Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1881-12-09
rmE PANAMA CANAL

L4u I9hotA ~ - 18
water level through the Isthmus Of
Dsrien from ocean to ocean, his e.
pressed desire vas that the great work
should be prosecuted under the auspices
and control Of the United States govern.
ment. Other nations might DO per-
mittsd to assist financially. but hs de-
sirsd IL to bs essentially an American
enterprise. De Lssseps was lionizsd
and banqueted by commercial societies,
leading capitalists and mercantile. pub
lio.spiritsd men generally. on both sides
OF the continent. and the encouragement
offered TO him was really quite snthusi-
astic. He felt that his great xork was
an assured fact and that the sntsrpris-
ing Americans would back him up TO
almost any extent. He had net much
more than taken his departure fer Eu-
rope, however. before the enthusiasm
died out, aided by the active discussion
Of other projects for in~isroesanic COM
nunicstion. The old scheme for . ship
canal across the /! Niearaguan isthmus
was revived, and General Grant and
other leading authorities said that was
by far the best. cheapest and most feas-
ibls route. In fact. Grant pronounced
IL the only feasible route. Even Cap.
tain Esds OF Mississippi jetty fame came
out with Q wonderful plan for transport.
ing ships across the Isthmus Of Tshuan-
tspeo. high and dry on . big railroad
and cars made strong enough for the
purpose.
Both projects were freely discussed
and gradually abandoned. and De Les.
seps in his native country, France. heard
with sorrow and surprise that American
enthusiasm had subsidized into indiffer.
encs 30 far a. his Panama canal scheme
wa concerned. He set himself 10 work
q. once securing the requisite funds. and
his success ID demonstrated In the fact
that tho great work 10 actually COM
msnced. Nobody now prououncss II an
unfsasibls work. but quite the contrary.
Latest dispatches from the scene Of &C.
ton say that the surveys and general
examination Of the engineering obstacles
to be overcome demonstrate them to 30
less formidable than was always sup.
posed. A recent Paris dispatch men
tons that at . recent meeting OF the
Consultative Commission. convened by
Dc Lssseps, the opinion was expressed
that the nature Of the soil Of the 18th
mus OF Panama affords the hope that
considerable OF the estimated expense Of
construction will DO saved and working
much facilitated.
And now that the canal has been
commenced. with . very reasonable
likelihood Of being carried through
SUCCESSFULLY to completion. comes up the
question Of national or international
right. involving the Monroe doctrine.
Our government has deemed II neces-
sary to officially notify the other prin-
cipal maritime nations Of what We con-
slider and declare TO DO q exclusive
rights in the matter; that when the
canal il completed, although not con-
structed by rs or with much Of our
assistance. II will be under q jurisdic.
ton, and We shall take II within our
protectorate and DO the sole admins
traitor Of its neutrality. Moreover. that
We cannot consent to England. France.
or any other European nation. becoming
parties to the neutrality contract. Sec.
rotary Blaine evidently intended to give
fair notice Of our intentions in this mat.
ter. and that on the completion Of the
canal, 10 our government should deem Il
prudent for our own safety against ag-
eressive nations, to secure its neutrality
by force Of arms. Notifications, or any
other effective means. we shall do 30
without asking their consent.
Ben Butler does not favor the con-
struction OF this canal. for the reason
that English ships already monopolizs
the commerce OF the Atlantic coast OF
America, and when the canal is COM
plstsd they will sail through and take
command OF the m Of q wsst-
ern coast as well. He evidently does
not relish the idea that We may have to
enforce the Monroe Doctrine BY force Of
arms when We have no navy to back up
our pretensions. Should our govern
msnt take an active part in the eoustruc-
ton Of that canal we could assume 10
guarantee its neutrality and enforce the
Monroe Doctrine with q much greater
degree and appearance Of consistency.
In his recent message President Arthur
briefly alludss to this important matter
~ follows:
The questions growing out OF the
proposed Inter- Oceanic water way across
the Isthmus Of Panama are OF grave ma
tional Importance. This government
has not been undutiful OF the solemn
obligations imposed upon II by its COM
pact OF lSi6 with Colombia % the indie
pendent and sovereign mistress OF the
territory crossed by the canal, and has
sought TO render them effective by fresh
engagements with the Colombian Re-
public. looking to the practical execu.
ton Of the negotiations to this end. AZ.
ter they had reached what appeared to
be . mutually satisfactory solution here,
we're met in Colombia BY the disavowsi
Of the Powers which its envoy had as.
sumsd and BY . proposal OF renewed ne
Rotiations on q fortified basis. Mean
while. the government learned that CO.
TT. IL -.x--..l A. Al. Eu.oa...