Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-16
EVANS ADVOCATE
OF FREE CANAL
"FIGHTING BOB" GOES AFTER
RAILROADS
PROJECT MAY BECOME RUlNoUS,
SAYS ADMIRAL
Famous Sea Warrior Says Chilean
and Peruvian Trade Sought
by Way of Big Ditch
Likely to Be Lost
fsnecial 10 rha Herald l

NEW YORK, Jan. 15.-ACCording to
Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, the
Panama canal, contrary to the prom-
ises of those who planned it, will not
increase by one iota our trade with
Chile and Peru, and will, if the rail-
roads are allowed to establish rates
to suit themselves, speedily become a
financial ruin.
Fighting Bob" is still true TO his
nickname and now, continuing in the
Forthcoming February number of
Hampton's Magazine his arguments in
favor of throwing open the canal free
TO the commerce of the nation, he
proves his pen quite as mighty as the
biggest ship he ever commanded. He
points out that, although the increase
of our Chilean and Peruvian trade was
at first assured, the fact is that ship
pers would, after the canal was
opened, much prefer to go around by
the straits of Magellan, and, instead
of paying canal charges, pay out the
same money for coal wherewith to
make the return trip by way Of the
straits.
Cheaper Course
''If the canal charges were $4,000"
says Admiral Evans in the course of
his latest article in this magazine mil
itant that amount of money con-
verted into Welsh coal at Valparaiso
of this or 500 tons, for the trip each
way, we find that the ship can pass
through the straits of Magellan
steam up the coast nearly to the ca
nal, and then retrace her course to
her home port as she came more
cheaply than by passing through the
new waterway.
''The point at which the trade of the
Pacific coast of South America would
divide between the Panama canal
route and the straits of Magellan
route has been fixed as just south OF
Valdivia, in Chile, but by reason OF
canal rates the dividing point must
he Shifted north about 1000 miles,
which will give the Magellan route
all the commerce, at least as far north
as Callao in Peru. If we say that
four-ffths of the trade of this coast
which has heretofore gone to the cred
il of Pana1na-wilI remain where 1t is,
we shall not be far wrong. Nothing
but a free canal can change this con-
dition."
Taking up in detail the commerce of
New Zealand and Of the Pacific islands,
the admiral finds therein the same ar
pument for his place of q free canal.
He goes thoroughly into the question
of coal supply, coming to the conclu-
sion that if we place cheap coal IN
South America ILLS llAOh6 WILL cl4IO 49,
lure the financial success of the canal.
The admiral passes into brilliant
prophecy concerning the southern sec
tion of the country, which he says VIII
reap the ,greatest benefit from the
canal. because it brings it nearer
market for the things it produces.
It's cotton goods, manufactured at
home out of raw material grown on Its
own soil, will be eagerly sought by
the people of South American coun-
tries.
He points out the advantage of Mo-
bile, Pensacola and New Orleans as
gulf ports which will aid shipping
through the canal. He insists that the
railroads, if allowed to establish rates
to suit themselves can easily cripple
the canal and can make such charges
that there will be no profit either for
the producer or the consumer.
CALIFORNIA; Status
"Ffshting Bob" makes the same
prophecy concerning the products of
the Pacific states, notably California
He comes out for a waterways plan in
the middle west, saying that 1t would
greatly add to the prospective cheap
Transportation and would have the
effect of holding in check the over
charging by competing railroad lines.
In conclusion Admiral Evans says:
1.-THE bitter opposition of the rail-
roads of the country to connect the
two oceans by a canal is well known.
For many years it was so effective as
to prevent any company from getting
such a canal or even securing a char
ter to get one. 1t was not until the
Nicaragua Canal company, after a
long struggle, secured its charter from
the congress of the United States that
there seemed any hope of ever really
having a canal
"The battle in congress for the pres
ent projected waterway to be dug and
controlled by the United States showed
how strong the railroad interests were,
and when the work is completed the
action of these same railroads will de-
termine whether we are, as a nation,
to benefit by it or not"