The San Francisco call., 1908-10-25

struggle will be averted and American
institutions will grow and develop.
BIG MERCANTILE
OPPORTUNITY ~
james Woods. manager of the Hotel
ST. Francis-Whatever may result from
the opening of the Panama canal there
is no doubt that 1t will present the
biggest mercantile opportunity in his
tory. The position of San francisco in
relation to the two vast but unexpected
markets of the far east and South
America will be rivaled by no other
port. This will be the logical trading
the world will pass our doors con-
tinually. Our products are already Well
and favorabiy known everywhere
There is a demand for them. We can
supply it. 1t needs but the factor of
increased transportation facilities-the
elimination of distance from the I'M
portant distributing centers--to provide
the bridge over which the commercial
supremacy of America will pass to the
Pacific.
MARKETS WILL
BE DEVELOPED
C. H. Bentley, ex-president of the San
Francisco chamber of commerce-The
shortest route from Panama. to Japan
and China is on the arc of the great
circle which will bring steamers plying
to and from the orient to our Atlantic
coast and Europe within a few miles
of San Francisco This means that San
Francisco will be made a. port OF cad !
it means that we will have better,
quicker cheaper and more frequent
means of transportation for our
with the inevitable development of the
markets reached this way. Doubtless
some of the jobbing trade with the
cies would suffer. as manufacturers
may be enabled to make through and
direct Shipment; but the enormous ad--
vantage given to the distribution of
the products of our own state means
very much to our general development
and prosperity. William r. Wheeler
of the immigration commission and of
the department of commerce and labor
points out the further advantages to
California products to come from the
construction of the canal, in that 1T
will bring the best class of peasant
are needed here, but who are. now
largely stopped at the Atlantic sea-
board by reason of the expense and
confusion of the western journey.
FACTORIES WILL
BE BUILT
Albert Dernham, treasurer of Buck
ingham & Hecht, manufacturers of
great metropolis it is strictly essential
that 1t be great distributing point.
Manufacturing and other prod4cins
events and assist in establishing the
rpermanency of the metropolis. but If
Its potency as distributing center be
not firmly established or be transferred
ito other points, then its supremacy as
great commercial center will retro
grade. With the completion of the
Panama canal will come a. consequent
reduction from the Atlantic seaboard
to the Pacific water terminals in freight
rates, and freight can and will be laid
down in San Francisco, i understand
by the canal from Atlantic seaboard
points at from SIS to s15 per ton, or 25
cents to rs cents per hundred pounds
The majors position of the commodities
distribute ed from San Francisco emanate
at the Atlantic seaboard. The present
rate from New York to Chicago is about
73 cents per hundred; therefore If Sar
Francisco will receive freight rate
equal to that enjoyed by Chicago from
eastern points. and San Francisco OBJ
tain rate through the canal on parity