The San Francisco call., 1910-03-23

cutta and lesser ports incline to
the belief that the Panama canal
Will affect trade between the orient
and the Pacific coast, the influence
extending as far west as Hongkong.
This is considered a certainty. 1t is
also considered certain that trade
between the Pacific coast and Eu-
rope, as far east as Naples, will be
stimulated by the canal. The effect
OF the canal on trade with interme-
date points, those lying between
Naples and Hongkong, may not be
predicted. Such is the consensus
Of intelligent opinion.
Interest in the canal is not linn
lted to any sections of country or
any peoples. India is not directly
in the line of canal transportation,
yet India is interested in the canal
and is hoping to number itself
among the beneficiaries of the new
waterway. While at Delhi, north
ern India, / met merchant of Am
ritzas, city of 10000 people, 81
miles north of Delhi. It is the
center of Kashmir shawl industry
and the rate making base for goat
skins. AS India is one of the
largest. if not the largest, exporter
of goatskins the commercial i'm
portance of Amritzas will be readily
understood. AmritZas is the great
rendezvous for traders from At
ghanistan. Persia, Tibet and other
i
ritZas merchant introduced the sub
ject of the Panama canal and was
eager for facts-~and figures. He
said that, in common with other
Indian merchants, he was watching
the progress of the canal work.
The Indian merchants were hop
ing to increase their trade with the
United States. One of his own
lines, goatskins. was likely to be
affected by the new route Ninety
per cent of the goatskins produced
in India are shipped to Boston,
factories of that region. The skins
are now sent via the SueZ canal.
Favoring charges by the Panama
canal would alter this current of
trade. In the various ports of Eu-
rope and the east I have invariably
been asked about the probable tar
iff on canal tonnage. The Suez
canal charges are held to be eX-
orbitant, so much so that some
steamshipmen are talking of using
the old and long route about the
Cape of Good Hope.
Ny experience has satisfied me
that people of all sorts and con-
ditions are watching the Panama
Francisco and the canal are linked
together in the public mind. 1t
may also be truly said that. apart
from this canal coloring, San Fran
cisco is IN the eye or the world.
During previous sojourns in Europe
and Asia have never heard tithe
of the talk about San Francisco
that l hear now. Even In this Af-
rican city of Algiers l have been
eagerly questioned about San
Francisco. The rapid reconstruc-
tion of the city caught public at
tention. The Portola celebration
advertised the fact Just in my own
travels in the east four months
I have seen enough to satisfy me
that the Portola celebration was
one of the best investments ever
made by the people of San Fran
cisco. The affair enjoyed the ad-
vantage of proper promotion in
European countries
The benefits of the projected
Panama Pacific international expo
sition defy measurement. The heroic
and successful renewal of the city
has done more than arouse a world
wide interest in the city; 1t has
piqued popular curiosity. The
world wants to see the city by the
Golden gate and the people who
have wrought this modern miracle.
Very truly yours,
WILLIAM NJ BUNKER