Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-14
Trade and the Canal.

The doleful prophecies made by John
+. Stevens, recently the chief engineer
Of the Panama canal. regarding the
future of that great project have not
been received in q very good spirit by
the American people. Whether his
point of view is prejudiced by the fact
that he is now in the employ of the
great railroad systems which fear the
speaks as a result Of his brief and I'M
satisfactory experience at the isthmuS
it is certain that practically all other
critics disagree with his conclusions
Not only the other engineers. and those
in u position to know the progress of
the work and the probable usefulness
of the canal when completed, con-
tradict Mr.. Stevens very natly. but
hardly a newspaper in the country has
made favorable comment upon the
opinions expressed by Mr. Stevens.
Some are charitable enough to doubt
that he was reported correctly. Othc: ;
admit that while there have been hon
est differences Of opinion as to tho
route, the type Of canal and the cost
of the enterprise, it has been every
where agreed that such Il waterway
would make vastly for tn" promotion
Of American trade. Hon. John Barrett.
director of the international Bureau of
American Republics. directly contra
diets Mr. Stevens when the latter de-
clarcs, as he is reported to have said
that nearly all the population Of South
America is on the eastern side" Popu-
Iation is really more condensed along
the western coast than along the East
rrn. notwithstanding the fact that the
tWo largest cities Of the continent are
on the eastern side Mr.. Barrett points
out that there is a population of more
than 5000. 900 on the South American,
west coast that will be reached when
the canal is opened and this popula
ton will be much more get-at-ablc
than that whiclnsis scattered through
the vast inland areas of Brazil and
Argentina The 5,Ooo,OOo population Of
Chilli for instance. is within an area
that averages little over 100 miles in
width from the coast. though it is ove;
1000 miles long. Chilli is rccogniZedly
the most thrifty and progressive of the
South American republics. During 1907
this country exported wares to Chilli
and Peru of a total value Of s23.245.000.
and we imported from those countries
goods to the value Of S16.270.on0. This
traffic was over Il course 1000 miles
longer upon the average than the
trade route will be with the same ports
when the canal is opened. There is Il
reasonable probability that this traffic
will be quadrupled when the trade
route is shortened
1t is not the trade with Western
South America alone that will be pro-
NOTED by the opening Of the canal, but
with Western Central America. West
ern Mexico and our own Western
coast not to mention the shortened
reach to Asiatic points. To argue that
the looping of from 1000 to $4,000 miles
off the distance in our marine trade
with the western shores of the two
continents will make no difference is
to assume that distance plays no part
whatever in trade matters. Within the
present century it is quite within the
possibilities that the richest regions of
the earth will be those fronting on the
Pacific. Even if our canal-digging en-
terprise should ultimately cost a round
billion-whatever it may cost-we must
have it. The engineer now in charge
thinks it can be finished within a cost
of $500, 900. and if it costs no more
it will be a magnihcently profitable
investment.