The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1914. THE PANAMA CANAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 31, 28 May 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1914. THE PANAMA CANAL.

In a striking review of the' economic effect of the Panama Canal on Western Canada, which Mr F. B. Yrooman road at the Royal Colonial Institute, the cutting of the great waterway was described as inaugurating a new era in the economic history of the world. The bisection of a hemisphere, said Mr Yrooman, was no trifling project. It was certain it would break up the old equilibriums of the world, and we should have much to do in the way of readjustment. It was not too much to asy that to-day we were at the crossroads of history. So profound was the change to be wrought in Canada that the Panama Canal was already throwing up across the Dominion a new economic Continental divide. Twothirds of the future products of Canada were destined to ho tributary to the Western Sea. Then in a real and true sense, Canada would face not the Atlantic, but the Pacific Ocean. The allrail transcontinental haul for the products of West Canada would soon be a thing of the past. They were confronted with the startling fact that the grain rate from Vancouver to Liverpool via Panama would he less than half the rate from Albertan points to Vancouver. Had the Canal been finished and had there been adequate dock and harbor facilities at Vancouver, the Canal would have meant a clear gain to the farmers of Alberta alone of about £4,000,000 on the crop of 1912. This served to illustrate the grain l value of the Canal to the farmer alone. It said nothing for the minor or manufacturer, who equally would share in the unearned dividend. It was easv to see not far hence for the farmers of Alberta and Saskatchewan a free gift from the Canal of something in the neighbourhood of £oo.000,MO f year in freight rates saved. Mr Yroaman emphasised that the first

problem of the British race was to adjust itself to the idea of the Newj Pacific Ocean. Simultaneously with the birth and growth of Vancouver three great world movements had beeni seen before and never would be seen again. They were of the kind that could happen but once. The first of these was the cutting of the Panama Canal, the second was the awakening of Asia and the third was the peopling of the prairies. All these were hap-, pening for the first time in the history of the world.