The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-06

trade shall be through the Panama
canal we must recognize chat we have
an active competitor in the Suez Ca
nal.
Then, too, there are other means Of
crossing the isthmus-by the Tehaun-
tepec railroad and by other railroads
and freight routes in Central America
to the Atlantic side.
In all these cases the question
whether the Panama canal il to be
used and its tonnage increased win be
determined mainly by the charge for
it's use. My own impression Is that
the tolls ought not to exceed 81 per
net ton. On Jan. 1, 1917, the tolls In
the Suez canal are to be z france and
rs confines for one net ton by Suez
canal measurement. which is a modi-
fication of Danube measurement.
A dollar a ton win secure under the
figures above a gross income from the
Panama canal Of nearly 100000.
The cost of maintenance and opera
ton is estimated to excesd $4,000. 900.
Ultimately, Of course. with the normal
increase in trade, the income will APP
proximate the interest charges upon
the investment
On the whole, I should recommend
that within certain limits the president
be authorized to fix the tolls of the
canal and adjust them to what seems
to be commercial necessity.
The inquiries already made Of the
chief engineer of the canal show that
| the present consideration of this Ques-
ton is necessary in order that the COM
merce of the world may have time to
| adjust itself to the new conditions re-
sulting from the opening Of this nsw
| highway.
The next question that arises ID ~
to the maintenance, management and
general control of the canal after fts
completion. 1t should be promised that
it is an essential part Of eur navy es-
| Establishment to have the coal. oil and
other ship supplies, drydock and re-
pair shops conveniently located with
reference to naval vessels passing
through the canal
| Now, If the government for naval
purposes is to undertake to furnish
I, these conveniences to the navy, ana
they are conveniences equally required
| by commercial vessels. there would
seem to be strong reasons why the gov
eminent should take over and include
in its management the furnishing not
only to the navy, but to the public, dry
dock and repair shop facilities and the
sale of coal, oil and other ship sup
| plies.
The maintenance Of lock canal Of
| this enormous size in a sparsely popu-
lated country and in the tropics, where
i the danger from disease is always pres
ent, requires large and complete and
| well trained organization with full po-
/ lice powers, exercising the utmost care.
The visitor to the canal who is Inn
pressed with the wonderful freedom
from tropical diseases on the isthmus
must not be misled as to the constant
vigilance that is needed to preserve
this condition.
/ The vast machinery of the locks. the
necessary amount Of dredging, the
preservation of the banks of the canal
from slides, the operation and the
maintenance of the equipment of the
railway will all require force, not, OF
course, to be ikened in any way to the
present organization for construction,
but a skilled body OF men who can
keep in a state of usefulness this great
instrument of commerce.
Such an organization makes it easy
to include within its functions the fur
nishing of drydock, fuel, repairs and
supply facilities to the trade OF the
world. These will be more essential
at the isthmus of Panama than they
are at Port Said or Suez, because there
are no depots for coal, supplies and
other commercial necessities within
thousands of miles Of the isthmus.
i Another important reason why these
ancillary duties may well be under
taken by the government is the cppor-
tunity for discrimination between pa
irons of the canal that is offered where
private concessions are granted for tine
furnishing of these facilities. Nothing
would create greater prejudice against
the canal than the suspicion that GER
tain lines of traffic were favored In the
furnishing Of supplies or that the sup
plies were controlled by any large In
terest that might have a motive for
increasing the cost Of the use Of the
canal.
I cannot close this reference to the
canal without suggesting as wise
amendment to the interstate commerce
law a provision prohibiting interstate
commerce railroads from owning or
controlling ships engaged in the trade
through the Panama canal. / believe
such a provision may be needed to
save to the people of the United States
the benefits of the competition In trade
between the eastern and western sea-
boards which this canal was construct
ed to secure.