The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-12-11

whelmed with the ordres which are
expected as a result of it's construc-
ton.
There is no denying these possible
canal conditions which the country
may meet. 1t may not be popular
thing for me to say this; but | am
forced to tell the truth as | see it in
order to awaken that attitude of the
people and that action of our govern
ment, which can change absolutely
this prospective but unfortunate situa-
ton.
In the first place, the canal tolls at
one dollar and twenty-five cents Q.25)
a net ton are undoubtedly too high.
They should be placed at the lowest
figure permitted by Congress-seven-
ty-five cents ($.75) a ton. Only by
the use of the latter figure can we get
the greatest use of the canal in the
! shortest possible time after it is
opened. One dollar and twenty-five
C$l.25 Ia ton means speculation as to
/ possibilities and hesitation as to large
shipping preparations for the use of
the canal Seventy-five cents (S75) a
ton would mean that every possible
utilization would he made of it with
ont delay.
While it is perfectly just to change
a reasonable toll to pay operating eX-
penses. it is inconsistent with our ma
tional policy as shown in the opera
ton of our post offices aud public
buildings, TO charge a toll to cover
interest on the investment. If we
operated our post office service on the |
principle of making the postage pay
for the interest on the billions of dol |
lars invested in post office buildings, |
we would be obliged to charge five |
cents for every letter and triple the |
present rate for second class matter.
In the second place, there is very
little organized or individual prepare
ton for the Panama Canal among the
great commercial organizations and
manufacturing interests of the United
States. They are not studying the
markets of the countries reached
through the canal as are the CORE
spending interests of Europe. There
are a score of agents of European
Chambers of Commerce and of Euro
pean manufacturing and importing
houses studying the markets of South
America and the Pacific Ocean where
there is one from the corresponding
interests of the United States.
In the third place, there is altogeth-
er too small preparation for the canal
in the form of the building of vessels
to fly the American flag. A few are
being constructed, but even these are
paltry in number compared to the
preparations of the European and Jap
anese shipyards and shipping COM
ranies.
In the fourth place, in discussing
the development of trade through the
canal we are considering it too much ,
from a selfish standpoint. We are {
only of our export trade or s
OF what We will sell, and not enough I
OF our import trade or what we will 5
BUY. Exchange of products is the life
OF commerce. We must consider what
markets we can provide for the prod I
lcts of the countries reached through i
the canal, as well as what we can sell I
to them. ,
Finally, our commercial, civic. lit S
erary and educational organizations
and institutions, from Chambers of
commerce and universities down to t
boys clubs and preparatory schools t
should take up the study of the Pan f
anna Canal and what it means not ONLY a
10 our trade but to our influence c
among the nations. Only in this wav j
'ah we inaugurate and develop real t
Panama Canal movement which will c
enable us to realize large benefits
rom the Canal in the shortest possible
ime +