The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-10-27


, reduction than an expansion.
England and Germany, who hold the
greater part of the maritime transport
trade, win be the principal immediate
beneficiaries Of the canal but Amer
lea will in the opinion of the com
mission, certainly take steps to pro.
mote a rapid growth Of her mercantile
shipping.
l one Of the most important eonse-
auences OF the opening Of the canal
the commission finds viii be not
merely TO provide facilities for existing
commerce, but TO create a new traffic
which will result In the economic con-
quest OF the Pacific aud the eXploita-
ton OF the natural riches Of the west.
ern part Of the two American CONT
nents by the capital and industry Of
the eastern states of the union. The
canal, the commission predicts will
profoundly modify the situation Of the
Atlantic and the Gulf Of Mexico ports
Of the United States from the point OF
view ot the worlds commerce When
the American manufacturer has the
same advantage in respect TO trans
port that he now has. IN the cost Of
production over his European COM
petitor, the worlds markets will be
his The rapidity with which bust
ness will increase IN the United States
win have far.reaching effects on the
' economic life of Europe, which viii be
obliged to transform present wasteful
methods into q more scientific use CC
labor.
| The United States the French gov
eminent investigators affirm, viii OBJ
tain an incalculaLle advantage from
the new canal. and Europe may even
md It's Industrial activity diminished
While impossible 20 express IN Zig
ures the economic consequences, some
considerations are mentioned. Tie day
before the Opening Ol the canal, France
So far as transportation ~ concerned.
win b. nearer 70 all points OH the west
coast OF South America than the st
ern ports o. the United States, The
day after the opening of the Panama
canal, the situation will be reversed.
Guyaqhl, Callao ami Valparaiso viii
-be more than 1000 mites nearer New.
| York than to France, and New Or
leans 5000 miles. The cutting Of the
IsthInus will permit Ships from the
eastern United states to reach far
eastern Australia more easily!
| Europe benefits now, not only b.
the non opening Of the Panama canal,
but by the existence Of the Suez canal,
| but IL the Americans will have an ad-
vantage i'm their nearuegs TO the mar
lkvts Of thc>eett coast of South Amer
lea and Australia, foreign ships VIII
carry the imports AMI exports Of the
! United States shot,id the. conditions
now existing continue Thus. the COM
mission finds, II Europe does not bene-
ut commercially by the opening Of the
canal. certain nations possessing a
powerful mercantile marine, such as
England and Germany will have an
important part ia the economic con-
quest of the Pacific ny the Americans.
Tie French colonies in the West In
dies, the commission AYERS, are too far
out Of the track OF commerce to count
upon any great increase in traffic.
Therefore, the commission does not
recommend large expenditures on mar
Dor Improvements In Oceanic the
commissioners found that practically
all ships going through the canal to
Australia and New Zealand will NEG
essarily call at Tahiti, and recon-
mended the expenditure of the equiva-
lent Of sl4O0,0U0 Oh the Improvement
lof Papeetc harbor. Lighthouses should
be built, The chann,l deepened and a
proper coaling station constructed.
The commission does not believe 1t
necessary to make extensive arrange.
ments for coaling at Papeete, because,
In its opinion and that Of the principal
French shipowners consulted by the
commission, the explosive oil engine
for ships win entirely supersede the
atoam engine within from fifteen ~
twenty years. While the passage
Of so many more ships cannot fail to
benefit the colonies in Oceanic, the
commission 10 not optimistic. The
scarcity Of labor will retard expan-
sion. Cheaper freights. however. will
enable such products as cocoanut fibre.
plentiful! :. 49, co!or.es there and