The Ordway new era., 1911-03-10

the dirt fly In the ditch
" with such speed as to make
1t possible already to set .
date for the opening. the government
has been quietly working out plans
concerning another phase Of the great
canal enterprise. plans by which. 1t Is
expected. this country will be able to
reap tho full commercial results Of
the opening OF the link between the
oceans and come into possession OF
that great trade empire in the south
ern hemisphere which up till now has
belonged largely to our foreign trade
rivals.
These plans. which have to do with
tho docking and transfer facilities at
the two ends OF the canal. are in some
respects as important as those Of the
actual canal prism. Without them.
In the opinion OF shipping experts
whom President Taft has consulted.
the canal might stand as tremend.
Gus monument to the altruism OF q
nation and not much else SO far as re.
CARDS any advantage this country
night secure over Its European rivals
In the trade Of South America. One
Of tho aims which the administration
now has In the development OF this
phase OF the enterprise Il to preclude
tho possibility Of the canal serving
only to tighten the grip which Europe
now has upon markets which should
Be ours. A It was expressed the other
day by . shipping man. the question
now 10: Shall the canal pay the divi.
dends II ought to pay?"
With Germany and Groat Britain
equipped as they are with ocean car
riers and their trade tentacles already
fastened upon South America. the pos.
sibility that the canal might see q
steady procession OF ships flying for.
eign flag has not been lost sight OF
by those who planned the canal nor by
some Of the American shipping inter.
ssts naturally concerned in the mat.
ter
Gigantic Docks Planned.
Because OF the importance OF the
work which has to do with the actual
digging Of tho canal itself not much
public attention has been invited to
the plans which have been forming
for the utilization Of the canal as a
trade factor. About tho frst public
intimntion OF the extent OF these plans
came at the conference Of the Pan.
American Trade Union In Washington
when Bernard n. Baker OF Baltimore.
who has been intimately connected
with this phase OF the canal work
from its inception. outlined to the
conference the government plans for
what Il is believed will bs the most
complete system OF docks and har.
bors In the world.
The system OF docks described by
Mr.. Baker and upon which work al.
ready has started will embrace both
the Atlantic and the Pacific end OF
the canal Their initial cost will be
In ~ ncighborhood OF $4,000. 900.
In order that this country may not
Be outstripped at the very start OF the
rece for trade which will follow the
opening Of the waterway the plan Is
to have this work nt least half com.
pieted by the time the canal IL opened
and In such a state as to be available
for commercial purposes.
The docks proposed for Panama
might be- compared to a junction on a
great trunk line. n distributing point
for local freight. The advantage OF
having such n system OF docks In con
nection with the canal was really not
foresecn at the time the enterprise
was begun. Beyond protecting the
entrances by breakwnters nothing was
considered except to construct the
canal itself and leave II open to the
~ ~ g. 4
vantage they could out OF it-a fair
field and no favors. as It were.
Expert Opinion Sought.
with work actually started on the
canal. however. the question Of its
proper utilization began to loom up
pretty large. The FIRST man to con.
slider this aspect seriously was Mr..
Roosevelt's secretary OF war. Luke r..
Wright. Mr.. Roosevelt also became
Interested. and together they sent for
Mr.. Baker. the organizer and builder
Of the Atlantic Transport line. who
since his retirement from business has
taken a deep interest In this country's
commercial development and has been
regarded ms an expert on the subject.
Mr.. Baker quickly pointed out TO
MIR. Roosevelt and Secretary Wright
that the canal enterprise lacked a
business end. which II should have;
tina, 1t should embrace some system
Of docks the advantage OF which could
be seized by this country's shipping.
Given such system Of docks. said
Mr.. Baker. permitting the transfer Of
South and Central American freight