The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-08
MUST GET READY
FOR PANAMA CANAL
John Barrett Utters'Warning to
American People
FOREIGNERS WILL PROFIT
Every Section of Country Should Study
Conditions of Traffic and Be Ready
to Take Advantage of Canal
Facilities.
FOREIGNERS WILL PROFIT

washington, December 7.-(Special. J.
The following are extracts from the adj
dress of John Barrett, director of the in
ternational bureau of American republics,
before the Southern Commercial con-
gress, Monday afternoon, December 6:
1t is of the highest Importance not
only to the south but to the whole coun-
try that we should begin to get ready
Tor the Panama canal. We are now
actually confronted with serious dan
ger to our commerce and our prestige
abroad-namely. that we shall complete
the canal only to find that other coun-
tries will gain greater practical benefits
from it than will the United States
The one great thing, therefore that
our people and our Congress now should
do is TO study and set in motion such
activities and policies as will place the
entire land in readiness to enjoy, and
profit FROM the new routes and facili
ties provided by the canal. 1t will be
almost criminal lack of foresight to
spend 500, 100000 digging this waterway
and then awaken at its completion to find
! that We are not in position to utilize
fully its much discussed advantages.
There are 81 states of the union Dor
dering on the high seas and having ports
from which vessels ought to steam
through the Panama canal, and yet hard
~ one of them realize the opportunities
which the canal offers, with its COM
pletion only Ave years distant. There
should be started a slogan Get ready for
the canal" which would be heard all
along the gulf, Atlantic and Pacific coasts
and inaugurate a national movement to
prepare for it In way that Will be eff
fectiye and practical. Every city and
commercial center having any interest
in foreign commerce should acquaint IT.
self with actual trade conditions in the
parts of the world to be reached by the
canal
Every section of the country-especislly
the south and central west-should ia
miliarize itself, for instance, with the
great west or Pacific coasts of South and
Central America and the possible wants
and resources thereof Conditions of
demand and supply, capacity to sell what
is desired or purchase what is for sale,
starting Of new industries, conservation
of resources, improvement of coast har-
bors and interior waterways, betterment
of steamship facilities, the sending of
qualified agents abroad study of the
Spanish language, travel among these
heretofore disAant but future close neigh
bors. and acquaintance with their social
and racial characteristics-all have a d.
rect and important bearing on getting
ready for the canal"
The southern states abutting on tho
gulf and Atlantic coasts, the first tier
of states back of them and the central
western states have a great and rich
commercial opportunity before them in
Latin America. Without enlarging upon
the vast east coast of South America,
which includes the mighty areas of
Venezuela, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay
and Argentina with an annual foreign
trade valued at one billion dollars 81
0o0o00,00o), let us bear In mind that
there reaches directly south from Pana-
ma to Patagonia Pacific coast line of
5000 miles. in the very infancy of it's de-
velopment, blessed with marvellous va
riley of resources and climate, and one
already conducting foreign trade valued
at three hundred millions of dollars (ssOo,-
100000 per annum. In other words the
five republics of Colombo, Ecuador, Peru.
Bolivia and Chile, practically debouching
on the Pacific, bought and sold in one
year products equal In value to two
thirds of the entire cost of the canal. II
a Of ho I'm
tanned without the canal it is difficult
| TO predict safely It's valuation few
years after the canal is completed.
Northwest from Panama is the Pa
cifc coast line of Central America and
Mexico, with a reach Of nearly 1000
miles, which will be put into direct and
intimate touch with the south when the
| canal is opened. This coast line from
| Panama to San Diego now carries on q
foreign trade valued at approximately one
! hundred millions of dollars Ct100. 000. 900 I;
] it Is hard to prophesy what total this will
become a few years after the isthmian
waterway is done.
| Directly en- route from the Atlantic
| coast to the canal are Cuba, the Domin-
lean republic, Hayti, and Porto Rico,
| with an annual foreign trade valued at
] nearly two hundred and fifty million dol
|
Speaking of all Latin America and
what 1t offers to the south and central
west, / would have every chamber OF
| commerce or board of trade from the
| Roanoke to the Rio Grande and from
| the Potomac to the Platte organize COM
nittees on subordinate clubs to awaken
| interest in everything pertaining to
Latin America, it's history and de-
velopment its commerce and industries,
its peoples institutions and government.
and then to study methods of building
up exchange of trade with all parts of
our sister republics and of taking ad-
vantage in a practical way of the great
canal l wish we could start a Pan
American league with branches in
| every important city and town of the
south and west and supported by the
best citizens of each community. Good
| results would surely follow both for our
| trade and for our influence. Such a
| movements tangible evidence to all
! Latin America of our growing interest
] In our sister republics-would accom-
| plish wonderful results in removing any
| distrust and suspicion which is often
| described as existing among the masses
| of people from Mexico and Cuba south
| to Argentina and Chile.
If now we can actually start bona
| tide Pan-American movement In the
! south and popularIze the cry: Get
ready for the Panama canal" We will
| astonish ourselves and the world with
! The good accomplished and develop a
| unanimity OF sentiment In favor of q
snitsb BILE celebration in 1915 which will
! appropriately make the opening of the
cunaf a far-reaching and historical ma
tioial and. international event.