The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1888-12-25
THE PANAMA CANAL.
defy.

The commerce of the Pacific Ocean is
manifestly nearing a period OF radical
change, corresponding to that which
took place in the commerce traversing
the Indian Ocean, upon the opening of
the Suez Canal. 1t may be considered
quite certain that within five or six
years, if not sooner, commerce will have
abandoned the Cape Horn route, and
nearly all the trade between the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans will pass through
either the Panama or the Nicaragua
canal We take it that the Tehuantepec
Marine Railway project is suspended for
the present, and at any rate will not be
completed until after one or both OF the
canals. The change produced will be a
very great one. 1t will shorten transpor-
tation between Atlantic and Pacific ports
one half on an average. The shortening
OF time and the reduction uf expense
which that implies must greatly increase
the amount of such transportation.
Much of the trade from Eastern Asia as
well as from Australia now seeking the
Suez Canal will be diverted in this d.
rection.
Honolulu has perhaps as great an in
terest in the matter as any other Pacific
port. The opening OF the Isthmus route
will bring our cargoes from Germany,
England and the States in two months
instead of FIVE. The shortened distance
will justify the employment, to a consid-
cradle extent, OF steamers instead OF
sailing vessels. The abridgement OF the
voyage will facilitate and tempt immi-
grafton from the Atlantic ports. Our
trade will be proportionately less confined
to San Francisco, and increased with
Atlantic cities, thereby giving US addi-
tional advantages in the way OF competi-
ton. Besides this direct interest, our
geographical position places us in the
straight route between Asiatic ports and
theIsthmus. There is no land between
Hawaii and Central America Every
ship and steamer on that route will be
likely to sight these Islands. if she does
not call here This viii of necessity be
an important coaling station on SO long
voyage as that across the Pacific. With
an ocean cable, no doubt to be soon laid,
ships will be led 70 call for news, and to
communicate with owners and agents.
No very active imagination is required
to see our offing, after the opening OF the
canal, lively with ocean steamers and
clippers, recalling the days when Homo
lulu was the great rendezvous OF the
whaling fleet.
As great place of call, it seems not
unreasonable to say that no Pacific port
is more interested in the question which
canal is to take the lead. There is one
single condition alone which, for us,
would decide the question absolutely in
favor of the Nicaragua route. 1t is that
the Panama isthmus is infested with
pestilence, while Nicaragua isreasonably
healthy. If Honolulu is to be visited,
perhaps daily, by ships which have just
traversed district where deaths from
Panama fever and yellow fever some
times average scores, if not hundreds a
day, the question becomes very impor-
tant and practical one. On the whole
American coast line there are few such |
breeding places of pestilential levers as
the Panama Isthmus 1t would seem as
if this fact alone should have marked it |
as unfit to be chosen for the inter. ocean |
canal. If we are to receive in the near
future the frequent or even daily calls OF |
vessels, many of them steamers, direct |
from Panama, we shall be compelled to |
cease from that sense of security which |
we have hitherto enjoyed.
For the use of sailing vessels, another
most serious objection exists to the
Panama canal 1t is in the region Of the |
doldrums. Protracted calms prevail in
the Bay of Panama, often OBTAINING ships
in that vicinity for many weeks. Near
aqua, on the other hand, is in the region
of the fresh as well as healthy trade
winds. ship may commonly lay her
course from there to Honolulu, with |
scarcely pull on the braces. OF course
Hawaiian preferences will not affect the
success of either canal. We cannot help /
the belief, however, that the disparaging
remarks OF the Panama Star upon the
Nicaragua enterprise, which appears in
this present issue, were dictated by
jealousy rather than based upon actual |
facts. Greater obstacles to canal con-
struction may exist upon that route than
have yet been disclosed. 1t seems i'm
possible. that they can approximate to /
equality with those which grow out OF |
the enormous rainfall OF the Panama /
region, and the consequent floods which
nearly defy the ablest engineering to |
protect the canal, which is compelled to |
follow the lowest ground. Partial defeat |
is already acknowledged in the abandon
ment OF the Wanted deep-cut plan, and
the adopting of locks instead It looks
very much as if absolute defeat might |
not be far distant.