exported by
water to eastern ports through the
straits Of Florida. the Gulf being a
mare claUsum. but with a western out
let across the 'isthmus- the cotton. SUI
gar. tobacco and cattle will also find
a ready market on the Pacific and add
largely to the new business now i'm
possible.
japan is the largest consumer of
our raw cotton on the Pacific. and the
demand is increasing rapidly. for in
1895 the United States furnished only
S.4 per cent of her supply. while in
three years it rose to 3OS per cent.
IT. 1900 China also purchased nearly
S9.000.000 worth of cotton cloth from
this country. the price of which could
have been lowered had the canal been
opened. OF the 300, 900 bales shipped
to Japan in 1900 nearly so per cent
took the overland rail haul to the
Pacific ports, paying freight on 1000
miles, while the remainder was ex-
ported from Galveston. New Orleans.
Pensacola. Savannah and even New
York through the Suez canal. This
bulky freight. which was shipped via
San Francisco, was held there for six
months subject to high charges. III
is reported that with a canal the sales
would soon reach 100000 bales in,