OCR Text |
Show iff will men DO FOR COnST-TO-COASTTRAFFIC? Now that wo havo tho Canal, wo want to know what its effects nro to bo. Tho figures regarding Its uso are, howovor, badly vltluted by tho exlstenco of war. In October, 1911, tho total tonnago passing through tlio Canal was 377,099 tons; In November, No-vember, 445.2GC tons. This averago extended through a year would yield about half tho tonnago estimated before be-fore tho opening of tho canal for tho year 1915. Tho tolls on tho basis ba-sis of $1.20 por ton would amount to slightly under six million dollars for tho year as against tho nineteen and a quarter millions estimated as neccsary to mako tho canal self supporting, sup-porting, Including thrco percent Interest In-terest on tho $375,000,000 invested In tlio canal and ono per cent for sinking sink-ing fund. It seems never, however, to hnve been oxpected tliat the canal can-al should pay for Itsolf during tho earlier years. If It enmo to do so by 1925, that would oven mqro than satisfy expectation. Tho coast to coobi tonnago parsing tho canal In October, 1914, was 171,' 245 tons; In Novembor, 179.C5G tons, being Romowhat less than half tho total tonnago. Tho total tonnago Is by reason of tho wnr far smaller than It othorwlso would havo been, but tho coast to coast tonnago Is doublo tho oxpectatlon. Shippers aro used to paying on tho Tehuante-pee Tehuante-pee or Panama Hallway charges which ProfoBsor Johnson shows aro essentially flvo times as groat as tho Panama Canal charges. This so pa pablo advantago naturally sends tho wholo volume of tho oast to coast trado from tho very beginning thru tho canal. It seems likely that tho canal will first mako itself felt In druwlng closer clos-er together tho shores of North and South Amorlca. Tho wldor develop ments will como later and slowly. Trado has its habits liko everything human. Outsldo of tho Americas thero wll bo no suddon oveturnlng In tho courses of trado, and evon thero tho development will follow lines already al-ready Indicated boforo tho canal was opened. From "Tho Meaning of tho Canal," by Benjamin Ido Wheolor, in tho American Hoviow of Rovlows for February. |