The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-01-08
The Nicaragua Canal.

VI right Ol way through That country fO
the construction of an inter oceanic cans
are condensed into the following para
graphs
/. The United States shall build cana
across the Isthmus of Nicaragua tue cana
to be under the joint ownership of th
United States and Nicaragua.
?. Perpetual alliance between the tw
countries, the United States guaranteein,
the integrity Of Nicaragua's territory.
s. Nicaragua grants to the United State
right of way, by land and water. for tn,
canal. for railroad and for telegraph lines
the United States to indemnify privat,
owners if their property is taken.
4. Strip of land two and half mile.
wide along the line of the canal is to b.
Jointly owned by the two countries, Mica
ragua to have civil jurisdiction over it.
.. The canal tolls are to go two-thirds
to the United States and one-third to Mic
aragua.
u. The United States to loan Nicaragua
$4,000 COO, to be paid lin frequent install
ments. The loan is to be repaid from
Nicaragua's share of the canal tolls.
Nicaraguaisp prohibited from levying any
eustom-house duties on passengers, vessels
or cargoes passing through the canal, but
that nation may enforce q police system
along its course. The United States is to
have exclusive control Of the work of con-
struction, but contracts may be enforced
and the work shall be protected under the
laws OF Nicaragua. Nicaragua agrees to
eXtingish in due form such rights as may
have been acquired by any other nation
under any previous treaty, which will in
clude the. abrogation Of the Clayton Bull
wer treaty.
In his message to the Senate accompany
ing copy Of the treaty, President Arthur
commends the project of this inter oceanic
communication as well as dispelss some of
the misconceptions relating to it. The
openingup Of the immense territory west
OF the Mississippi valley and the rapid de-
velopment ofsbusness and trade upon the
Pacific slope have made water communi-
cation between the AtlanticFand Pacific
coasts a necessity, and since it is physi.
cally impossible to effect such commu-
nlcatlon within our own territory. the sim
gnlarly advantageous terms offered us by
neighboring friendly poweris truly for
tunate. Notwithstanding the excellent
facilities secured to US through the enter
prise of private citizens blythe railroad
lines between the two oceans, still they are
inadequate to all the requisites of inter
State commerce, and for all maritime
purposes, the Atlantic and Pacific States
are more widely separated than Europe is
from the former or Asia from the latter.
We possess a sea-coast line upon either
ocean, including the gulf of Mexico and
the Alaskan coast, of 10, 900 miles, Within
a generation the western coast has deyel-
oped into an empire, with rapidly in
creasing population and almost unbounded
natural resources, bidding fair within the
present century to rival the eastern coast.
Besides these considerations, the nations
of South America upon the Pacific coast
will be brought into close connection with
our Atlantic and Gulf States by means of
this great enterprise. Those States afford
q natural market for products of the
United States, but the present slow means
OF communication with them has made
trade with them impracticable. BY pierre
ing the Isthmus Of Panama with a water
channel, the hitherto insuperable obstacles
OF time, sea and distance disappear and our
vessels and productions will enter upon the
worlds competitive field with decided
advantage OF which they will avail them
selves. When to this is joined the large
coasting trade between the Atlantic and
Pacific states which must necessarily
spring up, it is evident that this canal af-
fOrds even alone an efficient means of re-
storing our flag to its former place on the
seas. Such a domestic coasting trade
would arise Immediately, for even the
fishing vessels of both seaboards, which
now lie idle in the winter months, could
then proft2bly carry goods between the
eastern and the western States y Under
the head Of the pecuniary prospects of the
canal, the President says:
The pecuniary prospects of the canal as
an investment are subordinate to the great
national benefits to accrue from it. but il
seems evident that the work, great as its
cost may appear, will be measure of pru-
dent economy and foresight if undertaken
simply to afford our own vessels free
waterway for its far reaching results
will, even within the few years of the life
of. nation, amply repay the expenditure
by the increase Of national prosperity
Further, the canal would lmquestionably
be Immediately remunerative. 1t offers a
| shorter sea voyage with more continuously
! favoring winds between the Atlantic ports
Of America and Europe and the countries
of the east than any other practicable route
and with lower tolls, by reason of it's lesser
| cost, the Nicaragua route must be the
! inter-ocean highway for the bulk of the
world S trade between the Atlantic and the
Pacific. So strong is the consideration
and it offers abundant guarantee for the
investment to be made as we'll as for the
speedy payment of the loan of $4,OOO,OO(
which the treaty stipulates shall be made
to Nicaragua for the construction of inter
nal improvements to serve as aids to the
business Of the canal.
There are of course some criticisms az
to the terms of the treaty and some proph
ecies of evil as to it's probable effects, but
the great weight Of public opinion favor;
the acceptance of this very liberal PROPOSE
ton of a foreign State as a most advan
tageous and henefcent offer to this coun
try. While we have adistrust of the gov
eminent doing that which private enter
prise may do and have insisted upon this
principle. vet there are occasions whel
necessity compeis one To throw aside wha
is absolutely right for the relatively best
After TIE Credit Moblier experience will
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