El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-04-27

make repairs for ships doing a general
ship chandlery business. at fair profit
we ought to have a still greater sur
plus.
The Canal VIII Eventually Pay.
But. colonel. in this estimate you
do not consider the original investment
The canal will cost in the neighbor-
hood OF S400. 100000. Is Uncle sam TO
get no dividends on that amount
Il do not think any should be eX-
pected," was the reply me canal
was constructed not as unanclal
speculation or investment It was ere
ated as a military necessity The
United States had to have IL, ana our
commerce and that OF the world snoulo
not be taxed for its creation -,
But may il not eventually pay 1
asked The Suez canal pays well. VIII
OURS not equal itF
..As TO its having a traffic as great
as that OF the SueZ canal that IS q
matter OF speculation But 1 90 not
see why II should not II you VIII look
back you will find that every new wa
terway that has been opened has de-
velOped a commerce far beyond what
was anticipated When the french
opened Suez they met with the most
bitter opposition from Great Britain
end from others OF the snlp-Solng ha-
tions. They we're told that 1t would De
a failure and the canal was never
spoken OF except with sheer NO
one could have anticipated the enor-
nous traffic that has actually result :
ed. When the Sault Ste Marie canal
was decided upon no one had any idea
that would have a traffic OF over
10000, 900 or 100000 tons per an
nun. 1t will be the same with TINS
canal. Look where it is il Is on tne
frontier OF the only great undeveloped
lands OF the future refer 70 the
vast tracts Of South America and Cen
tra1 America 1t viii be the ocean
highway from one part OF our country
u q
Europe. Besides. Asia is just AWAKEN
ing. and the S00.O0O000 and more OF
that continent will eventually De senu-
ing their goods to both sides OF our
hemisphere. AS II is now the distances
between Asia and Europe favor SueZ,
but Asia must do a great business Win
North and South America. Indeed, the
possibilities arc inestimable.
More About Tolls.
Now let US look at the question Of
tolisY said Col. GOethals. suppose
we should eventually have a traIlle
equal TO that OF Suez- nave Io0h ,s eo
over the figures OF the Suez canal Tor
1909 During that year more Jhan
1000 vessels passed through IL. ana
their gross tonnage was upward OF a.
100000. I have not the recelPss IoI
that year, but IN 1907. when the ton
mage was 1000. 600 less, the actual re-
Ceipts were more than 9zoUUU,vUV- A
traffic like that would more than pay
i percent interest OAA A--N 49, 49,
canal AID leave a large surplus a0oE e
the operating expenses as Wen, me
Suez canal has in times past cnar6 ca
tolls OF 81 a ton. 1t has graqud!ly re-
duced them. until with the Deglnnllng
OF this year the charges viii pc S1-zo
per ton. They are getting ready TO
meet our 81 tolls. and tnat perhaps pc
cause the shipping Of the world mas
been complaining Of its excessive rates rates
and suggesting that It may laVOr Pan-
ANA"
How about the rates on Passen-
"1'Hat Is another question II the
tull is levied on the gross tonnage OF
a shin Il should perhaps take IN the
passengers. as the passengers are a
part Of the weight This was the com
plant made at Suez by the British
when thew sent through their troop
ships. They had TO pay FOR the gross
tonnage and then pay so much per man.
At one time the rate was - per mead
and that on 5000 troops would be
$4,000. This taxing the passengers
was one OF the subjects OF the Constan-
tinOple convention. and II resulted IN
the present basis OF measurement OF
tonnage at Suez. The tolls are now
based on the net tonnage and the pas
seDRers are charged for In addition at
50 much per head II we should
Charge for passengers in the same way
7 look for a considerable revenue, not
ONLY from the tourist travel. but also
from the great immigration when
will probably come from Europe to
South America IN the near future. L