The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
JAPAN TO COMPETE
WITH PANAMA CANAL
Plans Route From the Orient
Across Mexico to
New York.

NEW YORK. Jan. 4.-Battered in its
own country by statesmen. railroad in
terests. and. editors. the poor Panama
canal, the pet idea of President Roose-
veIt is now about to face another enc
my according to weIl-founded belief
in shipping circles I'm this city.
This enemy-which Is commercial, and
which consequently may reduce the
commercial value Of the canal I'm the
minds Of many, even before TT is con-
structed-is Japan. the great nation of
the Pacific and the coming rival Of
the United states in many fields OF
endeavor.
While no official announcement has
been made. il is believed that the Togo
kiseD kaisha. one of the big steamship
lines of the Orient is about ready to
enter New York by way of the Pacific,
the TehuanteDec railroad across Mex
leo. and the Atlantic ocean.
Such a line would shorten the dis
lance between New y OTk and YOkOha-
ma, even after the completion of the
Panama canal by at least one thousand
miles and might prove a big factor IN
determining who shall obtain control
OF the vast and increasing trade Of the
Orient. Shipments across the United
States to san Francisco by RAN and
thence to the orient 10y water, can not
bF hr#aAEli 10y ttAN Do I't7-|t iaA-N III tAAttA
OF speed, but the cost would be lowered
greatly by the water route.
The new line, according 70 current
belief. VIII run from Yokohama 70
Saliua Cruz, Mexico. q distance OF about
5000 miles. the Japanese company to
operate over this portion of the route
From SaliDa Cruz to- the port on tue
Atlantic, COatzaCoalcOs, the TehUan-
tepes railroad, ls9 miles long, would
be used, and from that port to this
civ line steam -FTfD.E subsidized
by the Mexican government. owned
perhaps, . in Japan, would furnish the
transportation for commercial and for
slow passenger traffic.
The Ameraeau-Hawai5 steamship
line, operating from Pa -adelnhia, al
ready makes use OF the Mexican rail-
road route. and has tfsr boats I'm both
the Atlantic and P2eif-. It saves, IL is
We'll known. much E.lrgy i'm fuel and
much time.
Director ShiraisIi. ~ the japanese
Steamship Company . expected TO ar
rive in New York within the week, and
it is believed he viii take up the ne
gOuatOus for entry INTO this port
From here. 8IT. ShiTaisbi will go 10
Mexico, where ne VIII make the other
needed arrangements
That Japan 6 striving TO get cOnJTol,
before the Panama Canal t. completed,
of the trade Of much Jf South America
is also believed
Mr.. shiraism is thought to have ar
ranged in London Tor the purchase OF
several big boats to be used in the
south American trade for several to be
given mp TO the trade between COatZa-
cCalCOs and New York. which ultimate
Iy is 20 be in Japanese hands.
The South American countries with
which Japan is now concerning herself
commercially, are Chile The Argentine
Republic and New Mexico The East
ern Empire cOntempIates, 1t as believed,
q traus-PaCinC service to LHe countries
named.
BY the time the canal is completed in
1915. Japan, if all goes we'll should have
a firm grasp upon the trade Of several
OF The greatest exporting nations Of the
Southern continent. If Congress fails
60 authorize ship subsidy if seems prob
able. too. that Japan VII have acquired
not only q valuable transit Pacific bust
ness, but even may nave entered the
field of transportation between this
country and South American ports.