The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-11-17
FREE USE OF CANAL
WOULD HURT THE
MIDDLE WEST
Santa Fe Official Protests
Against Unjust Water
Competition

CHICAGO. Nov. i7.--Frec use OF
the Panama canal would greatly re-
tard indust rial development In the
!, middle west by giving the Atlantic
seaport cities AN undue advantage In
the matter OF freight rates, according
to q statement made today by Edward
Chambers vice president OF the
Atchiron. Topeka aud santa Fo Rail-
way company. before examiner Disque
Of the interstate commerce commits
sion.
Mr.. Chambers spoke for all the
transcontinentai lines In an applica-
tion tor permission to make rates by
railway from the Atlantic coast and
nea by territory. from the guif coast.
and also from the Interior manufac-
turing regions such as the Chicago
territory. the Mississippi river terri
tory. aud the Missouri river territory
to the Pacific coast points which shall
he over tnan the charges on the
same commodities to destinations east
Of the Pacific coast. the commission
having authority to give such permis-
sion under section No. I Of the inter
state commerce law. where IL is shown
that competitive or other conditions
justify the practice.
n tolls ON the Panama canal were
eliminated II would create lower
basis fOr rates Via water routes. which
In turn would compel the lowering
OF the rail rate and place an additional
burden on the western railroads and
ON western manufacturing Interests,
NJ Chambers said
'The steamship operations between
Atlantic aud Pacific ports have never
lc,'loped any considerable amount OF
traffic. Ths bulk OF the traffic
.u.tu IlDl now enjoy was developed
py tn, al -rutl lines. The Panama
anal cost iu construction over 400
a
tolls ur. about equal to the operating
vusts The people Of the western
lafus are taxed TO. the original cost
II the canal by giving to souports
the free us, Of the canal the entire
urncfit OF the waterway would go TO
seaport cities. II is an artificial
waterway built FOR the protection and
advantage Of the country ms q whole.
II shortons the all water distance he
tween Atlantic and Pacific coasts by
10000 miles and II gives to those
coasts an artificia. advantage In trad"
and commerce. Like any other ia
cilIty to promote commerce, II should
carry itself II should not he the
means Of entirely destroying tho
natural advantage IN mileage 10 'he
coIst which the Interior city possesses
over the soaports
"'rhc cities upon tho Atlantic sea-
| board by virtue ut the Panama canal
have maximum enjoyment In the
markets Hs afforded by the Pacific
coast cities This naturally creates a
market competition Tor tho Citics IN
| the middle vest from the Rocky
mountains to the Niagara frontier
which should not Doe denied ana under
| the policies uf the government the
all rail carriers sought to aud did
| establish carrying charges to the "a
| cific coast cities from such interior
| cities upon basis which permitted
| participation M the mu kvtH of the
/ coast The sections Of the country In
| which such interior cities are located
| having contributed through the mcdi-
| um OF taxation thor full quota 10 the
| cost aud the maintenance Of tn" Pana-
ma ranal contend that tho carriers
| should o., permitted to establish a
| system o. Idtr which would permit
! OF their products or Wa Cr being
| plar,d upon the pHcifi, Cua" on a
| reasonably parity with The cost OF
| transportation -u tar Hs thu scaboard
| cities arc concerned To deny the
| establishment uf q has which would
| permit of q rturHnubl uui icipatior
! ol the udrt OF zach Ci'it. n the IN
| terrier would dityuu.ugr the growth
| and development col N,iy largo aud
! substantial part ui 'hH United StatCi
| aud cause to he withheld from ear
| riers revenue which would be- their
II the market competition of the vari
ous cities as To the traffic In question
| were ully considered and prupc !,
Il disposed Of
/ The maximum development o
/ country and transportation iustificl
| scattering Of manufactures tn nj
/ parts of tho United States rather thar
"a concentration on the Atlantic sea
board
No question Of raw materials is iu
volvcd to any extent nor is thee ques
ton Of tho rates on the great staples
such ps coal lumber grain and III
products. and meats The list IN
cludes 80 manufactured articles, sucl
/ glassware. soap, soda ash. tohnccc
east iron pipc, structural iron. meta
for concrete reinforcement, co.rugat
ed iron and steel l'tg iron, cuttpl
piece goods. coffee, bottles. fruit Jars
glue. lard and lard substitutes. cor
| gvrup. horse shoes. sewing machines
twinc and coraaso, wire goods, bak
ing powder heating apparatus rosir
starch. chewing gum, rubber tires an
tubes. and turpontine
III Mr.. Chambers continued.