The Daily Missoulian., 1911-06-08

ISthmlpn barrieer SuccuIlDS at i'St w
the unrelcnting attacks of the Amer
ican canal digger. there VIII begin the
most rapid change In the commercial
map that has been, wrought I'm CEN
turtles. Not since Columbus, sailing
across the Atlantic In search OF a
western passage to India, discovered
a new world instead Of a new water
way, has there been such n transform
ing event In the field OF commerce as
Will DE the opening Of the Panama
canal
Cities that today are mere way
stations on the. international routes OF
trade. win grow into rich world CEN
ters where the new roads OF the COM
incrciai map viii cross. 'On the other
hand. cities which today glory In "a
trade supremacy of international rec
ognition will see themselves displaced.
their prestige lost. their hopes OF the
future dashed to earth. The read
justmcnt will not be the. matter OF
day or OF yenr. even generation
may pass before tho change reaches
half It's proportions: but the ultimate
changes wrought viii certainly be
greater and more world -encompassing
than anyone can now predict.
The capture OF Constantinoplc by
the Turks was directly responsible for
the discovery Of the new world. II
cut OF the cities OF the Mediterranean
from communication with India and
sent Columbus westward In quest OF
another passage which could not be
obstructcd by the Moslcm tyrants or
tho east At last the Panama canal
is to afford that passage and to bring
the whole earth into a smaller COM
pass
OF course, the United States VIII be
first to realize the vast benefits OF
tho canal. II will double the effi-
cheney OF the American navy and VIII
add to our military prestige through
out the world. II viii enable the
national authorities to concentrate the
naval strength of the country In way
that will make any nation think more
than, twice before risking war with
America. '-. -.--s.--
The benefits Immediately accruing to
the people OF the United states will be
as great In a commercial way rs they
will be in the matter OF military ad-
vantage. As the capture OF Con-
stantinoplc caused tho upbuilding OF
many regions through the consequent
Transformation OF international trade
routes. 40 viii the Mississippi valley.
the worlds greatest granary. begin to
grow and develop even beyond the
wonderful records OF the past. Its
grain and meat products. loading by
way Of gulf ports. can 20 to the ends
Of the earth with little outlay for cx-
pcnsivc rail transportation. II Is even
possible that the great awakening in
cidcnt to the opening OF the canal
may hasten the day when the lakes
to- the-gulf waterway will be an ac-
! complishcd fact, and when ships may
| load at Chicago, Detroit. and other
lake points and sail directly to all
| ports of the world. Then. too. upper
Mississippi river points, like ST. Paul
| may he brought within water COM
| municatIon with the outside world. and
| the United States will begin an era
| OF commercial development surprising
even the wonderful growth OF the
decade Just closed.
Plttsburg may then be able to send
| It's vast output OF manufactures by
water; Kansas city will feel the slim
| ulus OF the new waterway and the
| Pacific coast. long cut off from the
rest OF the country by the high noun
| tain barriers which have been only
partially overcome by tho railroads
will now find It's resources within
| marketable distance OF the eastern
| states which have needed them. but
have been denied them by the ncces-
sarily high rail freight rates
| Canada, too. VIII feel the stimulus
of tho canal. No longer will her grca,
| crops have To find their sole outlet
over railroads that must cross the
backbone of n continent: but. pursu-
Ing tho avenues of least resistance
they VIII be able to ship 10 all parts ol
the world by way OF the gulf ports.
South America Will get the mex
greatest share In the benefits OF tn,
canal. Already it's west coast coun'
tries and cities are getting ready fol
the boom TO business that Is to fol
low. Brought thousands of miles
nearer 10 ail western trade centcrs
so close that their raw products nnt
Americas manufactured products cai
be exchanged with advantage. thcr,
will be growth of trade that nlrcad,
has awakened the letharglc Soutl
American to the possibilities ahead
And these possibilities we'll may b,
considered by the business men OF th
| United States. Today America buy
n large percentage of the products %
South America. but when South Amer
leans have money to spare they spen'
| only one dollar out Of eight with us
The other seven go to Europe. TIL
| American exporter viii find himsel
quickened by the history maxim.
change the canal will produce. and |
he goes at II In earnest he can re
verse the proportion.
Australia and New Zealand will eN
perience perhaps a greater change Il
their trade routes than any countrie
outside of the Americas. The Aus
tr1,lasian commerce now Is largel
carried by way OF Suc2 The open
Ing of tho Panama canal will plac
New Zealand i,200 miles nearer I
London than 1t now IL, and eastern