The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-07
OFF TO AID PANAMA
DEVELOP ITS TRADE
Mission Headed by DR.. Clar-
ence j. Owens VIII Give
Economic Advice.
TRADE COLLEGE PLANNED
Canal Region Expects Ire
mendOus Boom at Ports
on Both Sides.

Plans for the economic development VI
Panama will be worked out by mission
headed by DR.. Clarence j. Owens. direc.
tor OF the Southern Commercial Con-
gress. which left yesterday on the steam
ship Santa Marta for Panama. Because
Of the canal, It is expected that Panama
will be in a position to reap a tremen-
dous harvest from the flow OF world
trade through its centre, and the Con-
gross of the little republic has asked
DR.. Owens to come down and show them
how to make the most of their oppor-
tunity.
Dr. Owens headed the mission. which
made a survey OF eighteen countries to
get the material from which the Federal
Farm loan act was built, and Is one of
the best known authorities on agricul-
tural credits He expects to pass sew
eral months In Panama on the invitation
OF President Belisario Porras and then
to mako recommendations on which
legislation to stimulate agriculture and
commerce can be based. One OF the con-
crete things which he has proposed and
which already has been approved by
Panama and the Pan-American Union Is
for the location at Panama of the Pan
American College OF Commerce at which
men of the North and South and Central
Americas will be brought together and
taught the things which they need to
know in handling business between the
various republics OF the north and south
1t is expected that in this way much
can be done to further commercial de-
velopment of all the countries involved.
DR.. Owens pointed out yesterday that
although the trade balance in favor Of
the United States Is at present enormous,
every country in Central and South
America has a trade balance against us.
and has had for ten years, due to the
indifference OF American manufa cturers
to building up this trade. He believes
this college will go far to remove that
condition.
Another reason for his going. to Pan
ANA at this time Is that the business
men of the republic foresee n great de-
velopment of their ports at each end OF
the canal. due to the breakup of cargoes
that Will naturally come with the dis
trlbution Of trade. When the canal comes
Into Its own the ports at either end are
expected to be among the busiest and
| largest in the world. 1t will be the
nerve centre Of South American trade.
Acting upon the authority vested in
him by the Republic of Panama Dr.
Owens has organized an advisory coun-
Gil composed OF w. p. G Harding Gov
ernor of the Federal Reserve Board !;
George w. Norris. Commissioner, Fed
eral Farm Loan Board Duncan L.
Fletcher. Senator from Florida and a
member of the International High Com
! mission. and John Barrett. Director
General Of the Pan-American Union
On the active staff accompanying him
to Panama are Boris A. s. Aronow. econ
! omst and statistician of the Federal
Farm Loan Board Col. T. r. Preston.
financial expert and president of the
Hamilton National Bank of Chattanooga
Tenn. Robert NJ. Estes. statistical ex-
pert. Department OF Commerce Emilio
NJ. Amores, translator and interpreter on
the stan OF the PanAmerican Union. and
harles II. Baker, secretary OF the COM
mission. former private secretary to the
Governor OF the Canal Zone and recently
on the staff of the Pan-American Union