The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-10-27
And, Therefore, The Panama
Canal VIM Not Very Great
ly Affect the Same.


than amy other European country,
Regret that France could mot have
completed the work SO nobly com
ceiyed tinges the appreclative COM
ment of French observers on the
completion of the vast enterprise.
The French government has made
o study OF the effects OF the opening
Of fithe canal on French commerce.
The ministries OF the navy, or COM
meFce and the colonies appointed a
commission OF four members, 49,.
JUL diere, engineer in. chief of the
board Of bridges and highways; NJ.
Douvry, an engineer in the bureau
of arts and manufactures Of the
\ ministry of commerce, and two naval
officers, Gdeutenants IIaIlieF and BY
enayne, to inquire into the effects of
the opening OF the canal on French
shipping and trade iil general, and
particularly on French colonies in
1.-THE antilles and Oceania. The COM
mission visited the canal zone and
the french colonies concerned, ana
Examined and BIfted an immense lot
| of material.
Che commiEsiO ners, after az full
consideration OF all the facts at their
Idisposal have reported that French
commerce WIN not be greatly affected
by the canal. Only $50 900. tons of
French shipping will use the new
route during the irst year Of ITS
lopening, Tory can the Commission
perceive that French tonnage pass
ing through the canal will be likely;
to- increase greatly, because the
French mercantile marine generally
tends rather toward a reduction than
an expansion.
| England and Germany, who hold
the greater part OF maritime trans
i port trade, will be the principal i'm
Immediate beneficiaries of the canal.
[but America will, in the opinion of
the commission, certainly take steps
Ito promote rapid growth of her
mercantile shipping.
One of the most important conse-
lquences of the opening of the canal,
the commission ends, will be not
merely to provide facilities for exist
ling commerce, but to create new
traffic which will result in the eco
nomic conquest of the Pacific and the
exploitation of the natural riches OF
the western part OF the two Ameri-
lean continents by the capital and In
! Union. The canal, the commission
predicts, will profoundly modify the
situation of the Atlantic and the
lGulf of Mexico ports OF the United
States from the point of view of the
worlds commerce. When the Amer
ican manufacturer has the same adj
vantage in respect to transport that
The now has in the cost of production
lover his European competition, the
worlds markets will be his. The
rapidity with which business will in
Ecrease in the United States will have
far-reaching effects ON the economic
life of Europe. which will tbe obliged
i to transform present wasteful meth
DDS into more scientific use of Ia
lbor. r tt5
The United States, the French
government investigators affirm, will
obtain an incalculable advantage
from the new canal, and Europe may
even find its industrial activity di-
minished. While impossible to ex-
press in figures the economic con-
sequences, some considerations are
mentioned. The day before the
opening Of the canal, France, SO far
as transportation Is concerned, will
be nearer to all points on the west
coast of South America than the
eastern ports of the United States.
The day after the opening OF the
Panama canal, the situation will be
reversed. Guyaquil, Callao and Val
paraiso will be more than 1000
miles nearer New York than to
France. and New Orleans 5000
miles. The cutting of the Isthmus
Twill permit ships from the eastern
United States to reach Australia
more easily.
Europe benefits now, not only by
the opening OF the Panama ca
nal, but by the existence of the SJe2
canal, but If the Americans will
make an advantage in their nearness
4 to the markets OF the west coast II
South America and Australia, for
eign ships will carry the imports and
exports of the United States should
1.-THE conditions now existing cons
tinue. Thus, the commission finds,
If. Europe does not benefit COM
nercially by the opening of the ca
nal, certain nations possessing a
powerful mercantile marine, such as
England and Germany. Vol have an
important part in the economic con-
quest OF the Pacific by the Ameri-
cans.
The French colonies in the West
i Indies, the commission ayers, are
! too fartout OF the track of commerce
toSo6unt upon any great increase in
tratlc. Therefore, the commission
does not, recommend large e2belfcefs'
i lures ON harbor Improvements. II
i ,0ceania the commission found tnat
practically all ships going through
: the canal to Australia and New Yea
siland will necessarily call at Tahiti
Iand recommended the expenditure o.
a the equivalent OF 81 ,400, 900 on tht
Q improvement of Papeete harbor
s Lighthouses should be built, the
! channel deepened and a proper coal
S ing station constructed.
r The commission does not believe
1 lit necessary tn make extensive ar