The chronicle=news., 1914-08-17
PANAMA CANAL
COMPLETION
marks new
EPOCH


would take until January, 1915. t,
complete the Panama canal alont
the lines than under way, the Unitet
States government finds itself read,
to begin business in selling tickets
of passage to ships Of all nation,
through the new gateway.
1t is just ten years since the gov.
ernment advertised its purpose tc
connect the oceans. 1t is nearly 400
years since Spanish engineer first
suggested such a project.
For a time the epoch which this
triumph of engineering marks will
pass unnoticed SO far as celebrations
go. for It is not until next spring
that the great demonstration will be
made, but from now on the Panama
canal will be an accomplished fact,
and the worlds commerce will xrad-
ually accustom itself to this new
groove.
What 1t will mean to the world
at large. and to particular nations.
and especially to the United States.
is question around which a great
| deal of controversy has waged, now
to be answered by the Canal itself.
Any ship up to 10000 tonsresis-
ter applying for transmission to the
Pacific to the Atlantic. or vice per-
sa, may now be conducted through
the so ~iles of waterway upon ,ay-
ment of &1.25 for every ton (net) of
cargo. Crew and passengers will
not be taxed
At this nominal expense some two
months sailing time, on a 10000
mil voyage around tine South
American continent may be saved. or
the expense Of trans-shipment by
railroad done away with. II desired.
The canal has cost the United
States nearly $40o.Oo0,OOO. That
is approximately 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 a slight impress
sion. and ended in utter failure and
financial disgrace.
A year from this time it is figured
the government will have to show
receipts of some SIS. 100000 to pay
the operating cost OF the canal.
which will be about 34.O00,OOO year.
II. and the interest on it's huge in
vestment. Whether 1t will be able
TO do so this year or for many years
is a moot question.
Traffic experts have estimated
tha t10.O0o.00O tons of freight will
be carried through the canal every
year for the first few years, and
that later il will be nearly doubled.
This, roughly. has been the exper-
ience at the Suez canal Last year
nearly 5000 ships passed through
the Suez, with a net tonnage of over
20.0o0.OOO. The growth in tonnage
per cent.
The opening of the Panama canal
to the worlds commerce last Satur-
day crowns series of more than a
score of interesting points in the
history of the isthmus. As briefly
told they are:
First crossing of the Isthmus: BY
Balboa. who. on September IS. 1913,
much to his surprise found himself
% days journey on foot
First ships to cross the isthmus:
In 1914 Balboa and his men carried
two small ships. piecemeal. across
the isthmus. intending to use them
for further exploration in the Pa
cific.
First settlement of Old Panama, in
l517. to become known later for
time as the richest city in the world
First regular traffic across 18TH
nus: The spoils of conquest sent
back to Spain from Peru, which be-
came so heavy that highways paved
with stone were laid for the pack
trains
First thought of a canal: Credited
to Spanish engineer. one of Bal
boa's followers. who was about ITO
forward his plans to King Charles V.
of Spain when the latter died
First Surveys for Canal: In 1851
by Spanish engineers who deemed
the project impossible of accom-
plishment.
First official decision on canal
project: By King Phillip H.. in 1920.
adversely after referring the matter
to the Dominican friars. The latter.
desiring to obey the kings orders,
but unable to report intelligently,
suggested that the project was sacre-
lisious- They quoted from the BIZ
BILE What God hath hath Joined to-
gether. let no ma n put assunder-"
Accordingly the project was put on
the shelf for three centuries.
First British interest in latter
part of the 18th century. when the
expedition launched by William Pat
erson. founder of the Bank of En-
gland. attempted to found a COM
munity on the Isthmus Of Darien.
south of the present Panama. with
the ultimate intention of establish
ing trans-isthmian route. The plan
DrOyed an inter failure MANY 9TH