The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-09-22

Tho Controi OF tho Intcroceanic houtos'
Panama is won TO our commerce. We yes
terday published the en'ire contract lately
concluded between the Panama Railroad Com
psny and the Colombian government The
extension OF the franchise Is for ninety-nine
years. The price paid may appear large to
those who do not grasp the extraordinary value
of this great transit, which, in our hands, makes
the world pay tribute.
The battle for the possession Of this route has
not been merely contest between rival pri-
on one side, against powerful railway COM
pany on the other. Diplomacy has played it's
part; France and England have thrown all
their secret influence into the struggle. They
have used their gold TO turn the tide In favor
OF their own commercial interests. Govern
msnts have been upset. revolutions at
tempted, battles fought, ,bay0net and bullet
freely used. In the face of all this, however,
American enterprise has conquered; and TO-
day, through the efforts Of private company,
we control tho key point Of the worlds COM
merce. Our short-sighted and sluggish govern
ment can claim no share in the success. In all
battles for commercial development and the
control of the trade currents of The world we
are obliged to fight our Stlte department quite
as muol as we are the rival commercial inter-
ests of Europe.
The full value OF the new contract can only
be appreciated by reading portion Of
ARTICLE The government Of the republic binds itself,
during the period that this exclusive privilege granted 10
the company for the working OF the railroad remains In
force constr let itself concede 10 any person or
COMPANY In any whatever the right OF constructing
any railroad the Isthmus Of Panama; and IL Is
also stipulated that while tho aforesaid privilege oxis
the government undertake. permit person
whatever {, undertake. without the perm sson or con.
sent OF SAID company the construction working OF
the Isthmus OF Panama. 10 the westward
Of ne from Cape Tiburon on the Atlantic and Point
Garashine on the Pacific
1t is thus observed that American capital
has entire control of the Isthmus and the vast
trade that, in constantly increasing stream, is
flowing over it-fowing to and from the west
coast Of South America, our Pacific coast, the
East Indies, Australia, and the other islands
between us and Asia.
Besides Panama, the main commercial key,
there are oher valuable interoceanic routes
soon to be brought into more prominent notice.
Some of them have already made considerable
commotion in financial and even in diplomatic
circles. Among tn 80 the Nicaragua transit
is in fair. way to be built, and there is now
no dispute over the franchise. Not so, how
ever, with the famous Tehuantepec. So many
companies have been engaged in this enter
prise, and so many failures have been made to
carry out certain stipulations in their charters,
that 1t appears one after the other has been
revoked, until the Tehuantepec Railroad is in q
far way to furnish our Secretary of State with
an excellent subject for his prolific pen-a sub
ject magnificent in its proportions and in lis
fineness Of jesuitcal and legal bubbles,
altogether to his liking. The las! Tehuantepec
grant, obtained October Is, 1866, annuiled the
one which was existing at that time. The
Mexican government now declare, by decree
issued August &C. 1867, that this last Is for
feited. This declaration, just at this moment,
looks as if the old company was at work
again, and rs If its agent, Mr.. Otterbourg,
whom i. assisted in forcing into an official
position, has made good use Of his time. We
shall not be surprised to see q new Tehuan-
tepee charter issued by the Mexican govern
mens at any moment; perhaps revamping
of the old one. The old ono can scarcely
be restored entire, since it's holders
have forfeited it by having it extended
under the Macmillan government instead of
tho republic. Meanwhile. Tehu ,ntepec appears
to be in the Market prize for which the last
holders, as we'll as former claimants, are dis
posed TO do battle. SO long as American CAPT
tai wins it we are content TO let Mr. Seward
write about it. Marshall o. Roberts wished for
it, and set Otterbourg TO fish for it. The last
company claims it, and.cyerybody fights for it
| In the commercial control of the United States
| and Mexico it must remain. In common with
| the other routes, it is part-!he larger part-o
| our Monroe doctrine.
Again there is another interoceanic route
| the Vera Cruz and City OF Mexico Railway
| This, to be extended TO the Pacific at San
Bias or Mazatlan, is now at a standstill. Eng
lish capital no longer fows to its aid, and its
managers seek in the Western world and it:
| commercial centre--New York-the means tC
| carry il to successful conclusion. Thus the
unerring finger of fate points to US, as we stand
between Europe and Asia, as the future grea
financial as we'll as geographical centre O
| the world.
Our people and our commercial interests can
not be too active in the appreciation Of the
value of our position financially, commercially
and automatically. While Louis Napoleon
was plotting the conquest of Mexico and our
overthrow, the maps and plans which came
from the French War ONCE showed Mexico and
Central America to be the controlling centrei
of the worlds commerce. Let our govern
ment no longer shut Its eyes to this fact Lee
every effort be made to throw American CAPT
tal and energy into those countries. The star o.