Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1922-01-10
U. S. LEADS IN
PANAMA TONNAGE
New Record Made, With Britain,
Japan and Norway Follow.
ing in Order.
GROWTH DUE TO COMPETITION
Ships Of Four Nations Carried 30 Per
Cent of Tonnage Which Moved
Through Canal During the
Last Fiscal Year.

Washington.-Ships of four nations
carried 50 per cent OF the approx.
mately 100000 tons OF cargo which
moved through the Panama canal dur
ing the fiscal year ended June 80
1921.
American vessels led all others with
total Of 5,163,OOO tons. establishing
new record by increasing the total
tonnage Of the previous high years by
3I5.SSj.
British ships were second and sur
passed even the high mark OF 1917,
their last banner year. They reached
total Of 3.T3s.25O tons.
Japan and Norway took third and
fourth places with $4,000 and 637 $50
tons. respectively. Norway dropped
below lis figures for 1918, but Japan
SCARED to new heights. exceeding her
last high mark by 32.2T9 tons.
Result Of Competition.
These unparalleled increases in com
merre moved through the waterway
ny the four nations are attributed by
Gov. !. !. Morrow Of the Panama
canal. in his annual report TO compe-
tittnn So keenly developed that it re-
quireS use OF the quickest routes.
almost 0ne-thirtl ~ the total ton
mage hHndled." the report says. was
so strongly competitive that prompt
and complete Servire may have been
the determining factor In the choice Of
the Panama route. In many Of the
trades served by the Panama canal,
The saving Of distance. and hence OF
time. by The use uf the canal Is so
great that shipping could hardly ar
ford {" use any other route"
or the nations which shared in nov
ing the remaining ~ per cent Of ton
mage the most important we're lien
mark. Holland. Spain. Sweden. France
and Peru IN the order named.
'''rhe most important trade route
served by the canal" the report adds
twas that between the east coast Of
the United STATES and the west conSt
Of South America. Others If the prin-
cipai routes were those from the east
coast of the United States 10 the far
east and between the west coast Of
America and Europe"
Gov. Morrow points 10 the double
value of tho canal to the United States.
In addition IN the quick service n
gives American shipS from coast IN
coast and in the world trade routes.
there is. he said. a constantly increas-
ing revenue which comes TO the nation
from tolls collected.
I'm terms of money the Panama
canal" the report asserts. had gross
revenues ~ more than $4,000 OOO: IN
creased Investment additions. stock.
etc. Of $S.OO0OOO and gross operating
expenses If S24. 800 600" The excess
Of revenues IN the last fiscal year the
report shows. was s.. 40 400 more than
for Interest on the capital cost Of the
waterway.
Big Railway Revenue.
The Panama Railroad company. &C.
corling 20 the report, had gross reve-
nue. IT approximately $40. OOO 600. an
increase ih investments I'm capital ad-
dltionS Of $1.5OO.OOO. while tho gross
operating expenses were S22OO0.0O0
on June 80 last Gross revenues Of
the Panama Railroad Steamship lire.
at the same time. were 81. .448,
while operating expenses for the fiscal
year toinled $5.SjT.25
Legislation To increase 4he revenue
collected from tolls Is asked by the
governor. who points out that the
present system Is 10 assess tolls. on
the basis of $12O a net ton. according
10 Panama canal measurement. FUN
less this would result in a rate OF
more than Sl.2j net ton. according
to United States rules OF measure
ment."
"Under this dual system tolls col
lected amounted to S11 ,2T6.SS9, which
Is 81 1910 less than would have been
collected If Panama canal rules only
were used he adds. SPEEDY enact
ment of law establishing the single
standard Is urged"