The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-10-26
Preparing To Use The Canal.

Preparing To Use The Canal.
Probably the construction of the
Panama Canal would never have
bean undertaken by the United
States. certainly it would not have
been undertaken so soon. had its
possible use to commerce been the
only thing considered. The inn
portance of canal to the navy
made evident in the war with Spain
was what determined the govern
ment TO act.
Rut now that Colonel Goethals
has promised that the canal shall be
ready for traffic in July. 1913. its
commercial POSSIBLE ties are being
widely studied. The question of
tolls. the probable effect of its COM
retition on the trans-continental
railways. the inevitable changes in
foreign steamship routes. the effect
upon American shipring-these. are
among the matters into which the
GREAT transportation interests of the
world are now making careful eXami
nation.
Probably the effect unon American
shipping and ship-building will be
large. In one instance already it
has begun to provide. work for the
ship-builder. last month the At
lantie and Pacific Transport Com
panv was orranized with a capital
of fifteen million dollars. 1t will
build fifteen large steamships for the
ocean mail service between New
York and San Francisco by way of
the canal. Since all domestic COM
merce must by law be carried IN
American vessels. the information Of
this COMPANY means IN itself much
work for our ship-builders.
Shall American vessels engaged
exclusively in domestic commerce
nav tolls at the canal! In the Hay
Pauncefcte treaty we agreed to
make no discriminating charges
against the traffic of anv nation !:
hut some. arguing that this agree
ment applies only to international
commerce, believe that we may. if
We choose. permit American coast
wise ships to pass without charge.
Manv bills are now before Congress
concerning this important point, on
which action is promised early i'll
next session.
/ The cost of workin" the canal,-a
F, task for which thousand men will
be needed,-together with interest
en- the cost of construction. Will be
from thirteen to fourteen million dol
lars a year-a fact that Will have an
important influence In establishing
the rates of toll. The rates suggest
ed range from fifty cents 10 two dol
lars cargo ton. Colonel Goethals
puts the maximum capacity of the
canal at twenty-four ships day.
What effect the canal Will have on
the business Of the great transcon-
tinental railway lines is causing con-
Germ to some investors. Five of
those railways each, cost more than
the canal. and one of them cost
twice as much The railway COM
panies, are making plans to meet
the competition. One railway presi-
dent declares that the roads will
iprovide a service SO superior to
that of the canal that the new water
way will be "filled with lily-pads. -
Other officials fear serious damage
TO the business of the railways. and
a possible panic in railway securi-
ties.
Ten leading foreign steamship
lines are planning to use the canal
IA fact that means the complete
Transformation of the maps that
show the regular lines of ocean travel
Apropos of this. the announcement
of the Grand Trunk Railway that
the wheat of western Canada
hundred million bushels every year,
instead of being brought across
the continent bv train and shipped
from Atlantic ports. will be taken
to Prince Rupert. the Pacific termi-
nus of the road, and thence shipped
to Liverpool by way of the canal. is
particularly interesting.--The Youths
Companion.