Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-12-06

Ter of tolls he reached the conclusion
mat dollar u net ton would not drive
business away from the canal, but tina.
higher rate would do so.
+. MUST BE REASONABLE.
be we certainly ought not to insist that
for .a good many years to come they
should amount to enough to pay the
interest on the investment OF $500 GOO, 900
which the United States has made IN
the construction OF the canal We
ought not to do this, first, because the
benefits to be derived by the United
States from this expenditure is not to
be measured solely by a return upon
the investment. If 1t were then tho
construction might well have been left
to private enterprise. It was because
an adequate return upon the money
invested could not be expected immedi
ately. or In the near future. and be-
cause there were peculiar political adj
vantages to be derived from the con-
struct!on of the canal that 1t necessari-
ly fell to the government to advance
the money and perform the work.
AN ACTIVE COMPETITOR.
In addition to the benefit to our
naval strength, the canal greatly in
SIsfiaeS lIte lItuc j. lilCilItIcs Hss VI liIC
United States. 1t will undoubtedly
sollsapeni the rates OF Transportation in
NIL freight between the eastern and
western seaboards and it will greatly
Increase that trade by rea son. of the re-
duction In Its cost Then, IL we are
to have q world canal, and II we are
anxious that the routes OF the worlds
trade shall be. through the Panama
canal, we must recognize that we have
an active competitor in the Suez Gu
nal. Then. too, there are other means
huantepec railroad and by other rail-
roads. and freight routes in Central
America to the Atlantic side.
WHAT. TOLLS SHOULD BE.
In all these cases the question wheth-
er the Panama canal Is to be used and
its tonnage Increased will be deter
mined mainly by the charge for its use.
My own Impression Is that the tolls
ought not to exceed 81 per ton. On
Jan. /, 1911, the tolls in the Suez canal
are to be francs and 25 confines for
one net ton by Suez canal measure
mcnt, which Is modification of Dan
ube measurement. A dollar n ton will
secure under the figures above a gross
income from the Panama canal of near
ly s7000.000. The cost OF maintenance
and operation Is estimated to exceed
S3000,O00. Ultimately. of course. with
the normal increase in trade, the In
come will approximate the interest
charges upon the investment. On the
whole, should recommend that within
certain limits the president be author
lied to fiX the tolls of the canal and
adjust them to what seems to be COM
merciul necessity. The inquiries al
ready made OF the chief engineers of
the canal show that the present con-
of this question is necessary
In order that the commerce of the
world may have time to adjust itself
to the new conditions resulting from
The opening of this new highway.
GENERAL CONTROL.
The next question that arises is as to
he maintenance, management and
general control of the canal after its
1t should be promised that
t Is an essential part of our navy es-
adjustment to have the COAL oil and
,ther ship supplies. dry dock and re-
,lir shops, conveniently located with
cferencc to naval vessels passing
Trough the canal. Now, If the govern
nent. for naval purposes. Is to under
axe to furnish these convencnces to
he navy, and they are conveniences
Iually required by commercial vessels,
here would seem to be strong reasons |
Why the government should take over |
nd include in its management the fur
fishing, not only to the navy but TO
he public, dry dock and repair shop |
ABILITIES, and the sale of coal, oil and |
ther ship supplies.
LARGE FORCE NEEDED.
, Tho ms, In on moo of n ,ork copn1 NJ 4
his enormous size in sparsely popu-
ated country and in the tropics, where
he danger of disease Is always pres
mt, requires II large and complete and |
yell trained organization with full po-
Ice powers. exercising the utmost care.
he visitor to the canal who Is I'M
ressed with the wonderful freedom
rom tropical diseases on the isthmus
must not be mised as to the constant
lgilunce that,is needed to preserve this
ondition. Tho vast machinery of the
ocks, the necessary amount of dredg-
ne. the preservation of the banks of
he canal from slides, the operation and
Of the equipment of the
all require a force. not. OF
curse, to be likened in any way to the
resent organization for. construction.
ut a skilled body of men who can keep
trument OF commerce. Such an orgnni-
alton makes it easy to include within
3 functions the furnishing OF dry dock
ucl, repairs ana supply facilities to the
radc of the world These will be more
sscnttal at the Isthmus of Panama
han they are ut Port Said or .Suez, he
ause there are no depots for COAL sup
lies. and other commercial necessities
;ithin thousands of miles OF the 18TH
Jus.
Il REASON FOR GOVERNMENT
't'4ss iii f, CONTROL. #5-l