The San Francisco call., 1910-02-28

ident Stafford's determination to righ
miral Evans in his misstatements con
cerning her harbor, Gerstle devoted hi
attention to assertions the admira
makes in regard to the canal. Gerstl
said:
To begin with. Admiral Evans
does not mention in his collection
Of facts what is, in my opinion, the
greatest immediate benefit this city
and the state Will gain through
the opening of the canal. This is
the infinS of a desirable class of
migrants.
San Francisco already is well ad-
Vertised throughout the world. but
special advertising will be done in
sections where agricultural people
are numerous. Thus the state will
be built up with a very superior
class Of people, and the immigrants
viii find an opportunity to do just
not be compelled to go into a gar
ment making shop, a coal mine or
do work Of that nature.
The fare to San Francisco from
Europe for immi igTants will not be
much in excess of the rate to New
York, and California is a magic
word that viii bring thousands to
our shores.
QUESTION OF COMPETITION
But TO take up the assertions Ad-
miral Evans does make. He de-
clares that the Panama canal must
compete with SueZ and that the
British could make certain prod
ucts free of passage through Suez,
and thus give the best of protec-
tion to these products. This is ad-
mitted. Does the admiral forget,
however. that we are competing
right now with Suez, minus our
orient under present conditions
must go around South America. or
around the world, TO get the prod
uct to its destination in one ship.
If the east wants to send to the
orient overland and across the Pa
cifc the goods must be handled
three times.
Yet we manage to compete pretty
successfully as it is, and how much
better conditions viii those be
after the canal is completed,
The admirars declaration that
the amount of international trade
resulting from the opening of the
canal will be small. and entirely
unremunerative," seems to me a
declaration that time will shatter
HOW CITY WILL BENEFIT
OF course. no one can say with
certainty. just how, and. to what
extent, the canal will affect ship
ping and trade, but ! believe that a
study of trade routes and trade re-
lations viii show that the opening
of the Panama canal will mean
creased international trade and
very much to San Francisco, which
is at one end of the great circle the
vessels will pursue in travelling
through the canal to the orient.
That the canal viii give a dis
appointingly small impetus to our
foreign trade Admiral Evans be-
lieVes but he is alone in that opin-
ion. There APE many products that
we might send TO the orient, for in
stance. from the eastern coast,
could we send them in one ship,
and many things we could send
from the Pacific coast TO Europe,
could we send them in one ship.
That the canal will make possible.
The admiral sees a very great
menace to competition in the canal.
He states that railroad companies
will operate or control the steam
ship lines. and thus make their
own rates. as usual.
The admiral seems to forget that
the canal will be open to every
line and every vessel Independent
lines will operate and tramp steam
ships have Just as much right to
use the canal as vessels of the
greatest companies. This will
mean free competition and low