The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-11-24
GERMANYREAOY
FOROPENINGOF
PANAMA CANAL
EXPERT SAYS WEST AND SOUTH
PART OF UNITED STATES WILL
PROFIT FROM OPERATION OF
WATERWAY THE MOST.
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS,

other foreign nations expects to profit
by the opening of the Panama canal.
Maritime experts here point out that
while the United States naturally will
receive the greatest advantage, owing
to it's lack of ships it will not be in a
position to profit by the great increas Sc
in the carrying trade which the Ger
man shipowners have foreseen and
prepared for
Orders placed by three of the lead
ing German companies for new vessels
designed particularly for service by
way of Panama, large increases Of
capital stock by the same companies
and the announcement that the four
big lines now running to the orient.
Australasia and the Pacific coasts of
North and South America will be di-
verified to pass through the canal as
soon as 1t Is open to commerce, speak
plainly of the Importance attributed
IN this country to the new waterway
German authorities say that the eff
feet of the opening of the canal will
manifest Itself chiefly in a great com
merc1al boom in western Canada and
the Pacific coast states, from which
shipping interests geenrally will profit:
in increased freightS as result of
the opening of hitherto undeveloped or
slightly developed states on the west
ern coast of South America stored
with raw material; in the diversion
and expansion OF the streams of Euro
pean emigration to regions on the Pa
ciflca coast we'll suited to settlement
but of which the European emigrant
hitherto has had slight knowledge;
and, finally, in the opportunity offered
to the industries of the United States
to compete under highly favorable
conditions in the markets of the ORR
ent. western South America, Australia
and New Zealand
Opinion OF Expert.
Though reluctant to venture definite
prophesies, in view of the divergence
of expert opinion, Count Ernst "a Re
ventlow, the well-known German nav
al writer and student of American con-
ditions, reviewed the subject recently,
as follows:
There is no doubt but that the
United States will derive the greatest
benefit from the canal. Furthermore,
there viii follow great changes in ex-
listing American trade conditions. The
most important result, from the Ger
man standpoint. is that the American
East and the American West will be
brought much nearer to each other
The distance between San Francisco
and New York will be shortened more
thansS, 900 miles.
1.-THE west of the United States will
experience a strong business and COM
mercia1 development. The immigra-
ton from Europe will probably turn
itself far more than before to the Pa
ciflc coast, now that the immigrants
are not deferred by the expense of the
railroad journey from New York. That
separation OF the East from the West
of the United States existing up to the
present in the business field will grad
ually disappear, making the United
States a commercial and business
whole and in this way much stronger
San Francisco will lose its present inn
portance for the East-Asiatic trade but
in return score great gain through
it's new position in the trade with the
western United States and with the
western states of South America. Here,
on the west coast OF South America,
lies the greatest importance Of the
canal for the United States and this
Importance will manifest itself not
only economically but probably in the
political field as well.
"The canal will make the United
States very dangerous competitor of
all nations that engage in commerce
with the South American and Central
American states, for it's position will
favorable than it was. The same is |
rue as to the far east and Australia. |
The canal will also prove the strong |
est competitor of the American rail- |
.oa DIS. |
1.-THE canal will bring an interesting |
political Importance to the West In |
lies and the Tonga Islands, which are |
owned by Great Britain, France and |
Denmark. In so far as these islands /
llready possess harbors, their import |
inc bases or as ports of call, and |
heir economic positions and their |
commerce will be greatly increased. It |
8 possible, too. that this development |
nay create new political considerations |
Ind thereby give oecs sion for interna-
iona1 friction
Will Divert immigration.
One cannot yet say what the plans |
# the great shipping companies will |
De. Naturally these companies will /
Keep their plans secret as long as
possible. "A very important factor for
he United States, and, indeed for all |
America, is, in my opinion, the immi
grafton from China and japan. One
cannot doubt that the Panama canal
will divert this immigration to the |
EASTERN part of the American continent
whereas it has heretofore been chiefly |
confined to the west. Here, too, the |
purely economic significance of the
ANAL is complicated with an earnest
'olitical factor. and the issue which /
las heretofore been known only as the /
California question will make itself /
Known in the east. Possibly the yellow
population of the Hawaiian islands will |
Increase still more rapidly, for these
stands will undoubtedly enjoy an i'm
nense benefit from the Panama ca
lal
$50 far as Germany is concerned, the
main significance of the canal for our
.hipping interests lies in the fact that
t will make 1t possible to reach the