CHAPTER XIX. FORTIFICATIONS, TOLLS, COMMERCE AND QUARANTINE 363

Why Fortify the Canal at All?--The Suez Canal no Parallel--Some Details of the Fortifications--The Mobile Force on the Zone--The Sufficiency of Fortifications Planned--Effect of the Canal on Trade Routes--The Railroad Fight on the Canal--The Canal and the Flag--The First Immediate Advantage of the Canal--The Much-mooted Question of Tolls--Our Trade with Pacific-Latin America--Time Saved by Panama Canal Route--The Possible Commerce of the Canal--Some Phases of Our Foreign Trade--The Need of Our Own Ships and Banks--What Our Merchant Marine is--The Grave Question of Quarantine.