New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-03
WHAT BRITAIN IS DOING
TO GET PANAMA TRADE
Ship Owners and Merchants
Have Perfected Plans to Profit
by Canal Opening.
BOOM IN SHIPBUlLDING
Major Jones, a Recognized Elk
pert in Commerce, Foresees
Large Profits Accruing to
English Enterprise.

london. oct British ship owners
and merchants in every line of produce
aud manufacture lave carefully lad
mans FOR any change that will come over
The trade OF the world as a result OF the
open.us of the Panama Canal
All the big shipping companies that
have interests in the countries directly
hsnested by the new waterway nave
either added TO their tonnage or made
generations for doing so. and in every
Ease II will he found that the steamers
ruilt or building are generally of the size
considered most suitable for the transit
~ the canal CoalinS stations also are
bAine arranged for in order that steamers
using the canal may coal, If necessary.
between Colon and England. and. gen
orally speaking. everything possible Is
heinz done 70 enable england TO hold the
supremacy she has attained in the world 5
maritime trade
Englishmen, however. always Conserva-
tive. do not believe that the revolution
will be an immediate one. They are
planning for a gradual expansion of trade
which the ships now in existence or in
prospect will be quite able 10 take care
Of. Probably one of the best authorities
on this question is Major L. r. Jones.
formerly American consul at Cardiff, who
for many years has been editor Of The
Shipping World"
AS to Preferential Tolls.
In a recent interview Major Jones said:
several of our leading British ship
owners trading with the Central Ameri-
can states. the Dominion OF Canada ana
the American states on the Pacific have
built and are building ships to meet the
business which the Panama route is ex-
rected 10 create especially between the
Atlantic and Pacific. In doing this they
have ignored tie possibility OF the grant
Ing Of preferential canal tolls TO American
coastinc 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 10 use
the canal the first year be lo'50'"O ana
The tolls 81 . a ton. the income will be
sufficient 70 meet the interest charges ana
working expenses.
Should the American coasting tonnage
however. be exempt from tolls the whoie
Of the interest and working expenses Will
fall upon foreign, principally British snip
owners. and this Of course would place
them al a disadvlntag,.
THE dominating factors governing the
ttatHC of the Panama Canal will be dis
tances and expense; that il 10 say tols
and dues. and consideration Of these viii
often turn the scale in favor Of either the
suez or the Panama route. AS have al
ready indicated the Pa1ama tools are 10
be 81 Is a ton. The Suez dues on ships
with cargo are 625 francs Isl ~ at pres
ent. but ships in ballast are allowed a re-
bate Of go francs go cents ton on
full transit rate Particulars as 10
charges and navigation rules for the
Panama Canal are not yet puOhshed'
therefore comparisons are not possible
But as far as they are known they are In
favor Of the Suez Canal. 1t should De
remembered also that as he prohts IN
crease the tonnage charges are reduced
by the Suez Whether this policy may be
practicable after the opening OF the
Panama Canal, when a good deal of tom
mage may be Withdrawn from the Suez
waterway, remains TO be seen.
Should the proposed immunity OF
American ccasting tonnage from canal
tolls he maintained and ] do not think
II will, then the SueZ route will always
get the benefit OF the doubt IN respect OF
cost and distance This will apply 10 all
Aslatic ports west OF Japan. practically
all Australian ports and Manila; yes, and
many ports Of New Zealand and Japan
eli oh IA
Panama.
OF Benefit to West Indies.
1t goes without saying that. as gen.
eral proposition. the benefits Of the PAM
ma route will be greatest for the coun-
tries and centres where the distance saved
is the most II follows therefore that the
American continent. Canada, the United
States, Mexico. the states OF Central and
South America, on both oceans. and the
West India islands will be the greatest
benehciaries
"Of course. nothing but good can come
10 the manufacturers and consumers OF
the British Isles from the abundant sue
cess OF the Panama Canal our exports
70 the markets fed and favored by the
canal are manufactures; the return
cargo Is food supplies and raw material
70 both classes will benefit. II will mean.
too. a multiplication OF British coaing
stations which already dot the oceans or
the world. 50 that the mines and mine
owners also will get their share OF the
benefits IL is said that the American
government purposes an arrangement Tor
supplying good American coal at each
end Of the canal at 10 shillings ga 'o)
ton President Wilson will not, In my
opinion. 20 beyond providing coal Tor
american warships. And although Poca-
hontas coal is very good, it's heat Value
Inferior 10 the steam coal OF oou'h
Wales and Northumberland. Then, OF
course. there IL the oil which British
companies are drawing in Mexico ana
are arranging TO exploit in Central Amer
lea
In every sense, commercial and seh'i-
Mental. II is highly desirable that inc
iefmal. official Inauguration Of the canal
an achievement second only to Lincoln
Emancipation Of the slaves. should tane
place In the spirit Of friendiness ana
GOOD will on the part Of all maritime ma
tons"
NEW HONOR FOR sCHIFF
dis Service to Race Marked Win