THE PANAMA ROUTE FOR A SHIP CANAL. 557 



Under such conditioiw, epideniict^ could either l>e avoided or reduced 

 to manageuble dimensions, but not otherwise. * * * 



The time required for passing' through a transisthmian canal is 

 affected by the length, ])y the numl)er of locks, by the number of 

 curves, and by the sharpness of curvature. The speed of a ship, and 

 consequently the time of passage, is also affected ])y the depth of 

 water under its keel. It is well known that the same power applied 

 to a ship in deep Avater of unlimited width will produce a nuich higher 

 rate of movement than the same i)ower applied to the same ship in a 

 restricted waterway, especially when the draft of the ship is but little 

 less than the depth of water. Tlies(^ considerations have important 

 bearings both upon the dimcMisions of a ship canal and upon the time 

 required to pass through it. They were most carefully considered l)y 

 the Connnission, as were also such other niatters as the delay incurred 

 in passing through the locks on each line, the latter including the dela}^ 

 of slowing or approaching the lock and of increasing speed after pass- 

 ing it, the time of opening and closing the gates, and the time of 

 emptying and tilling the locks. It is also evident that ships of various 

 sizes will require different times for their passage. After giving due 

 weight to all these considerations it was found that what may I )e called 

 an average ship would require twelve hours for passing through the 

 Panama Canal. * * * 



The prospective industrial and commercial value of the canal also 

 occupied the attention of the Conmiission in a l)road and careful study 

 of the elements which enter that part of the prol)lem. It is difficult if 

 not impossible to predict just what the effect of a transisthmian canal 

 would be either upon the ocean commerce of the United States or of 

 other parts of the world, but it seems reasonable to suppose from the 

 result of the Commission's examinations that had the canal been in 

 existence in 1890 at least 5,000,000 tons of the actual traffic of that 

 year would have been accommodated ]>v it. The opening of such a 

 watiM'way, like the opening of all other traffic routes, induces the 

 creation of new trathc to an extent that can not be estimated, Ijut it 

 would appear to ])e' reasonable to suppose that within ten years from 

 the date of its opening the vessel tonnage using it would not be less 

 than 10,(»UO,0(»0 tons. * * * 



The effect of this ship waterway upon the well-being of the Ihiited 

 States is not altogether of a commercial character. As indicated by 

 the Commission, this additional bond ])etvveen the two portions of the 

 country will have a beneffcial effect upon the unitv of the political 

 interests as well as upon the commercial welfare of the country. 

 Indeed it is the judgment of many well-informed people that the com- 

 mercial advantages resulting from a closer touch l)etween the Atlantic 

 and Pacific coasts of the country are of less consequence than the 

 unifying of political interests. 



