Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-07-15
WORLDS GREAT WATERWAY
Panama Canal Has Justified All Elk.
peCtdti0DS.
IMMENSE SAVING OF time AND EXPENSE

plying the Commercial and Military
Resources of the United States.
THE interchange Of some Of the
largest battleships in the American
navy between the Atlantic and Pacif-
ic fleets through the Panama Canal
shows that the big waterway is func-
tioning along the lines laid down for it
when the United States undertook the
task of constructing a seaway between
the two Americas" says bulletin just
issued from the Washington, D. c.,
headquarters of the National Geogra-
phic society.
when the work OF building the
canal was undertaken" the bulletin
continues mo one dreamed what
tremendous amount of material would
have to be moved to make it a usable
waterway such as it is today.
at that time it was figured that the
total excavations for the canal proper
would he 101 100000 cubic yards. But
by reason of engagements and slides
the task continued to grow until ap-
proximately quarter of billion
cubic yards OF material had to be re-
moved. The rail distance from Union
Station, Washington, D. c.. to the
Pennsylvania Terminal, New York, is
Approximately 22S miles. Imagine in
stead of the roadbed canal with ver-
rical banks. As feet deep and 124 feet
wide-deep and wide enough to ac-
commodate the biggest ship that floats
and connecting the Nations metropo-
lis with the country's captal-and
you will have a picture Of the amount
of material that had to be removed to
make the great Isthmian highway n
complete project.
Dirt Dug Would Make 100 Cheops.
"NOr does this remarkable. compar-
ison include either the excavations by
the French in the canal nor those OF
the Americans for the auxiliary port
works, coaling stations, etc. These
were vast enough to widen the ina
ginary Washington-New York ship
way to 154 feet. On the bottom of
this ditch could be laid eleven STAN
dnrd American railway tracks.
"One can get another picture Of the
inmensity of the task by rejecting on
the fact that the total spols which had
to be removed TO unite the seas, divide
the continents, and shorten the sea
lines of the world at Panama were
equal in volume TO more than one
hundred pyramids Of the dimensions
Of Chcops, two such pyramids for every
mile of the big waterway from deep
water in the Atlantic to deep water
in the Pacific.
"Thc saving effected by ships using
the canal has more than justified the
hopes of the government in undertake
ing it's construction. In prewar days
the cost Of maintaining freightcr In
commission was approximately ten
cents per net registered ton per day
Thus. n 10.OO0-ton steamship cost FOR
maintenance. about $1,000 day. Its av-
erage speed was about $50 knots day
On the trip from New York to San
Francisco there is n saving OF thirty
two days With such Il ship, this extra
distance would cost, on the basis or
prcwar prices $4,000. On the basis o!
present prices it would cost about $780,
900. The vessel. by using the canal in
prcwur days. paying S1.20 per mel
registered ton, $4,000. saved its own
ers or chartercrs $4,000. On the
basis of present day pttccs. the saving
amounts to nearly $4,000. IT, as is
now planned, the :oastwise shipping
using the canal is exempted from the
payment Of tolls. a 10,000-ton steamer
will save $4,000 every time it passes
through the canal. in tolls, and at
least $4,000 in distance eliminated.
Saves Many Thousands of Dollars.
"While it looks rather high to think
Of 4 15.753-ton ship like the Orga
naying $4,000 for an eight hour trip
through the canal yet to choose that
route between the east and west COASTS
of the United States over the Magei-
Ian route, would save upward OF $52,-
600 on the trip.
another interesting thing about
the toll rates at Panama is the COM
paratively low rates ut which cargo
moves through the canal. net reg
stercd ton in shipping practice Is lCo
cubic feet Of cargo space. Now, II
happens that most cargo doesn't re-
uuire so much room and that for some
commodities three tons can be put IN
each net register ton space. For in
stance cotton takes much more room
than nitrate. a cargo OF the latter
has moved through the canal for 81
cents Il ton. while Il cargo OF lumber
might cost Il dollar II ten. The aver
age rate for bulk c:lrgnes around III
cents IL long ton.
.'rhe rate of S1.2o per- net register
ed ton. or $4,000 for Il 10000 ton ship
is no higher than viewed from the
standpoint Of cost Of operating the
canal than when looked at from the
angle Of knot money saved.
Canal Co5ts $4,000 600 a Year in In
terest.
1.-THE present income from the canal