Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-11-04
PLANS TO REAP MUCH OF THE
BENEFIT FROM OPENING OF
PANAMA CANAL.
SHIP OWNERS AND MERCHANTS
EXPECT TO GAIN NEW TRADE
Expert Explains Toll Ratios and De-
cIares Immunity Of American Coast
ing Tonnage Would Turn Tide to
Suez-Ensiand to Gain Benefit Both
Ways, According to Shipping Editor.


and merchants, in every line of pro-
duce and manufacture, have carefully
laid plans fer any change that will
come over the trade Of the world as
e. result OF the opening of the Panama
canal. and everything possible is be-
ing done to enable England to hold
trade.
All the big shipping companies that
have interests in the countries directly
benefited by the new waterway have
either added to their tonnage or made
preparations for doing 50, and in every
case it will be found that the steamers
built or building are generally of the
size considered most suitable for the
transit of the canal. Coaling stations
also are being arranged.
Probably one Of the pest authorities
on this question is Maj. E. r. Jones,
formerly American consul at Cardiff,
who for many years has been editor Of
the Shipping World. In q recent inter
view Major Jones said:
Question Tonnage Charge.
Several of our leading British ship
owners trading with the Central Amer
lean states. the Dominion Of Canada
and the American states ON the Pacific
have built and are building ships to
meet the business which the Panama
route is expected to create, especially
between the Atlantic and Pacific. In
doing this they have ignored the pos
sibility Of the granting Of preferential
canal tolls to American coasting ton
mage 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 year be 1O.500. 900
tons and the tolls $1.26 > ton. the in
come will be sufficient to meet the in
terest charges and working expenses.
Should the American coaSting tonnage.
however, be exempt from tolls the
whole of the interest and working ex-
penses will fall upon foreign. princi-
pally British ship owners, and this, OF
course, would place them at q disad-
vantage.
THE dominating factors governing
the traffic of the Panama canal will
be distances and expense; that Is to
say. tolls and dues. and consideration
Of these will often turn the scale In
favor Of either the Suez or the Panama
canal. AS have already indicated. the
Panama tolls arc to be $1.26 per ton
The Suez dues on ships with cargo are
6.25 francs ($1.25) at present, but ships
in ballast are allowed a rebate Of ESQ
francs $50 cents) per ton ON full tran
sit rate Particulars AZ to charges and
navigation rules for the Panama canal
are not yet published: therefore COM
parsons are not possible. But as far
as they are known they are in favor OF
the Suez canal.
Suez Route Considered.
Should tho proposed immunity of
American coasting tonnage from canal
tolls be maintained, and 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 all Asiatic ports west Of Japan;
practically all Australian ports and
Manila, and many ports Of New Zeal
and and japan.
"Of course nothing but good can
come to the manufacturers and con-
sumers Of the British Isles from the
abundant success Of the Panama canal
Our exports to the markets fed and
favored by the canal are manufac-
lures; the return cargo Is food supplies
and material, SO both classes will bene-
At. It will mean, too, a multiplication
Of British coaling stations. which al
ready dot the oceans Of the world, SC
that the mines and mine owners also
will get their share Of the benefits.
n
sentimental. it is highly desirable that
the formal, official Inauguration Of the
canal, an achievement only second to
Lincoln's emancipation of the slaves
should take place in the spirit OF
friendliness and good will on the part
Of all maritime nations"