New-York tribune., 1909-12-26
TRAFFIC AND TOLLS AT PANAMA.

Rear Admiral Evans discusses the
probable effect of the Panama Canal
upon American shipping and commerce
with entire disinterestedness. He holds
that the canal will be 80 undesirable a
route for sailing vessels that few. If any,
OF them VIII traverse IL and that. Ia CON
sequence, they will be driven from the
seas and disappear before the rivalry
OF tramp steamers which can use the
canal. unless the canal is made free to
sailing vessels. Moreover. he SAYS. our
navigation laws are such a handicap 10
our ocean shipping that the commerce
through the canal between American and
foreign ports will be chiefly in foreign
vessels while even our coastlng trade
between our own ports, because Of the
cost OF its operation. may not he able
10 meet the competition of the transcOn-
tinental railroads. unless the canal is
made free To American commerce. But
as we seem 10 be- bound by treaty stipu-
latiOns 10 treat the commerce OF all na-
ti0nS impariially. that would compel Us
10 make il free 10 all commerce; ana
the veteran naval officer submits for con
sideratiOn the question whether that
course should not he pursued IL the canal
il Ia be made Of real benefit 10 the
world
A. 10 the question between sails and
steam. il does not seem 10 he Of para
mount Importance. The canal Is not
being built for the sake OF any par
ticuiar class Of ships. III sailing YES
sells cannot meet the competition of steam
they will have 10 20. Our own surmiSe
IL that they will continue 10 meet that
competition To considerable extent and
will retain their place as an important
factor I'm the maritime carrying trade of
the world. IL is true that sailing YES
sells will have 90 be tOwed through the
canal. We are not convinced that steam
erS will not have asO 10 be tOwed. at
any rate through the locks. And doubt
less tOwage will DE needed for sailing
craft for many miles from Panama. un-
III the bay Of Gains" is passed and the
open Pacific il reached. Bat the real
question is whether there will not still
De a considerable gain I'm being saved
tie many thousands Of miles further
travel OH the route around the Horn. If
sailing vessels are now able 10 hold their
own against steamships. the former
going around the Horn. while the latter
go through the strait or use the isthmian
route I'm connection with the railroad.
there wOum seem To be little reason To
fear for their future. There are many
competent authorities on shipping who
believe that sailing vessels of great size
equipped with auxiliary steam power
20 assist them in zones Of calms. will be
conspicuous in the carrying trade OF the
future
As 20 the desirabillty Of making the
canal free 10 all cOmmetce-as IL must
be II IL is free 10 any-it might be mag
nlicent To do SO. but il would not DE
business. We should say that II the
canal were not patrOnized with tolls IL
would not be without. III the advan-
tages or shortening Of routes were not
far greater than the disadvantage OF
paying tolls we should be compelled 10
reckon the canal failure. But we can
hot believe that it will prove so, or that
the collection of tolls will debsr any con-
siderable number OF vessels from going
10y that route. The example Of the Suez
Canal may properly be considered. OF
course there are marked differences be-
tween the two. which would make any
close analogy impossible. But the fact
Is that before the opening Of the Suez
Canal many OF the foremost shipping
and commercial experts OF the world