Evening star., 1914-08-12

would take until January, 1915, to
complete the Panama canal along the
lines then under way, the United States
government finds itself ready to begin
business next Saturday in selling
tickets of passage to ships of all ma
tions through the new gateway
Preparations for the official opening
are being hastened. Orders already
have been issued for all craft to re
laain outside the channel in order not
to impede the steamer Ancon, which
will be the first vessel to make the
trip.
Merchantmen Rivals.
There is great rivalry between the
merchant lines to have one of their
vessels follow the Ancon. Numerous
vessels are now at each end OF the
canal, awaiting an opportunity to pass
through the waterway.
The steamer Panama made the third
and last test trip through the cahai
yesterday.
The American Hawaiian steamer Ne
braska left San Francisco for New
York yesterday. via the canal. she Will
be the first merchantmen TO pass
through from the Pacific coast. me
Arizonan of the same line left New
York in the opposite direction Au-
gust 4.
1t is Just ten years since the govern
ment advertised its purpose to connect
the oceans. 1t is nearly 400 years
since Spanish engineer hrst suggested
such project.
For a time the epoch which this
triumph of engineering marks VIII
pass unnoticed so far as celepratiohs
go, for it is not until next spring that
the great demonstration will be made,
but from next Saturday on the Panama
canal will be an accomplished 1act,
and the worlds commerce VIII Sradu-
ally accustom itself to this new grove.
What it will mean to the world al
large and to particular nations, and
especially to the United States, is a
question around which great deal OF
controversy has waged, now to be
answered by the canal itself.
After the passage of government
steamer next Saturday, probably the
Cristobal, any, ship up to 10000 tons
Pacific from the Atlantic, or vice versa,
may be conducted through the fifty
miles of waterway upon payment OF
s1.o5 for every ton (net OF cargo.
At this nominal expense some two
months. sailing tine on lJ.n'a-mic C
voyage around the South American
continent may be saved. or the ex-
pense of transhinment by railroad done
away with, If desired.
Cost Nearly $40O, ,OOO,O 900.
The canal has cost the United States
nearly s4oO, 100000 That is approxi-
mately what De Lesseps. the French
engineer, figured it would cost when
he undertook the job in 1889. but he
spent that and more in making only
slight impression, and ended in utter
failure and financial disgrace.
4 year from this time it is figured
the government will have to show re-
ceipts of some sl5.000,O00 to pay the
operating cost of the canal, which viii
be about $4,000. 600 yearly, and the in
terest on its huge investment. Whether
it will be able to do so this year or
for many years is moot question.
Traffic experts have estimated that
100000 tons of freight will be car
ried through the canal every year for
the first few years, and that later 1t
will be nearly doubled. This, roughly.
canal Last year nearly 5000 ships
passed through the SueZ, with a net
tonnage Of over 2O.O00.000. The growth
in tonnage in ten years had been more
The opening of the Panama canal
crowns a series of more than a score
of interesting points in the history Of
the isthmus. AS briefly told they are:
Incidents of Panama.
First crossing Of the isthmus: BY
Balboa. who September %, 1913, much
to his surprise found himself gazing
upon the Pacific ocean after twenty
three days journey on foot.
First ships to cross the isthmus: In
1914 Balboa and his men carried two
small ships. piecemeal, across the 18TH
mus, intending to use them for further
exploration in the Pacific.
First settlement of old Panama, in
as the richest city in the world.
First regular traffic across 1sthmus:
The spoils of conquest sent back to
Spain from Peru. which. became SO
heavy that highways paved with stone
were laid for the pack trains.
First thought of q canal: Credited to
Savadera, q Spanish engineer. one of
Balboa's followers. who was about to
forward his plans to King Charles Of
Spain when the latter died.
First surveys for canal: In 1881 by
Spanish engineers, who deemed the
project impossible of accomplishment.
First official decision on canal pro-
ject: By King Philip II In 1920, ad-
versely after referring the matter to
string to obey the kings ORDERS but
unable to report intelligently. suggest
ed that the project was sacrilegious.
They quoted from the Bible: What
put asunder" Accordingly the project
was put on the shelf for three cen
turtles.
First British interest in latter part Of
seventeenth century, when the expedi-
| tion launched by William Paterson.
I, founder of the Bank of England. at
tempted to found a community on the
| Isthmus of Darien. south of the present
Panama, with the ultimate intention of
establishing a transisthmian route. The
plan proved an utter failure. Many
other British surveys followed in later
years.
| Goethe's Prophecy.
The German poet Goethe. hundred
years ago. made this remarkable
prophecy: 1T Is absolutely indispen-
sable that the United States effect a
passage from the Mexican gulf to the
Pacific ocean, and I am certain they
will do it."
| First decision to build: In 1914. Just
| 100 years ago. the Spanish government
| by decree entered upon the construc-
| tion of an isthmian canal, but the Idea
| was blocked because the Central
American colonies succeeded in throw
| ing Off the Spanish yoke.
| First French interests came in 1925
1 (Coptinued on Thirteenth Pagal
: