Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-08-23
Why the Canal Will Doubtless be
Rnilt.

The de I-eSSepS Darien canal Scneme seems 10
have completely collapsed, and II may be, we
suppose regarded as practically abandoned,
unless the arrival of the talented and ener-
getic little Frenchmau in America should give
the movement q fresh boom. just what caused
its quietus Is little hard to tell. The failure
to get stock taken must have been, however,
due to distrust Of the particular project pro-
posed by NJ. de LesSeps, rather than to want OF
confidence In ship canal between the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans as general proposition.
There might have been and doubtless was an
apprehension that the path chosen was not
feasible one; but there are many reasons for
believing that a canal opened on wisely
selected route between the two seas, under
proper sanction and authority, and with due
regard to economy, would become almost at
once an entire financial success as well as an
instrument OF great service to the commercial
world.
That such an expectation is not an unreason-
able one is abundantIy shown by the history OF
the Suez canal In spite of all the drawbacks
and difficulties attending the construction OF
that work, and notwithstanding its very great
cost, 1t is now profitable enterprise, and bids
fair to become more so every year. From the
time OF It's opening up to the latest period OF
which any statistics have been furnished there
has been, with the exception Of single season
only, q steady and considerable increase In both
the number and tonnage Of vessels passing
through the canal, and In Its clear revenues as
well. Its net annual receipts now represent
profit OF upwards OF five per cent. on the capt.
tai OF the company, and II Is confidently claimed
that the future Will showa still larger profit
than the figure named. This expectation does
not seem to be unfounded when 1t is remem-
bered that larger number OF vessels yet go
around the Cape OF Good Hope than pass
through the canal each year, and that any In
crease from this source must represent almost
net revenue since the expenses of maintaining
the work will be little II any greater with an
enhanced business than they are now. And
aside from the earnings Of the canal itself, the
lands acquired by the company, together with
those reclaimed. under its charter, are very val
liable and must In time become asource OF great
wealth. Curtously enough, too, while the an
nual receipts from the canal tra11c rise far
above the sums estimated for the first few years
of its existence, the cost OF keeping 1t in repair
has so far fallen considerably below the amount
which was originally estimated to be necessary
for that purpose.
In view OF these facts, and considering also
the fact that at times the shares In the Suez
Canal sold down to almost nothing, 1t Is not
strange that many well Informed persons
believe that a water way separating the two
great continents of the western hemisphere
would become not only useful but q highly
profitable enterprise. On the other hand 1t will
be strange If the requisite capital and energy do
no not come forward to begin the work at an
early day and carry 1t to completion as speed
lily as possible. 1t may not follow any OF the
routes favorably received at present, but that
there will be a canal connecting the Atlantic
and Pacific ocean somewhere through the mar
row strip Of land now dividing them may be
set down as one OF the certain achievements Of
the not very far future.