Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-11-06
and MERCHANTS
PLAN FOR CANAL Opening

ing of preferential canal tolls to Amer
lean coasting tonnage using the canal
They frankly believe that the United
States will never carry out this idea
Should they be right, and the tonnage
ready to use the canal the first yea be
10, 500, 900 tons and the tolls $1.25 q ton,
the income will be. sufficient to meet the
interest charges and working expenses.
Should the American coasting tonnage.
however, be exempt from tolls the whole
shipowners, and this of course would
place them at a disadvantage.
The dominating factors governing the
tances and expense, that IS t. say, tolls
and dues, and consideration of these will
often turn the scale in favor Of either
the Snez or the Panama route. AS | have
already indicated the Panama tolls are
ships with cargo are 6.25 francs ($1.25)
at present, but ships in ballast are al
lowed a rebate of ESQ franc $50 cents)
per ton ION full transit rate" Particu-
lars as to charges and navigation rules
for the Panama Cam are not yet pub
lished; therefore comparisons are not
possible. But as far as they are known
they are in favor of the SueZ canal. 1t
should be remembered also that as the
prouts increase the tonnage charges are
icy may be practicable after the OPEN
ing of the Panama Canal, when a good
deal of tonnage may be withdrawn from
the Suez waterway, remains to be seen:
Should the proposed immunity Of
tolls be maintained, and I do not think
it will, then the Suez route will always
get the benefit of the doubt in respect
of cost and distance. This will apply to
cally all Australian ports and Manila,
yes, and many ports of New Zealand and
Japan where the distance only slightly
fAvors Panama. "
1T goes without saying that, as a gen.
eral proposition. the benefits of the Pam
m route will be greatest for the coun-
tries and centres where the distance
v is the most. 1t follows therefore
that che American continent; Canada.
the United States. Mexico. the States
oceans and the West India Islands: will
be the greatest benefciaries.
OF course nothing but good can come
to the manufacturers and consumers Of
the British Isles from the abundant sue
cess of the Panama Canal. Our exports to
the markets fed and favored by the canal
are manufacturers; the return cargo is
food supplies and raw material. so both
classes viii benefit. It will mean, too.
a multiplication Of British coaling sta
the world. so that the mines and mine
owners also will &c THEIR share of the
benefits. 1t is said that the American
Government purpose an arrangement for
supplying good American coal at each
end Of the canal at 10 shillings C4.75) a
opinion, go beyond providing coal for
American warships. And although Poca-
hontas Goa is very good. it's heat value
is inferior to the steam Goa lof South
Wales and Northumberland. Then of
course there is the oil which British COM
panies are drawing in Mexico, and are
arranging to exploit in Central America.
I'm every sense. commercial and SEN
timental. it is highly desirable that che
formal, official Inauguration of the canal:
an achievement only second to Lincoln's
emancipation o fthe slaves, should take
place in the spirit of friendliness and
good will on the part of all maritime ma
tiOns." ., 4