Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1912-06-01

Honolulu begins to give signs Of
feeling the thrill OF life along the keel
of its Panama Canal prospects, or
good prospects generally.
Businessmen returning from the
Pacific Coast and mainland tours get
the atmosphere of progress from that
part of the country and the natural
advancement of things in this city Is
bound to have some influence on the
most phlegmatic of our own citizens
At all events, the Panama Canal is
beginning to be at all times a timely
topic, which Is a good sign. One of
he San Francisco papers published
recently general review of water.
front opinion on how the traffic of the
Canal will move. If II follows the
course indicated up the Coast to San
Francisco there is no doubt but that
II will also touch at this port. The
article says:
According TO a number of prominent
shippingmen of San Francisco who
have made careful estimates of the re.
suit of the opening of the Panama Ca.
nal upon the business of the port, San
Francisco Is destined to become base
for the distribution of commerce to
the Far East, the Antipodes and other
places within few years. In the
opinion Of these men. the theory that
big liners would sail from Atlantic
rorts direct to ports In the Orient, la.
den with big cargoes and long lists Of
Passengers, Is absurd.
Several factors contribute to eX.
plode the prevailing theory. The time
required to assemble large cargo, or
enough freight at one OF the Atlantic
IOrts to fiji a big steamer bound for
the Far East direct, would be greater
than shippers and consignees would
grant. The method of procedure will
be about as follows, It Is explained:
American coastwise steamers sailing
from Atlantic ports will steam direct.
ly to this port. possibly stopping at
San Pedro or San Diego. both in some
cases. They will be laden with sever.
al thousand tons Of miscellaneous
freight, with an ultimate consignment
to possibly a dozen different ports In
Tahiti, Australia and the Orient.
At this port the different consign
ments will be transferred to the
steamers plying to the ports of ulti
mate destination. This means that
the freight will be delivered to its des
tination with considerable dispatcl
and the delay In assembling big car
goes will be obviated. As vessels
probably will sail from the principa
eastern shipping ports at intervals o
not more than one week, the forward
ing of freight will be greatly facilitat
cd.
The importance OF this, II proved
true when the Canal Is in operation
Is that a great portion of the freigh
now carried to foreign ports in for
eign bottoms will be carried at leas
a portion of the way in American
ships. 1t is estimated that the vessels
needed for these cargoes alone vii
mean at least a partial rehabilitation
of the American merchant marine.
In addition to this, foreign steamer
plying from the Latin ports Of SOutl
America both on the Atlantic and Pa
cific, will leave big tonnage here I,
be distributed among the diiferen
lines. No attempt is made to estimate
the probable increase In the tOnnag
Of San Francisco, but within fey
years 1t is said 1t ought to be double
Just which way the trade will NOV
no one can foretell with certainty. Blu
everyone is getting ready for the Ca
nal.
Many feel that everywhere but 4
Honolulu are they getting ready TO
the Canal. Certainly we have nc
walked up as others have done, bu
some things are being done. Harbo
Commissioner Wakefield is attendin
conference of the harbor commits
sioners of the country. and while a
tending to private business Is dom
much observing for public benefit.