The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-11-14

ton; a traffic of more than 11,oo0,o 900
during it's first two years of opera
In 1926 and 14,O0O.O 900 in 1925. AL
though not maintaining that his es-
innate is final. Professor Johnson de-
clared that an increase of sixty per
a decade in tonnage could be
looked for and that this would make
the canal self-supporting in twenty
years.
The report goes into all phases
of the canal tolls question. Profess
sor Johnson's defense of the s1.2O
rate for merchant vessels is based on
several grounds. It reads in part as
follows:
Not Excessive.
IA toll of s1.2O per ton on loaded
rchan vessels and a reduction of
forty per cent from the standard rate
in the case of vessels in ballast will
place the Panama canal and its rival,
the Suez canal upon an equal competi-
tive footing.
"The Panama canal must compete
with the Suez route for the commerce
Of the eastern seaboard of the United
States and of the Atlantic-North sea
ports of Europe with the orient east
OF Singapore. For voyages between
the eastern ports of the United States
n the orient. fuel expenses via Pan
ANA will be less than by way of Suez;
and, with equal tolls at each canal,
the Panama route will readily secure
the traffic.
ut is not to be expected that much
Of the commerce of Europe with the
Pacific seaboard of Asia can be di-
verified to Panama from its present
route via Suez. Distances are less via
Suez: and. with the exception of voy-
ages from north Europe to Japan and
return, h fuel expenses are lower
by way of Suez. With equal tolls at
Panama and Suez. some vessels will
take the Panama cut between ia
pan and Europe in order to discharge
and secure cargo at American ports.
To attract from the Suez to the Amer
lean route any considerable. addition
al share of the European-oriental ton
mage. the rates of toll at Panama
would have to be made SO low as to
reduce unjustifiably the revenues of
the canal.
"a Panama toll of $1.2o per net ton
will not unduly burden the commerce
served by the canal. The cost ct
transportation between the two sea-
boards Of the United States will he
reduced several times the amount of
the toll: and for the commerce of the
easter nseaboard Of the United States
with western South America and with
Australia the economies effected by
the Panama canal will largely exceed
the toll suggested.
Likewise the saving in time and
fuel expenses via Panama as COM
pared with the Magellan route be-
tween u eastern seaboard and New
Zealand will be such as to insure the
profitable use Of the Panama canal.
"Nor will a toll OF $1.2O per net ton
seriously restrict the use OF the ca
nal by European countries. For the
commerce Of Europe with Chile and
with New Zealand, the saving result
ing from the shortening of the time
of voyage via Panama. as compared
with the Straits of Magellan, would
not warrant the payment of tolls of
$1.20 per net vessel ton for using the
Panama canal; but the fuel expenses
via Panama will be so much less than
via Magellan as to make the canal
route preferable even with tolls of
$1.20 per net ton. Moreover the prof
table trade route between Europe
and Chile is via Panama and the
ports intermediate between the 18TH
mus and Valparaiso. Panama is the
natural entrance for the west coast
of South American trade.
1.-THE normal growth of traffic of
the Panama canal will not be inter-
fered with by a toll Of $1.2O per net
ton. The tonnage of shipping using
the suez canal las increased rapidly
the growth Of traffic having been
about seventy per cent during the past
ten years. although the tolls at the
opening OF the decade were STA per
net ton and in 1911. $780, higher
rate than is recommended for Pan
1t is suggested that the tolls at
Panama start with the relatively low
rate to which the Suez charges will
nave been brought in 1913, at the end
of forty-three years of traffic devel-
opment."
In the presidents Proclamation the
rate upon war vessels was fixed at SO
cents a displacement ton and Pro-
lessor johnson had this comment to
THE tolls on merchant vessels
should be fixed enough to enable the
Panama canal effectively to promote
the commerce Of the United States
and the world: but the United States
government is not called upon to
make the Panama canal tolls upon
warships low for the purpose Of light
ening the naval burdens Of foreign
countries. In sending their warships
through the Panama canal foreign
nations should pay tolls high enough