The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1911-12-16
rsmark. the Buffalo Express. "any

I u OhAtE1 oNeN0s
spending 1876, 0Oo, 900 to build a canal
across the Isthmus for the purpose of
letting it be monopolized and its public
benefits nullifed." According to the
Washington correspondents there is a
considerable body Of opinion in Con-
gress in favor of a Government-owned
line. The President, il is reported, has
said that he would approve such q pro-
posal as q last resort il it was found
thaaprivate capital could not be secured.
The New York Tribune thinks that
there should be not one but several in
dependent steamship lines operating
through the Panama Canal. IL goes
on to say:
Opposition to through traffic, while
not illegal, would be unpatriotic. We
believe that in the long run it would al
30 be Improbable. We have no doubt
that such traffic would compete with
the railroads. and would either compel
them to reduce some rates or deprive
them Of some patronage. That it would
prove disastrous to the railroads, or
even impair their general prosperity.
we do moi believe. Experience is against
such a theory. The law is that in
crease Of facilities increases patronage.
The opening Of the Panama line will
enormously stimulate commerce be.
tween the two coasts. There are GER
tain classes of traffic which can be car.
ried by steamships through the Canal
more advantageously than by railroads,
and there are other classes which can
better be carried by the rail- roads. Both
kinds of traffic will increase in volume
as facilities for handling it are i'm
proved
The Baltimore American is con.
WINGED that the transcontinental rail
roads are too f~ar-slghted to invite Gov
eminent competition by their efforts to
escape private competition, although,
as the Springfield Republican re-
marks. they are not unnaturally nerv-
Gus over the general outcome of the
Canal opening. The Springfield paper
goes on to say:
"The railroads may be sure Of one
thing, and thai is the completion of the
Canal. Once finished, conditions will
be shaped, doubtless, by the Govern
ment to favor its largest possible use,
and the shippers East and West are not
unlikely to have more influence in
Washington than all of the railroads
and banking houses of the country.
The railroads should prepare for the
Isthmian competition with the best
possible grace, and trust to the develop
ment of the country between terminals
to make up whatever losses may at the
outset come to them on account of the
new conditions"
To the general discussion Of the rela.
tons of the railroads to the i%nteroceanic
canal the New York Journal of Com.
merce contributes the following illumi.
mating comment:
Through transportation across the
continent from coast to coast by rail ID
destined to become a small part of the
traffic of the transcontinental lines
With an effective waterway, avoiding
the long detour around the Southern
continent and the railroad interruption
with its double transfer at the Isthmus,
probably most of the bulky traffic which
does not require quick movement will
go that way. The railroads will still
furnish the fast service where that i:
of importance, for both passengers and
freight. But most Of their traffic tC
seaports on either coast will begin more
or less inland and that from the coasts
will terminate inland. The steamship
lines using the Canal must stop at the
coast aud start from the coast on eithe,
side, and there they will share with any
increase due to opening the Canal with
the railroads. These must bring to the
ports and distribute from the ports fol
the steamers, aud. as this trade de.
velops as he result Of the waterway
shDN IA ktb thCth u oHhio VI tnt
benefit. We see no reason why they
should wish to stand in the way of the
development. We believe that in the
long run interior water-communication
where it is economically available, will
prove an advantage to the railroads, in
spite of the competition at various
points, On account of its effect in slim.
u~latiug industries and trade along the
water lines and thus providing a larger
volume Of traffic in adjacent territory
Still more will the development Of
along-coast and coast-to.coast communi.
cation by water contribute to the vol
ume Of interior railway traffic. Both
means of transportation are needed and
they will help each other"
Rev. IrI r. Hicks 1912 Almanac