The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-02
Where to Purchase Real Estate-Thc II
teroceanic Canal Question. 4

teroceanic Canal Question.
We have had all kinds of wild schemes in
our State Department for the expenditure of
the public money-a veritable mania for real
estate speculations. Alaska was purchased
for seven million two hundred thousand dol
lars, with all its icebergs, mineral wealth, cod
fisheries, seals, fogs and Esquimaux. We
have made several attempts to find it since we
were permitted to hoist our flag there; but,
judging from the uncertainty of the reports
that reach us, Alaska is a misty nothing
a seven million two hundred thousand dollar
dream. When our real estate agent cooled off
the public mind in the Polar regions he
thought it might be refreshing to try q tropical
entertainment. The wires were manipulated
to serve, up an island or two as an entree pre-
vious to the heavier dish marked Mexico on
the bill of fare. Nature willingly assisted in
drawing attention to the speck called st.
Thomas. The dish was tossed about until,
between earthquakes, tidal waves and hurri-
canes, it was cooked to turn. Our agent
then announced that the price for this rare and
extraordinary mixture was only seven millions
Of dollars Nothing but a bite for Uncle Sam,
and ft to eat at any moment, as it is constantly
kept warm and ready to be served up, with all
its population. But the Alaska purchase made
our Congressional teeth chatter, and we said,
ssPlease, Mr.. Denmark, keep the St. Thomas
dish warm for time longer" Then came
the charming little annexation scheme for
St. Domingo. This made the American
eagle shake his wings, and, looking about him,
he said, ''Include all the West India Islands,
the Sandwich Islands and Fenian Ireland"
Truly, the bird has such capacious nav and
he eats.
We have had enough of seven million dollar
tit-bits. Let us come down to the more solid
food-something that will be of real value to
us in the future. This something is Nicara-
qua, Costa Rica and the whole Panama and
Darien Isthmus, from Chiriqui to six degrees
north latitude, in the province Of Choco-an
entire area of about one hundred and eigh teen
thousand square miles, containing some five
hundred and fifty thousand human beings,
sufficiently variegated to lead to the suppo-
sition that every baby passes through a
medium of prismatic colors before making his
appearance as a blessing to earth. This
territorial area is just about one-fourth that of
Alaska. Down there land is generally sold by
the square league population and all-that is,
practically. Now we suggest the purchase of
this valuable little piece Of real estate. 1t is
what all the world is aiming at, and what all
the commercial world wants. 1t is the high
way of the nations New Granada would very
willingly sell out her share of it, for she wants
the money to support revolutions. Costa RIGA
might be disposed to sell Nicaragua, and Mica
ragua, to retaliate, would sell Costa RIGA. If
this plan does not work there are plenty of
so-called statesmen there who, taking pattern
after some of our own, would sell out their
countries for q song. There is little doubt
that our astue real estate agent. by putting
into play those qualities for which he is most
famous, couldpurchase the territory we have
mentioned, including its population, providing
we gave the latter the inestimable boon of
niger suffrage.
We earnestly recommend that negotia-
tions be Immediately opened to get possession
of this strip d territory SO essential to us, and
by the time tie papers are drawn up and rati-
fed our United States territory will be I'M
broken from the Polar Sea to the hinge Of
South America