White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-11-26

Increase Of Freight
via F a n a m q
r tut e, Largely
Due to Oil Ship
1nents, Indicates
Rise Of United
States to Leader
ship of Worlds
Commerce..
Rx LupsoN c. wELLIvER

One of the striking evidences Of
Americas rapid rise toward CONNER
cial and industrial leadership of the
world, is the Panama Canal, will al
most certainly handle more freight in
1926 than will Suez. For several years
the two canals have been in a neck
and neck competition whose implica-
tions are the more interesting be-
cause the Panama ditch is owned by
tho American Government, and that
at Suez by the British Government.
OF course both Canals are open TIC
the ships of all nations; and the
competition between them is not only
between the United States and Brit
ain, but in a larger and even more
significant view it is competition be-
tween old world and new world
When the Panama Canal was open
ed in 1915, Suez was already transit
ing about 25,000,0OO tons of freight
annually. Almost nobody believed
Panama could ever attract anything
approaching such volume. But dur
ing the war fear Of German subma-
rines In the Mediterranean caused
many vessels to take the Panama
route between the far east and Eu-
ropoan or American ports. This gave
Panama its introduction and it has
not only held but greatly increased
its business since the war. In 1923
Panama transited 5037 vessels
against 1921 for Suez; Panama han.
dled 25,160,O00 cargo tons against 3d..
10000 for Suez. This was the first
year of Panama lead.
A Close Race
The following year Suez barely ex.
ceeded Panamas tonnage; and in
1925 comfortably held it's lead. But
reports for 1926 to date indicate that
Suez Is losing, owing to Britain's in
dustrial depression, while Panama Is
doing better and is pretty certain to
resume the lead.
The present Suez Canal has been
in operation nearly sixty years. Pan.
anna only eleven, Although few PEG.
pie except antiquarians know it, the
first canal at Suez was built more
than 5000 years ago 1t was in op.
Grafton as early as B. G.. 1890; how
long before, is mere conjecture. Be-
fore the Christian era began the ditch
had been built, destroyed rebuilt,
silted UP and built up again, time
after time. When Alexander the
nal was one Of the oldest of engi-
neering works
Between 1901 and 1915 the present
Panama Canal was constructed. 1t
cost about S40o,000,000 Suez about
one-fourth that sum. But Suez is a
plain; while Panama is a lock canal,
the greater part of Its length lying
So feet above sea level, SO that most
of the distance from ocean to ocean
10 through an artificial freshwater
lake.
Early Profits Unexpected
When Roosevelt started building
at Panama, neither he nor any other
prophet Of optimism would have
dared suggest that within its first
decade the Canal would earn profit.
Its chief justification concerned the
national defense, and the establish.
ment of competition with the trans
continental railroads.
Although both Canals are open to
shipping of all nations, British YES
sells constitute the majority Of those
using Suez (55.S per cent?. while
American vessels are 54.5 per cent Of
those using Panama.
For 1924, ships Of 81 nations used