Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-11-23
PANAMA CANAL
TOLLS ARE FIXED
Merchant Vessels and Trans
ports to Pay Sl.2O q Ton.
SAME As SUEz CANAL RATES,

uhlHL NJ JILL GhNhL tthiLui
iHsrsh,ps Win Pay 50 Cent, Ton--lt
Z viii Pay In Twenty Ysars--Rates
Expected to Meet Fixed Charges and
Provide Sinking fund In Ten Years.
II conpllance with the 'aploa en-.
nal act President Taft has issued a proc.
lomation announcing the rates Of toll
10 be paid by the vessels passing
through the waterway The rates liz
ed are those recommended by Emery
z. johnson. professor OF transportation
and commerce OF the University oil
Pennsylvania The president. after
long and careful consideration of the
data, found no reason for making any
change in the rates recommended
The rate for merchant vessels carry
ing passengers and cargo is Sl.20 per
net ton Each 100 cubic feet OF earn
ing space IN the ship VIII be accounted
90 " AVii' 'SSotiS III bhitl9t Nithohl
passengers are to pay 40 per cent less
than the rate for vessels with passen-
gers and cargo
Warships other than transports. col
llers. hospital aud supply slips are to
pay 80 cents per displacement ton
Transports aud other uuxiliaries are to
pay $l.20 per ton. No per capita pas
senser toll will be required The Suez
passenger toll is ahoat $i75 for each
passenger
Governments to &c Notified.
The presidents proclamation. logeth
er with the rules for the measurement
Of vessels, which are now in course OF
preparation hy Professor Johnson. VIII
be transmitted to the various govern
Inents with which the United States
has commercial treaties aud relations
Eight governments will be asked TO
translate the proclamation together
with the rules for measurement and
direct the proper officials to prepare
blanks suitable for the use of all mer-
chant vessels that may pass through
the canal The government VIII be
asked also TO direct the measurement
Of vessels that win pass through the
canal, SO that the proper papers may
be.shown to the canal authorities when
the ship arrives at either terminal.
The rates approved bA the president
are practically the same as the reduced
rates agreed Oh for the Suez canal.
which will so into effect in 1918
The Suez rate per ton on merchant
vessels is to be reduced 80 confines. or
to 6H francs. which is the equivalent
of $1,20G lone dollar and twenty aud
six-tenths centsj. ON war vessels the
Panama rates are somewhat higher
than those of the Suez canal
It is estimated by Professor johnson
that the rates decided upon will pro-
dnce enough revenue at the end of ten
years, or in 1928, to pay the cost of
operation and maintenance. the gov
eminent and sanitation of the canal
zone, interest on the capital invested
in the canal and the annual payment
of $250.000 to the republic of Panama
and TO place $3,750,000 in sinking
fund toward the ultimate amortization
of the investment in the project
Self Sustaining In Twenty Years.
According to Professor Johnsous re-
port. the Panama canal should be upon
a self sustaining basis in twenty years
He said that il should compete sue
cessfully with the Suez route for the
traffic of Europe with South Amcrican
west coast points and with New Zea!
land, but could not be expected to com
pete successfully for Europes trade to
the far east
Taking the estimates of the canal
commission for the expenses OF opera
ton and maintenance Of the canal and
for the improvements held to be neCes-
sary Mt the end of decade. Professor
Johnson figures that the rate per net
ton can be reduced ut the end of ten
years to 81
The Johnson report shows that q for.
egn traffic OF about 9.00OOO0 tons may
be expected through the catiaI In its
nrSt two years OF operation. It traffic
of more than ll.OU0.OO0 tons IN 1920
and l4.000,000 tons in 1928 Although
not maintaining that his estimate is
6nal. Professor johnson declared that
an increase Of GO per cent decade in
tonnage could be looked for
American coastwiSc shipping was eX.
empted from toll payment by congress.
1t was TO this provision OF the act that
Great Britain automatically protest
ed, but no reference 10 the incident
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