The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-11-03
BRITONS THINK
CANAL IS BOON
Gradual Expansion OF Trade Look
ed for by Marine Men

London Nov g.-Briusn shlpowners
ana merchants in every line Of pro-
duce and manufacture. have carefully
laid plans for any change that VIII
come over the trade Of the world as q
result Of the opening Of the Panama
canal
All the big shipping companies that
have interests in the countries directly
benefited by the new waterway have
either added to their tonnage or made
preparations for doing so. ond IN ev-
cry case il viii be found that me
steamers built or building arc general
| ~ OF the size considered mosc suitable
for the transit Of the canal. Coalrg
stations also arc being ARRANGED for
I'm order that steamers using the canal
may coal, IL necessary. between Colon
and England, and generally speaking,
| everything possible il being done 10
enable England 10 hold the supremacy
she has attained in the worlds inari-
| time trade
Englishm"n. however, always CON
servatlve, do not believe that the rev
olution will be az immediate one. They
arc planning for IL gradual eApansian
Of trade which the ships now IN cx-
istence or in prospect will be quito
able to take care of. Probably one II
the best authorities on this question
| is Major r.. r. Jones. formerly -Ameri.
can consul AZ Cardiff, who for many
years has been editor 81 shipping
World" ia a recent interview .Jajcr
Jones said:
"SeYera! of our leading British ship
owners, trading with the Central Am
erican states, the Dominion pr Canada
and the American states on the Pa
! cilic have built and ara building ships
10 meet the business which the Pan
anna route IS expected 10 create es-
pecislly between the Atlantic aud Ia
cific. In doing this they have ignored
the possibility Of the granting Of pref
erential canal tolls 10 American ccast-
ing tonnage using tho canal They
frankly believe that the Tn!tcd States
will never carry out this idea. Should
they be right, and the tonnage ready
10 use the canal the first year VIII be
l0,5o0,00O tons, and the tolls $l.25 4
ton, the income will be sufficient 60
meet the interest charges ard work
ing expenses ......... -.....-....
Ameriea to PROFIT Nest.
should the American coastips tom
rage. however, ho exempt from tolls
tho whole Of the interest. and working
expenses will fail upon .forelsn, nrin-
cipally British. shipowners and this
ct conrsc would place -hem 1T q. dis
advantage. ........ ,.....
The Dominating factots sysgl...I4s
the tra1lc or the Panama canal will
be distances and eXpeuse: hat is TO
say, tolls and dues, and consideration
OF these will often turn, the srale ~
favor of either the Sue< NJ the PAN
anna route. AS have already indi.
Gated, the Panama tools are to be S1.2j
per ton. The Suez dues N ships With
car are Gas francs (Sl2D at lres-
ent but ships in ballast are allowed
rebate of $50 francs $50 cents) per
l'li WI Nllf lull NlsAAEll AtAlN "a L.N-
ulars as to charges and nay,&,,. tol
rules for the Panama canal are. uot
yet published; therefore comparisons
are not possible. But as Tar. ~ they
are known they are in favor ut the
SueZ canal II should be remembered
also that as the profits increase the
tonnage charges are reduced by the
Suoz. Whether this policy may %
practicable after the opening Of Tho
Panama canal, when good deal Of
tonnaC. may he withdrawn from tie
SueZ waterway. remains 10 be seen.
should the proposed immunity Of
American coasting tonnage from canal
tolls be maintained, and ID not
think il will. then the SueI route will
always get tho benefit of the doubt in
respect of cost and distance. This
will apply to all Asiatic ports west Cf
japan; practically all Australian ports
and Manila. yet, and many ports Of
New Zealand and Japan where the
distance only slightly fayors Panama.
Hopeful OF Success.
"It goes without saying that, as a
general proposition, the benefits Of the
Panama route Will be Creates for the
countries and ccntcrs whore the dis
tance saved is the most II follows
therefore that the American continent;
Canada, the United States and South
America on both oceans and the West
India Islands, will he the greatest benz
cficiaries.
"Of course nothing but good can
sumers OF the British Isles from the
abundant success OF ;hc Panama cam