Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-02-19
WILL GIVE AMERICA NO
ADVANTAGE OVER EUROPE
U nited States Must Develop Trade
Which viii Go to Some Nation II
Not This-Paeife Coast to Gain
Greatest Advantage - Canal Brings
New York Closer to Orient.
Especial Correspondence

Quer powerful TRADE TFdHs VI otSN
nations, especially Great Britain ana
Germany, according to recent report
to the department Of commerce ana
labor by Commercial Agent Lincoln
Hutchinson.
Mr.. Hutchinson holds that the mere
opening of the canal will not produce
expansion Of trade in this country out
will only provide an opportunity 1o1
development. This opportunity Will ne
eagerly seized by the people OF all inc
leading countries.
Opportunity Open to All.
While he looks on Great Britain ana
Germany as the foremost competitors
of this country, there will be numer-
Gus other competitors. He says that
important rivals, but to less degree
than England and Germany, VIII De
France. Belgium, Italy, Spain and Rus
STA Holland and Austria Hungary also
contribute to small extent to the
trade with China and Japan.
On the other side of the equator VIII
be the lands which provide market
for the goods Of these various couh
tries These countries, which import
American goods, fall into two distinct
classes: Those so definitely within the
zone OF influence OF the canal mat the
trade routes TO them from the east
ern United States and Europe must 81
necessity be via the new waterway
those SO situated that even after the
completion of the canal there Will De
alternative rival routes still open 1or
use. To the former class belong the
countries of the west coast or SCUM
America: the west coasts Of Central
America. Mexico, the United States.
and British Columbia; and the Pacltic
islands. The second class will incluue
New Zealand and Australia. the Phiiip-
pines and the orient generally, with in
creasing influence Of the canal as one
passes UP the Asiatic coast to Japan.
Merchants Must Awaken.
Mr., Hutchinson seeks to make II
plain that If the United States is 20
get large benefits in trade out OF the
canal its merchants must study con-
ditions: they must understand the
limitations of the new route; moreover,
there must be intelligent knowledge OF
the trade and trade conditions of the
lands that are to come under the IN
fluerce Of the new waterway. Amer
lean merchants must know who their
rivals are. what sort of goods they
handle and. in short. be prepared with
full knowledge Of the entire situation
in order that they may not go about
their business blindly and in the dark.
What he says, in most exhaus-
tive analysis OF the conditions that VIII
obtain after the canal is opened. Is in
the nature of a warning to America to
prepare for a great battle for the
markets" He discusses this with spe-
cial reference to England and Germany
as rivals, also with reference to other
competition.
Considering England and Germany
as the really important rivals Of the
United States, Mr.. Hutchinson says
England occupies in way the position
of vantage and defense and that gen.
erations Of experience have given her
traders a skill that is hard to match.
on the other hand, the success OF Eng
lish trade has given her traders a con-
servatism that is to her disadvantage.
Germany and the United States" he
observes, represent the attacking
forces in this struggle for markets"
Germany Seeking Markets.
He points out that the growing Ger
man population forces that nation to
seek markets, that Germany has built
up a powerful mercantile marine and
that it has established banking con-
nections in many countries.
But he concludes that considering
competition rs it exists today. England
has "a certain considerable advantage
over both the United States and Ger
/, many This is due to its immense fl
nancial and commercial preponderance
in most markets; it's long experience
as trader; the widespread knowledge
of the excellence Of British products;
and the universal reputation OF British
| merchants for square dealing.
West Greatest Gamer.
! Analysing distances and other factors,
/ Mr.. Hutchinson concludes that when
the canal is opened the trade Of all
| the west coast Of the American con-
tinent will increase and that the
growth of the American share of it will
| be even more marked. In other words.
he expects America to get more than
| Its proportion of the west coast trade.
He thinks the canal will give America
no help of importance as to Chinese
trade. But he believes 1t will help
American trade with japan.
New Works Advantage.
| He points out that with the opening
Of the canal, New York, instead Of be-
! ing 1883 miles farther from japan by
sea route than Liverpool, will be 1850
miles nearer than Liverpool. Com
pared with the German ports, New
York's advantage will be even greater
In other words. New York will have
an advantage of about $500 miles over
Liverpool and German ports with re-
] spect to Japan trade. Obviously, all At
lantic and gulf ports of the United
States will be thrown closer to Japan
by water route.
ut is altogether probable that the
opening OF the new route will be fol-
lowed by stimulation of American
japanese trade which will soon put the
United States in close rivalry with
England for the first place" says Mr.
Hutchinson.
The general conclusion Of Mr.
Hutchinson IS that the United States /.
going to be put in peculiarly strong
position by the opening Of the canal.