The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-12-17


Gle shows that project which has been agi
tated at intervals by different nations foi
two centuries, first by Spain, at the height
of her power-aiterwards by France, IIol-
land, England, and finally by the United
States and one mighter in its results than
any other which ever occupied the attention
OF mankind has at last assumed n definite
and tangible shape, with the stronges. prob
ability Of being carried into immediate exc
cuiion.
The article states some facts, says the
Hartford Times, which are not generally
known. Among them is one, tha, the Dutch
had concluded with Nica aqua a treaty for
making this canal which was only prevent
ed from being carried into effect by the rev.
olution of 1850, which resulted in the sepa-
ration of Belgium from Holland. The Dutch
contract embraced terms much less fayora-
ble to the projectors than the charter recent
ly granted by Nicaragua to our citizens. 1t
appears that the highest estimate Of the cost
Of the work, after n pretty thorough survey,
is only about $50 100000. This is less than
the New York and Eric railroad will cost
when completed, and it is certainly very
trivial expenditure, considering Tie unpar-
alleed grandeur Of the work and the results
to be obtained by its accomplishment 1t i,
trivial also, when compared with the amount
expended upon projects of far inferior i'm
portancc. England, alone, is estimated to
have expended already 81 200, ,OOo, 900 upon
railroads. If twenty or even forty milous
Of dollars will secure the construction of a
ship canal between the two great oceans, it
will be the very cheapest, as well as the
mishiiest engineering work ever underta-
ken. The London and Northwestern rail-
road alone, if our recollection is correct, has
cost more than the largest of these sums.
with respect to the profits of the undertdk-
ing, the Times states that the commerce of
the world, as it existed in 1919, would give
revenue of lorty.two and half per cent.
on the outlay. But this will be greatly in.
creased before the period limited for the
completion of the canal, (twcve years } as
the shipping Of the United States doubles in
tonnage every fifteen years, to say nothing
Of he rapid increase of the commerce Of
Europe.
The very fact that the London Times has
given such prominent and pointed encour.
agement 10 this enterprise is sure guaran-
ty of its cventful success. That distinguish
ed Journal, the leading one in Europe, is
never known to lend its columns to the pro.
motion Of visionary or impractcablo pro
IIccts. 1t advocates the immediate prosecu.
ton of what may be called the great cana
of all nations, with its usual energy and abil-
lty. The wealthiest and ablest merchants
of both England and the United States have
taken hold of the work at las, in earnest
Mr.. Vanderbilt, than whom no man is better
fit TO represent the mercantile wealth and
energy Of New York, went to England for
the express purpose of enlisting British in
ilucnce and capital in the enterprise His
eXerlions have been crowned with speedy
and complete success. The Times SAYS that
" the two leading mercantile firms of Eng
land, meaning the great houses of Rothschild
and the Barings, of world wide reputation
for their wealth and enterprise, have taken
the lead in recommending the project TO the
British public. The two nations are to share
alike in the profit and the execution Of the
work, and to participate equally in its advan-
tages when completed. Urged on as it now
is, by men so eminent for their riches, inAu-
ence and energy, and encouraged by The
good wishes Of all nations, it is impossible
to doubt of its accomplishment at the earl,
est practicable period. When the survey is
completed and the books opened for the ten
millions of stock allotted to this country, we
are disposed to think that the whole amount
will be eagerly subscribed The wonder AZ
ter all is not that work of such obvious
and vast utility to the whole world should he
executed now, but that it should have been
della, ed so long.
The following is the article referred to
from the London Times:-
"The junction of the Atlantic and Pacif-
ic may almost be regarded as a work COM
menced. On the 18th of February, 1919,
we described the Nicaragua route, urged the
attention ofcaptalists to its advantages and
the American Company. by whom agents
were subsequently despatched to obtain a
concession from the government of that
country, have now not only two steamers
upon the waters of tho San Juan for the
purpose of establishing temporary transit
but have also a corps of twelve engineers
actively engaged in the surveys for the canal.
The head of the party is Mr. O. w. Childs,
lately chief engineer of the State of New
York, under whose charge was conducted
the recent enlargement of the Erie Canal.
The Nicaragua route to California across
the isthmus saves 900 miles, as compared
with Panama, and has the advantage of
healthy climate. Hopes seem to be enter>
tained morcOyerthat the fen,nopar,. tr.,s;,