Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-07-16
THE INTER-OCEANIC CANAL PRO-
JEOT.
Its History from the Beginning.
Cur Governments Approval of the
Nicaragua Route
The Recent Action Of the Paris Con.
greSSs
Our Policy i'm Regard to 1t.

The Recent Action of the Paris Com
gress.
Our Policy i'm Regard to 1t.
The question of an inter.ocea canal across
the Isthmus has been again brought to the
attention OF the country by the proceedings of
the Inter-oceanic Canal Congress which re-
Gently met In Paris, and by the dissatisfaction
In this country at the adoption of what Is
known as the Wyre-B -Bonaparte plan for such a
canal by the congress- 1t Is not, however, too
late, by any means, for the United States to
take this matter into serious consideration, and
the indications are that at the next session of
Congress the very important questions as to
how this country is to act in relation to that
work, and whether it had not itself better
create tnter-Oceanic communication, will De
action is likely to be taken The subject is one
OF great interest and Importance, and has ever
been so considered since the discovery of our
continent. A comprehensive and interesting
MEMOIR OF INTER-OCEANIC COMMUNICATION
Is that prepared by Professor j. E. Nourse, U.
s. N. The project, Prof. Nourse says in an
official report, links itself by analogy to the
ages running back beyond even the Christian
era. Before the discovery of the American con-
tnent the Span1ards were convinced that they
had reached Asia by different route than that
neous supposition, % the next question @ on which
attracted their attention was how to find a
passage across the new continent that might
lead to the goal-Asia. A strait connecting the
Atlantic and Pacific was sought, but not found.
Then the construction of an artificial means of
communication began to be considered. Ii Spain
had, In the zenith OF her power, and with the
we, will build canal across the continent, that
water way or system OF water ways would have
been accomplished; but Ferdinand and Isabella
were succeeded by ruler who sought glory in
among his people, and In his immense outlying
dominions. The project of canal across the
Isthmus since the age Of Balboa was among
Spain's people ever present. In the wayside
inns when traveller from the New World
CHANGED to enter after asking about the won
ders that had there been unfoided, the question
great things would happen If they could be
joined. But the Spanish government cared
nothing for 1t. The long wars OF the Spanish
monarchy and the eternal crushing Of the peo-
pie almost consigned the very idea to oblivion.
SPANISH SURVEYS.
The great Isthmus was, however, explored by
the Spanish government for its own purposes;
its recesses were traversed, and the lines of
communication which we know to-day were
then noted. Spain did not divulge her surveys;
and Notwithstanding that in 1916 the naviga-
b1ltty OF the San Juan nver-which will be one
was demonstrated by descending it with five
Dr1gS no efforts were made to improve it nor in
qu1ry instituted as to the practicability of
canal, partly through it, from sea to sea. Re-
ports occasionally made resulted In single
reading and their consignment to the archives
Spain was jealous OF rivals who began to press
ousy refused to other nations a thoroughfare
across the possessions in regard to which she
kept the world SO long In ignorance.
ENGLISH SURVEYS.
England saw In the canal severance Of the
country from Spain, and endeavored to d.
something In that direction. She caused sur
veys to be made secretly In the eighteenth GEN.
tury. In 17s6 Captain, afterwards Lord Nelson,
conveyed strong force OF men to San Juan de
Nicaragua, upon what proved to be diSaS-
trous expedition, to conquer that country. IL
was only In 1914 that the Spanish Cortes de
creed the opening Of canal; decree deferred
and never executed.
PROPOSAL OF THE CENTRAL AMERICAN STATES
TO OUR GOVERNMENT.
AS soon as Spains South American colonies
secured their independence in the first quarter
OF the present century, the Central Americas
states showed themselves to be alive to The i'm
POI, poItance ,aI OF the canal 4 proposal from those
OF State, by Minister CanoZ asking cooperation
In constructing canal. This was the first time
that the attention OF the U. s. government was
representative, Mr.. Williams, In February, 1926,
to ascertain II surveys had been made; II conf
dence could be placed in their accuracy, and
detailed report In this connection appears to
have been made, doubtless in consequence of
the then unsettled state of the country; and no
survey was offered.
THE NEXT STEP
was the Offering OF q scheme to the "Confedera-
ton OF the Center" from the American house OF
Messrs. Palmer & Co., OF New York, which was
sident OF the United States, De Witt Clinton and
other prominent men OF New York. Under the
direction OF President Adams, Mr.. Clay gave in
70 5mSse gyen to
States sent to Panama. IN 1928
THE KING OF THE NETHERLANDS
proposed to undertake the work If q survey
should show its practicability. The Dutch
General, Verveer, came over with instructions
to undertake the canal. He found Central
America in the midst OF one OF her incessant
revolutions. The matter was thus deferred
and the liberal offers OF the Dutch government
were not finally closed. In 1886 the favorable
disposition OF General Morazan, president of
to employ, on survey, Mr.. John Bailey, r. NJ,
long resident of the country. His explora-
tfOns were chiefly confined TO the Pacific side,
with some observations on the San Juan River.
His work was brought to a close by the dis5olu.
tion OF the federal government. His surveys,
however. populartzed the idea of a canal in
Nicaragua, under the house of Palmer Co.,
OF New YORK, heretofore mentioned. Civil
Engineer, o. w. Childs, of Philadelphia, began
survey on the Pacific side In August, 1850,
which was very valuable, but, unfortunately,
incomplete. The latest concession by Nicara-
gua-that granted to M Chevalier In 1859
proposes International guarantees OF the three
great powers-the United States, England and
France-and an International association to
execute the work. Capital, however. for any Of
the routes proposed can doubtless be secured
by our citizens on the showing OF the practi-
cability of the route, at what would be called
even IL our own day moderate cost.
The u. s. Surveys
The surveys made under the government OF
the United States are best outlined. and the
different routes commented on in the report and
accompanying memoranda or the Inter oceanic
Canal commission, appointed by the President
OF the United States In 1872. The commission
consisted OF Andrew A. Humphries, then chief
OF engineers, U. s. A.; c. Z. Patterson, SUPER
intendent OF the U. S. Coast Survey, and Daniel
Amman, then commodore U. s. n, and chief
OF bureau Of navigation, Navy department. The
report, Which has never, until now been pub
lished, was as follows:
THE commission appointed to consider the
subject OF communication by canal between the
waters OF the Atlantic and Pacific oceans across
over, or near the 1Sthmus connecting North and
South America, have the honor, after long,
careful, and minute study OF the several surveys
OF the various routes across the continent un-
animOuSly to report
l. That the route known as the Nicaragua
route" beginning on the Atlantic SIDE at or
near Greytown: running by canal to the Sa