Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-11-14

and the Orient. fuel expenses via
Suez; and. with equal tolls at each
canal, the Panama route readily will
secure the traffic.
1T Is not to be expected that much
Of the commerce of Europe with the
Pacific seahoard OF Asia can be di-
verted to the Panama from its pres
ent route via Suez. Distances are less
via Suez; and with the exception of
VOYAGES from north Europe TO Japan
and return the fuel expenses are low
er by way of Suez. With equal tolls
at Panama and Sucz. some vessels
viii take the Panama route between
Japan and Europe in order to dis
charge and secure cargo at American
ports.
ITO attract from the Sue2 to the
American route any considerable ad-
dtional share of the European Orient
tonnage the rates of toll at Panama
would have to be made so low as to
reduce unjustifiably the revenue OF
the canal
"A Panama toll of 1s1.2o per net
ton will not burden unduly the com
merce served by the canal. The costs
of TRANSFORMATION between the two
seaboards of the United States viii
be reduced several times the amount
of toll: and for the commerce Of the
eastern seaboard of the United states
with western South America and with
Australia. the economies effected by
4 ,Nf1l alx
the toll suggested. Likewise the say
ing In time ana fuel expenses via Pan
ANA as compared with the Magellan
route between our eastern seaboaru
and New Zealand will be such as to
insure the profitable use of the Pana-
ma canal.
'.Nor will a toll of s1.20 per ton SER
iouslv restrict the use Of the canal pN
E,uropean countries For the com
merce Of Europe with chile ana w'th
New Zealand. the say ns resulting
from the shortening of the time oi
VOYAGE via Panama as compared WIN
the Straits of Magellan would not war
rant the payment of tolls OF SI.zo
per net vessel ton for using the run
anna canal: but the fuel expenses VIA
Panama will he so much less thah
via Magellans as to make the Pana-
ma route preferable even with tons
of S1.20 per net ton. Moreover, the
profitable trade route between Europe
and Chile is via Panama ana lne
ports intermediate between the Isth
mus and Valparaiso Panama IS 'he
natural entrance for the west coas'
Of South American trade.
sThe normal growth of traffic OF
the Panama canal will not be inter
fered with by a toll of S1.2o per net
ton. The tonnage of shipping using
the Suez canal has increased rapidly
the growth of traffic having beeh
about 10 per cent during the last zen
years. although the tolls at the open
ing of the decade, We're Sl.t4 per he'
ton. and in 1911, S1.30--a higher rate
han is charged for Panama. II IS sug
eested that the tolls al panama start
with the relatively low rate TO when
HE Suez charges will have been
brought in 1913, at the end of forty
threc Years Of traffic development.
In the presidents proclamation the
rate upon war vessels was fixed at 90
cents a displacement ton and Profes-
,or johnson had this comment to
make:
THE tolls upon merchant vessels
should be fixed low enough To ehaple
he Panama canal effectively to trans
,ort the commerce of the United |
states and the world; but the United |
States government is not called upon |
o make the Panama canal tons upon !
sarships low for the purpose of llSht- /
ming the naval burden for foreign |
Countries in sending their warships |
through the Panama canal. foreign |
lations should pay tolls high enough
o cover costs and risks incurred by
he canal authorities in performing
he service rendered