Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-07-04
PANAMA CANAL IS A PROFITABLE
INVESTMENT, GOVERNOR CLAIMS;
EXPECT THE TOLLS TO INCREASE

! mai world conditions earn an actual
profit on the cost"
Benefits to Commerce.
The canal is open on equal terms
to the merchant vessels OF the
world, and all nations having an
interest in maritime trade have
benefited by its construction; but
for obvious geographical reasons
the United States is by long odds
the chief beneficiary. 1t has given
our Atlantic and gulf ports a short
sea route to the Pacific, including
the entire American coast from
Alaska to Chile, the Pacific islands,
eastern Asia and Australasia. For
our Pacific ports 1t has shortened
the sea routes to the Gulf OF Mex
leo, the Atlantic seaboard and
Europe. Formerly the west coast
of South America was nearer by
sea to Liverpool. London, Antwerp
and Hamburg than to Boston. New
York and Philadelphia; and that
with other factors, enabled Euro
pean exporters and Importers to
hold the bulk of the west coast
trade. The same conditions APP
piled to the eastern Asiatic and
Australasian markets. Today the
conditions are reversed, and in
competing for business in these
markets the eastern industrial area
of the United States has an advant-
age of relative proximity over Great
Britain, Germany and Belgium.
In the calendar year 1920 the
principal trades through the canal
in the relative order of cargo ton
mage were: Tons of
Trade Cargo
West coast OF South Amer
lea to east coast of U. S.. 1,447, $40
Atlantic coast Of U. S. to
Far East INSTRUMENTATION
West coast of South Amer
lea to Europe. ..1.os2,To2
East coast of u. S. to west
coast of South America. S93,3sS
West coast of u. S. to Eu-
rope ................ 74s,447I
South America -. s5s.777I
Pacific coast OF U. s. to
gulf and Atlantic coast of
of U. s.. ,......''. off'ooo
tralasia ........... 532,2s7
n Ti ~ 477,64o
to Europe. 80. 4oS,ozf
Atlantic and gulf coast OF
U. s, to Pacific coast OF
u. s. .............' 41p'SAs
or these eleven leading trades,
the United States either as exporter
or importer, was directly interested
in eight.
The coastwise trade Of the United
states, from Atlantic to Pacific and
from Pacific to Atlantic, was small
in comparison with other trades
through the canal 1t is still
largely uudeveloped. Most OF the
vessels originally engaged in II
we're withdrawn to take advantage
Of high freight rates to be earned J
elsewhere during the war and the
period following the armisuce.
This retarded the normal growth
Of traffic. But the old lines have |
resumed their service, new lines
have either already entered the
field or are being organized, and
here is growing competition for
coastwise cargoes. A constantly |
tonnage of the lumber
grain, fish and fruit of the Pacific
coast will find its way by the sea |
route to the eastern markets, and
he westbound tonnage of eastern
is capable of SINH |
lar expansion.
The practical interest of other |
nations in the canal apart from
the promotion of their trade wit h |
he United States, is indicated ny |
he traffic between west South |
America and Europe and Austral-
asia and Europe. The disorganiza-
lion following the war has prevent
ed the great commercial nations OF
from resuming their for
eign trade on a normal scale, and |
It is to be expected that European
trade through the canal will be of
greater relative importance In
future years than In 1920.
Military and Naval Importance.
The military and naval value Of
he Panama canal is obvious. the
United States can now maintain
powerful fleets on both the Atlantic
md the Pacific, and still bring
hem together quickly to meet an
on either ocean; or else
the combined fleet from
me ocean to the other. 1t has at
a fortified base in highly
trategic position with coaling
tations, dry docks and repair
hops accessible from both coasts.
n modern warfare transportation
md supply are essential factors
'he mere control of trade route !
II the Importance Of the Panama
anal is a military asset of the
.reatest value.
Apart from Its commercial and
importance. the canal has
t least one other aspect which
hould not be disregarded in esti-
mating its value to the United
States. The construction Of an
waterway at the
sthmus was rightly considered
ask of stupedous difficulty. 1t in
'olved the solution of many prob
ems-the selection of route, the
difficulties of sanitation. the de-
ision between a sealevel and lock
anal, the type of lock canal,