Even with the emergence of modern -day aircrafts that made transportation swift, ships are still and will always be of major importance for the transportation industry, specifically in the transportation of commodity goods worldwide.

First, it is much cheaper than air transportation. Energy consumption of an airplane is far greater than consumption of a ship.

Second, it is by far safer to travel on water than on air. When a plane crushes, survival rate is almost zero. Whereas, when a ship submerges, there is still a big chance to survive.

And lastly, ships can transport more cargoes than airplanes, thought ships travel much slower.

And because of these, the Suez and Panama canals play a major role in the transportation of export and import products worldwide. And both are vital too, in the tourism industry.

Map of the Suez Canal

A view of the Suez Canal

SUEZ CANAL

Suez Canal is a ship canal in Egypt and a major navigational route for world trade. It crosses the Isthmus of Suez and links the Mediterranean Sea with the Gulf of Suez, an arm of the Red Sea.

The Isthmus of Suez connects the continents of Asia and Africa

IMPORTANCE:

It eliminates the long voyage around Africa for ships traveling between East and West. Thus, saving lots of money time and effort and thereby, reducing the risks of voyage from calamities like typhoons, hurricanes, tornadoes, and others.

REASON WHY CONSTRUCTION WAS EASIER AND CHEAPER:

It has no locks because there is virtually no difference in the levels of the Mediterranean and Red Seas.

BUILDER:

Ferdinand de Lesseps – a French diplomat and engineer.

COMPANY:

Suez Canal Company

DURATION OF CONSTRUCTION:

It took ten years to complete the canal from 1859 to 1869.

LENGTH:

The length of the canal is slightly more than 100 miles (160 km.)

COST:

$100,000,000.00

OPENED:

November, 1869

A view of the Panama Canal

PANAMA CANAL

Panama Canal is a ship canal across the Isthmus of Panama joining the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It is an impressive engineering feat.

The Isthmus of Panama connects the continents of North America and South America.

IMPORTANCE:

It eliminates the long journey around South America for ships traveling between East and West. Thus, saving lots of money time and effort and thereby, reducing the risks of voyage from calamities like typhoons, hurricanes, tornadoes, and others

REASONS WHY CONSTRUCTION WAS HARDER AND MORE EXPENSIVE:

1. The Panama Canal has locks to raise and lower ships because the water levels of Pacific and Atlantic Oceans are different.
2. Outbreak of Yellow fever and malaria during the construction period
3. Massive machines were needed to dig through solid rocks.
4. Frequent landslides.
5. Temporary railways was built to transport men and supplies
6. Average labor force was 40,000 men.

BUILDER:

1. Ferdinand de Lesseps began the construction but went bankrupt.
2. The US took over through the Spooners Act of 1902 passed by the US Congress.

COMPANY:

Isthmian Canal Company

DURATION OF CONSTRUCTION:

10 years from 1904 to 19914

LENGTH:

The length of the canal is 50 miles (80 km.) half the length of Suez Canal.

COST:

$366,650,000.00. It cost more than three times as much the cost of Suez Canal.

OPENED:

1914

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The strike is still going on from the spring of 1902, to the fall of 1902. Because these workers haven’t been mining their coal and so on, a lot of business’s and schools were forced to close because of the lack of coal to heat of their organizations.

Meanwhile, the leader of the mining operators, George F. Baer, wrote to an associate that the miners had mistakenly put their trust on the union and not on Christian men. Of course as you would expect, this was very insulting for the miners and did not help resolve anything whatsoever to this strike, instead it was reported in almost every single newspaper around the US.

As president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt had of course noticed this conflict. So Theodore Roosevelt decided to summon 2 representatives, 1 for each side; the miners and the owners of the company. He invited them to the White House where the 3 gentlemen would discuss this issue. In the end Theodore Roosevelt decided that this matter would be decided in court. The miners agreed seeing that they really believed for what they stood for, while the owners declined.

After this incident where the owners declined that they would settle this matter in court, Theodore Roosevelt threatened the owners of the mining fields in eastern Pennsylvania that if they would not settle this in court, Theodore Roosevelt would send federal soldiers to take control of the mines.

After Theodore Roosevelt said this, he decided to turn to J.P Morgan and securing his services, told him to go as a, “go-between”, with the mine operators.

Thanks to Theodore Roosevelt’s active participation, a settlement was reached and the strike ended in March 1903. The settlement was that the miners would receive a higher payment. Unfortunately though, they were still not recognized by the union.

In the end, Theodore Roosevelt described his actions as a, “square deal”, for both sides. He was truly a hero.