The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-06-11
Icincinnati Commercial


Public attention, both of America and
Europe, has of late been turned to the con-
gress of international delegates assembled at
Paris to consider the question of uniting
the two oceans by a ship canal at some point
across the isthmus connecting North and
South America This matter of
effectipg union of the two great oceans
of the globe, the Atlantic and Pa
cifc, by an inter-oceanic canal sufficient for
the passage of ships OF any size, is by no
means new or modern suggestion. To us
of the present day it may seem strange that
even the existence of the vast Pacific ocean
was unknown to Christend until only
366 years ago. In 1913 the Spanish advan-
turer BIlboa crossed the Isthmus of Darien,
now known as the Isthmus of Panama, and
was the first of civilized men to LOOK out
upon the wide wastes of the Pacific ocean,
and to make known to the world the ex-
istence of that immensity of waters. As
compared with the great continents that it
\connects and the vast oceans that it divides,
that isthmus. only AZ miles across,
is the merest neck of land. But, narrow as
it is, it compelled the commerce of the
world to pass around the stormy Cape of
Good Hope on the one hand, or of the still
stormier Cape Horn on the other, in order
to reach either Eastern Asia or Western
America OF course the idea of cutting
through that narrow isthmus barrier would
,be an early and natural suggestion. Ac-
cordingly, in 1923, only 10 years after
|Bilboa's discovery of the Pacific ocean, this
idea of an inter-oceanic ship-canal across
that isthmus came to be warmly, enter
ftainly and seriously considered by the mar
thine nations of Western Europe. From
that time forward to the present, that idea
has from time to time been made promi-
nent among the great commercial nations.
In 177S, Mr.. Jefferson took up the subject
with great interest, well foreseeing the
advantages that, if accomplished, it would
confer on the commerce of the world in
general and of this country in particular;
and wrote warmly in its behalf.
The long wars Of Europe that then ensued,
attending the career of Bonaparte, put this
great enterprise out of public consideration
for the time being. But, in 1926, almost as
soon as European tranquility became re-
stored, this matter was again revived, a sur
vey of the isthmus was made and a line of
location run from Portobello on the Allan
TIC, to Panama, on the Pacific. Then, again,
the enterprise was abandoned by reason
of the wars between the South American
Republics, and which involved the locality
in question. In 1S43 the subject was once
more revived, and the United States took an
active interest in the matter.
! Under Governmental appointment
other routes were surveyed, especially the
! one known as the Nicaragua route, by
which the waters of lake Nicaragua were to
be utilized for the purpose. This lake,
Aapout 100 miles long and 40 miles wide, lies
an interior BASIN, having the Pacific
past range of mountains on its west and
be CordiIleras on its east and is itself
about 100 feet higher than the ocean level.
AThe distance between the two oceans by this
Route is no miles, of which the lake itself
would yield about 60 miles, leaving 48 miles
for land cutting, being just about the same
extent of land as that by the Panama route.
These surveys had scarcely been completed
when our war with Mexico broke out and
once again the enterprise was postponed by
reseon of hostilities. Soon afterward the
4 gold discoveries of California and the i'm
mense migration tending thitherward oncs
more directed the attention OF Europe and
! America to the ithmus transit. The sur
lveys previously made were now reported
to our Government and the Nicaragua route
was re commended as the more feasible. The
Government at once proceeded to take
action on the subject, by opening negotia-
lions with England as to the construction of
the proposed canal, in conjunction with the
Republic of Nicarauga. The result OF this
= was that treaty convention was entered
into between the United States and Eng
land for the prosecution OF the enterprise.
By this convention, signed July 4,
1850, it was stipulated that neither Govern
ment should seek nor procure any terrific
rial dominion in connection with the canal,
that the canal should be open to ali ships,
| either naval or mercantile; should never be
! subject to any blockade; and that the ports
IN at each end should be forever free and
neutral ports. Pursuant to this convention
q contract was made between the State OF
4 Nicaragua and New York company OF cap
italIsts for the construction of the canal,
and preliminary operations were COM
menced. But scarcely had the signatures
to this treaty become dried when England
commenced intrigues for the acquisition of
the territory on the Atlantic side, known as
i the .Musquito Coast" by pretended grant
from pretended king, who proved to be a
runaway negro from jamaica and for whose
| enforcement they actually bombarded
Greytown, at the Atlantic mouth of the pro-
| posed canal. OF course this warlike demon
! etration put an end to the great undertaking.
At the same time that this convention be-.
tween this country and England was in pro-
gress, 1850, an American company had
secured grant from New Grenada for the
construction of a railway across the isthmus,
from Limon bay, where Aspinwall now is,
to Panama This work was vigorously pros
ecuted, and was completed in 1855. 1t was
! stipulated under the grant that the company
should build such road as to enable them
" to carry passengers across from ocean to
ocean In II hours. The distance by rail is
~ miles It is now traversed in three hours
! This railway grant is to continue 40 years
from the completion of the road. 1t will
expire in 1904. The Government of New
Grenada reserved the right to redeem the
road by purchase at any time within AZ
end of 40 years of So 600, 600. That road now
carries yearly, besides passengers, about
i $50, 600, 600 of merchandise. .5..
But this though great as its convenience
\ was, did not fully meet the demands o
trade, as it necessitated transhipments il
On, al IN
- their heightened voyages around the south
ernmost capes of Africa and South Americ,
I to reach India and China and the Pacif,
ports of the United States. Accordingly, II
1874, the idea of the inter-ocsanic canal
which had been suspended by reason of gu
civil war was once more revived, and new
surveys were made under the orders OF on
Government. In 1875, during our Nationa