Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-05-20

NORTHWEST LUMBER COM.
PANiEs TO USE PANAMA ROUTE
Japs and Other Oriental Nations See
Immense Increase in Trade With
United statss-Eastsrn United States
to Send Ships to Australia Thru
canai-consuIs Report Preparations.
Especial Correspondence

Especial correspondence
Washington May 2O-Consular re-
ports these days have much to say OF
the preparations being made by other
countries for use of the Panama canal.
These reports indicate that big
volume of business will pass thru the
canal from the beginning of the time
when 1t is thrown open TO commercial
shipping. The eyes Of the shipping
world have been on the canal for many
months and years and shipping inter-
ests have their calculations to to
whether use of the waterway will be
feasible for their particular lines OF
traffic or not.
Consul Mansfield, of Vancouver, re-
ports that the big lumber companies
of British Columbia are preparing to
handle the increase in business antici-
pated from the opening of the canal. 1t
is believed, he says. that the firms best
prepared to ship their products
promptly will have an advantage in es-
tablishing trade in Atlantic and gulf
ports in the United States. Prepara-
tons are being made by some of the
Vancouver mill operators to increase
the capacity Of their plants to meet
increased demands. II is the opinion
OF exporters in British Columbia that
the greatest benefit to British Column
bia trade will be the balancing OF in
ward and outward shipping. AT pres
ent the freight tonnage into the prin-
cipal ports is about three times great
err than the outgoing cargo. When the
canal is open for traffic the ships car
rying freight into local ports will load
with lumber coal, fish and other Brit
ish Columbia products for the outward
journey.
In general, a benefcent effect on the
trade of the province Of British Column
bia is expected from the opening of the
American waterway.
Japs Look For Big Trade.
Ambassador Guthrie reports from
Toxic that the minister of communica-
tons has expressed to the diet the
opinion that the opening OF the canal
would exert an immense influence
upon American ia panese trade. and
that the government had decided upon
the necessity Of substituting trans
Panama line after full consultation
with the chambers of commerce and
shipping unions Of the country
The service is said to contemplate
eight steamer OF 5000 tons or more
EACH The proposed ports Of call In
Guide Yokohama. Seattle. Panama,
Colon. New York. and New Orleans and
all leading far eastern ports.
Consul John Ball Osborne. reporting
from Havre France. indicates that the
canal is receiving attention IN that
country He SAYS the French parlia-
ment has on two occasions expressed
itself in favor OF port Improvement
work in the French establishments OF
Oceania. with view to sharing In
the benefits of the vast world traffic
that will be affected and augmented
by the Panama CANAL
To Australia by Way Of Canal.
A French parliamentary report has
been made showing what countries will
find II to their interest to route ex-
changes through the canal. Among
other things. this report shows that all
the commerce Of eastern United States
and Canada with Australia will pass
through the canal: that the commerce
OF the eastern United States with New
Zealand Will employ the canal route;
that large part. II not the whole. of
the commerce OF Europe with New
Zealand will adopt the canal route;
but that there will be little advantage
in doing the commerce Of Europe with
Australia thru the canal route.
These calculations are made from a
consideration OF relative distances,
thine Of voyage and saving Of expenses.
a number of routes of trade however.
are not considered in the report. For
instance. nothing is said about South
American trade with Europe or with
this country and nothing appears with
reference to European trade with the
| western coast of the United States or
! the Pacific theater IN general. The
! French report is confined to the con-
sideration mainly Of trade with Aus
! tralia and New Zealand.