Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-11-12
DONE THRU WATER.
WAY FIRST MONTH sTARTLEs
STEAM ROAD OFFICIALS.
BUSINESS GATHERED BY SHIPS
FROM INTERIOR POINTS
Traffic Largely Between Coasts and
Honolulu - Manuf aetured Products
From as Far West as Ohio and indi-
ana ProfitabIy Shipped Thru Canal
by Way Of Atlantic and Gulf Ports.
Especial correspon dence.l

| Washington, Nov. 1.-THE effect OF
| the Panama canal on traffic conditions
| in this country is certain TO be marked,
according to experts who have been
watching developments since the canal
opened The full effect of the water
way has by no means yet developed
but some things are occurring which
were not foreseen, or fully appreciated,
in advance. OF course, the war in Eu-
rope tends to restrict the volume OF
! business done.
The canal management has issued
statement showing the amount OF trail
fic from the time the canal opened,
Aug. 10. to oct 15 In this two months,
nearly 00,00o tons of cargo were car
ried. and there were 11S passages thru
the canal.
Heaviest Traffic Between States.
1t is significant that the heaviest
traffic has been between the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts of the United States.
Twenty four vessels in the two months
named have passed thru the canal
eastbound on this route and twenty
five westbound Thus there has been
total of forty-nine passages In the TWO
months In the traffic between the east
and west coasts of the United states.
The total cargo carried on this route
amounted TO 265,504 tons, or nearly
one half of all the cargo.
This record has been ::.S dc -
free tolls and with the coastwise tral-
fic paying the same tolls as other trai-
fic. Had free tolls been In force, no
doubt the volume Of traffic would nave
been larger, but the proportion Of 1t is
large as it is and the railroads are be-
ginning TO feel the effects.
Railroad Men Surprised.
Manufactured goods and general
merchandise are being carried from
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and
other Atlantic coast and gulf ports to
the Pacific coast of this country and
Honolulu. On the east-bound voyage.
these vessels carry chiefly canned
fruits, vegetables. salmon, lumber,
grain, sugar, pineapples and wine.
1t is said that prominent railroad
men, who are concerned in the trans
continental freight situation, are sur
prised at the volume Of freight handled
by the canal and especially by the vol
ume Of traffic via the canal between
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts OF this
country. Freight from as far west az
Ohio and Indiana is being moved by
way of New York and other eastern
cities thru the canal to the Pacific
coast One instance which is attract
ing notice is that OF shipment or
wrought iron pipe from Youngstown
o., to San Francisco. 1t would cost 90
cents per 100 pounds by rail from
Youngstown to San Francisco. By way
of the canal, the charge was IS cents
per 100 pounds, IS cents Of this being
required for the haul to New York
Cast iron pipe from Alabama Is being
shipped in like fashion. going via New
Orleans. Canned corn is being shipped
from Indiana These are merely Illus
trations of the scope which the traffic
Is assuming.
Railroad Officials Perturbed.
The railroads, which are undoubtedly
perturoed by developments. have asked
the interstate commerce commission to
make rates from the zone IN which sea
competition enters to Pacific coast
points sufficiently low to compete with
the canal. But the roads do not want
to reduce rates in the intermountain
country and in the region where there
is no sea competition.
The interstate commerce commission
problem. The railroads have long
been talking about the effects of water
competition. Much of this so-called
competition has been fictitious. But
now, some real competition seems to
be developing. The railroads take the
position they can not afford to meet
the canal competition on thru bust
ness if they are to be required to make
corresponding reductions for the inter-
mountain country and intermediate
points They would rather. they say,
give up the thru business and let the
canal handle 1t.
Advantage to Shipping centers.
The situation is one that promises to
be of much advantage to a large num-
Der of shipping centers several hundred
miles inland. They have been shu.
off from thru traffic to large extent
because coast cities have been given
much lower rates. 1t is expected
Mississippi river cities will also get
some relief as it is anticipated a con-
siderable amount of traffic from places
like ST. Louis and Memphis will move
via the canal.
SCOPE OF RESERVE BANKS.