The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1914-08-15

set when the board of consulting en-
gineers in 1906 estimated that it
would take until January 1915 to
complete the Panama canal along the
lines then underway, the United
States government finds itself ready
to begin business today in selling
tickets of passage to ships of all ma
tons through the new gateway.
1t is just ten years since the gov
eminent advertised it's purpose to
connect the oceans 1t is nearly 400
years since a 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 next Saturday on, the
Panama canal will be an accomplish
ed fact, and the worlds commerce
will gradually accustom itself to this
new grove.
What it will mean to the world at
large, and to particular nations, and
especially to the United States, is a
question around which a great deal
of controversy has waged, now to be
answered by the canal itself.
After the passage of a government
steamer next Saturday, probably the
Cristobal, any ship up to 10000 tons
register applying for admission to
the Pacific from the Atlantic, or vice
versa, may be conducted through the
so miles waterway Upon payment of
$1.25 for every ton (net) of cargo.
Crew and passengers will not be tax
ed.
At this nominal expense some two
months sailing time, on a 10000
miles voyage around the South
America continent may be saved, or
the expense of transhipment by rail-
road done away with, if desired.
The canal has cost the United
States nearly $500, 900. 900. That is
approximately what De Lesseps, the
French engineer, figured it would
cost when he undertook the job in
1899, but he spent that and more, in
making only a slight impression, and
ended in utter failure and financial
disgrace.
A year from this time it is figured
receipts of some 15,0O0,0O0 to pay
the operating cost of the canal, which
will be about 100000 yearly, and
the interest on it's huge investment.
Whether it will be able to do so this
year or for many years is a moot
question.
Traffic experts have estimated that
10000 O0 tons of freight will be
carried through the canal every year
for the first few years, and that later
it will be nearly doubled. This,
roughly, has been the experience at
the Suez canal. Last year nearly
5000 ships passed through the Suez,
with a net tonnage of owe 20,00O,-
900. The growth in tonnage in 10
years had been more than 70 per
cent.
When the canal is opened to
worlds commerce next Saturday, it
will crown a ceries of more than a
score of interesting points in the his
tory of the isthmus. As briefly told
they are First crossing of the 18TH
mus: By Balboa who, On September
%, 1913, much to his surprise found
himself gazing upon the Pacific ocean
after % days journey on foot.
First ships to cross the isthmus:
In 1914 Balboa and his men carried
to small ships, piecemeal, acros the
isthmus, intending to use them for
further exploration in the Pacific.
First settlement of old Panama, in
1917, to become known later for a
time as the richest city in the world.
First regular traffic across 18TH
mus: The spoils of conquest ent
back to Spain from Peru, which be-
came so heavy that highways paved
with stone we're laid for the pack
trains.
First thought of a canal: Credited
to Savadera, a Spanish engineer, one
of Balboa's followers, who was about
to forward his plans to King Charles
V of Spain when the latter died.
First surveys for a canal: In
1881 by Spanish engineers who deem
ed the project impossible of accom-
plishment.
First official decision on canal pro-
ject: BY King Phillip H., in 1929,
adversely after referring the matter
to the Dominican friars. The latter,
desiring to obey the kings orders.
but unable to report in~telllgentiy,
suggested hat the project was sacre-
ligious. They quoted from the
bible: what God hath Joined to-
Auothor Lot no man nut aSundar Ac-