The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-23

address which was delivered few days
ago by Prof. Adam w. Kirkaldy be-
| fore the British Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science. Professor kirkal-
! dys name is not familiar in the popular
sense. but is known to men of science
and especially to the masters of eco
nomic science wherever the English Ian
guage is spoken. and also in France and
Germany As the chief executive of the
department of finance of Birmingham
university he has attained high authority
among scholars, particularly upon eco
romic subjects.
Important Deductions
The brief synopsis of his address,
which was cabled to the United States,
contains statements which in one way or
another and by different American citi-
zens have been made from time to time,
especially recently. But no citizen of the
United States has. at least in public ad-
dress or publication, Brought together SO
many important statements and ref.ec-
items as are contained in the address to
the British men of science by Professor
klrkaldy. The late e. II. Hartman lad
a fairly good understanding OF what
some of the features of the commerce
that will be floated through the Panama
canal is to be, yet Mr.. Harrilnans view
was not so comprehensive as was that
of the late c. P. huntington, although
Mr.. Huntington died before work was
actually Begin upor the Panama canal.
Mr.. Huntington was convinced that an
artificial waterway across the isthmus
would tend greatly to the growth of the
| West Indian islands and that of the
w ,,ct Of A ri.
gulf states of the Union. He was per-
suaded that commerce through the canal
| would not seriously impair railroad trans
portation, but would, IN fact. tend greatly
| to increase it.
Frank Trumbulps Views
Mr.. Frank Trumbull, chairman of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad company S
board of directors, recently visited the
Panama isthmus and studied the canal
| from the scientific and engineering point
of view rather than from the CONNER
| cial.S Mr.. Trumbull's investigation in
cliEes him to think that the commercial
business done through the canal may at
first prove not to be SO great as many
persons have thought likely. He did in
Innate in brief article written after his
return that he could see stupendous and
economic and political changes in Amer
lean life ultimately beneficial to Amer
lean prosperity, tending also to establish
the position of the United States as the
worlds great power through the influ-
ences created by the Panama canal.
What Mr.. Trumbull vaguely hinted at
In his short article is treated at con-
siderable length by Professor Kirkaldy.
He foresees very great influences of the
beneficial character upon the West In
dian islands, venturing even to say that
they will enter upon a period of new and
vast prosperity through the kindly influ-
enees created by the canal. Further
more, he asserts that the nations OF
Central and South America which are
now almost asleep, not yet realizing that
their stupendous resources and opportu-
mites are, will find themselves growing
rapidly and greatly. partly on account of
immigration from Europe and partly on
account of great increase of trade.
Flagler's Views
That was the view taken by the late
Henry M. F'lagler and upon which ne
justified his daring and costly expert
ment of constructing a railroad upon the
viaduct plan around the southern coast
Of Florida to terminal at Key, West
Men of capital who knew Mr.. Flagler
we'll and who admired him sometimes
ventured to ask him if he had not use
lessly risked great capital in the con-
structon of his railroad and in the at
tempt to establish a terminal at Key
West. He would reply in "a few words.
but these made it plain that he pos
sessed the true powers of imagination
which are characteristics of the ablest
constructive business intellects. He
pointed out that Key West was the true
gateway OF the Panama canal and that
there would therefore radinta from the
terminal there material influence which
would vastly invigorate Cuba and create
such prosperity upon that island as to