Gilpin observer., 1913-01-02

" HE Panama canal is costing
this country s400,0O0,000. 1t is
a stupendous sum, but 1t is as
nothing to the money which is
being spent for the objects Of
that canal-ships and shipping facili-
ties.
Take only the Pacific coast of this
country. See what Puget sound, Port
land, San Francisco, Los Angeles. are
contemplating in docks alone and
$50,O00,000 will not do more than we'll
start the work. Just about that same
sum Is earmarked by the three west
ern Canadian ports of Vancouver,
Victoria and Prince Rupert
New York, Boston, Philadelphia.
Baltimore and the southern ports of
the Atlantic coast are putting in
port improvements which will cost
far more than s10O.O00.OO0; New York
itself spending $70.O00.0O0. This is
not taking into account what is pro-
1ected and being carried out In the
gulf ports. Nor does 1t reckon in the
improvement of the Mississippi
Montreal is spending $14.000.O00 ont
harbor improvements. Halifax and
st. John are following suit-Canada
intends to have its share.
Europe Spending Much Money.
Europe thinks itself vitality con-
cerned, Alfred w. Dyer writes in Rail-
way and Marine News. Especially is
this the case with Great Britain. for
nearly one-half of the carrying trade
of the world is in its hands. London
is spending $s5.o0o,o00 on its docks.
although those already existing prob
ably represent an outlay equal to
that upon the Panama canal. Liver
pool. whose docks have cost $3.50. .000.-
900, is determined that 1t shall not
fall back and is spending an addition
al $16.ooO.0OO. Glasgow and Manches-
ter are each providing like facilities
to Liverpool. Southampton thinks
$10.o00.000 not too much to spend for
better accommodations for its passen-
ger traffic. Cardiff believes the ex-
tension of its coal and general busi-
ness worth an investment Of $12.000.-
900. The little port Of Bristol, mind
full Of the glories of its past when this
country was first being settled and
Virginia was peopled from its
wharves. has authorized an expendi-
ture Of $25.00O.000 to bring 1t up to
date.
Germany, France, Holland, Bel
gium are taking the lead on the con-
tinent of Europe. Hamburg. which
has spent 800. 100000 in creating
modern port, thinks that the opening
of the canal warrants the expenditure
of half as much more and Is setting
about the spending of that money
most busily.
Antwerp. having $45.00000O invest
ed. Is putting in $55.000.000 more.
Little Havre with population half
that Of Seattle is spending $17, ,OO0, 900.
having already expended $50 900. 900.
Rotterdam is in nowise behind.
Yet the list is not half run down.
No regard has been taken OF Ireland,
of Norway. Sweden nor Denmark
Neither have been reckoned In the
ports of the Pacific Callao and Val
paraiso. Auckland and Wellington.
Sydney. Melbourne and Brisbane; Ba-
tavia, Samarang and Sourabaya;
Singapore. Bangkok. Saigon and Hong
kong: of the ports Of the Philippines,
OF the seaboard and rivers OF China.
of the islands of Japan or OF Oceania.
There are few. indeed. OF these which
are not awake to the situation and
which are not putting forward their
best foot.
Nor has been regarded the expendi-
ture upon ships. At the end of 1909
the gross tonnage OF all the shipping
in the world was very nearly 42,0O0,-
900. steamers and sailing vessels,
wood and steel. This does not
take into accounL vessels OF less
than 100 tons burthen, nor the
wooden vessels on the great lakes,
neither does 1t include Japanese and
Chinese junks. up to 800 tons In
burthen, nor. indeed. multitudinous
small vessels, European and Asiatic,
trading in the Mediterranean, the
Black and Caspian seas and in the
Malayan archipelago.
shlpyards Of the World Busy.
That mercantile fleet served the
world. It is no longer sufficient.
Every shipyard In this country, every
shipyard in Europe. is busy preparing
Cargo space is already at premium.
as sound shippers are only too well
aware. In addition to that 1000 900
tons there will have been built by the
time OF the opening OF the Panama
canal. mainly to supply It's needs. at
least al additional 100000 gross