The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-03-25
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
INTERESTING INTER VIEW WITH
THE LATE GOVERNOR STEPHENS.

His Views Regarding tho Great Enterprise.
4 Comparison Between II and the Pan
ANA Route-He Cemmenas It as the Bet
ter In Every Way.
The following interesting interview
with the late Governor Alexander II
Stephens of Georgia is from the New
York Herold of January 18th, 1883. 1t
will he seen that he highly recommends
the Nicaragua ship canal, and presents
many ideas of general and great interest
ATLANTA, GA, January II, 1888
Governor Stephens views upon the ques-
ton of inter oceanic transit, having been
heretofore known for several years
throughout the country, a reporter of the
HerdH called on him to day in Atlanta to
know bis present views as TO the policy OF
our Government at this time in taking
the initiative on this great question.
When, therefore, he was asked for a
statement of his views at present. the
Governor said:
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.
II regard the inter oceanic ship canal
question as one of the most il not the
most important that il presented for the
consideration of Congress NJ this time.
| 1t Is, or as it seems TO me it ought TO be.
evident 10 all, that in the near future a
! highway for the largest vessels between
the Atlantic aud Pacific will be an es,ab.
ished fact The vast amount of com
merce seeking transit in some such
channel will not much longer submit TO
the Journey around Cape Horn. when.
| for a moderate expenditure, say Oue-tcnlh
that incurred last year in railroad eXten
sion on this continent, the voyage be-
tween our Atlantic and Pacific ports can
be shortened many thousands OF miles
very nearly twO-thirds the whole distance
| from New York TO San Francisco. | re-
gret my absence from Washington this
winter as much on account Of the Nicara-
qua canal enterprise as anything else"
TEuUAN~EPEC, NICARAGUA. PANAMA.
Repor,er-Do you consider that the
proposed canal s valuable to the United
States chiefly on account of its com
merCial advantages TO the country
Governor Stephens-The commercial
advantages are certainly very great.
After the acquisition Of California by the
treaty with Mexico in 18is, it was ap
parent TO all observing men there must
soon be some cheap mode Of transporta-
tiOn established between the Western and
| Eastern Statec. Several ideas were pre-
scented. One was direct railroad from
the East TO the West, entirely within The
| init Of fnt At m al
mated cost Of This at that time precluded
the entertainment of such proposition.
/ hree other modes, and only three, had
their advocates All admitted that there
must and would soon be some route
established for the exchange Of The com
mercc Of the Eastern part OF the United
States with the Western The Tehuanie
pee. the Nicaragua, and the Panama
routes all al that time had their advocates
After close study it is well known thai |
advocated as the most feasible, looking
TO cost aud shOrtucSs al route for our
commerce, tho Nicaragua ship canal
route. Ny opinion has not changed.
But these commercial advantages are By
no means al! that should be looked to in
! The accomplishment OF this great work.
I That a canal will be constructed upon
some route, aud within few years. Is a
question that must now be considered a.
| settled, and when constructed, as matter
of course, it must be- under foreign or
| American control.
UNITED STATES CONTROL NECESSARY.
1.-THE United States do not take steps to
have the control Of il the French or the
English will | do not think the United
States should ever allow, by the inertia
Of her policy. France or any other Euro
pean power by superior stalesmanship
or diplomatic policy, 10 get possession or
coatrol of this interoCeluic communica
ton, either under the guise of great
| commercial enterprise or under their own
| flag, as our toll.takers Tae United
States should be independent Of them.
and should, by proper means at their dis
! pOsal, possess themselves OF the most
practicable route that exists for this
lnter-c0mmunication This, in my judg.
menf A. / have said, is via Lake Me
aragua the control OF which is al present
offered 10 Us on most favorable terms
Now is our golden opportunity. II this
Is let slip. never again, perhaps. will 50
favorable a one be offered
There isa I'd, IN the affairs OF men.
/ Whic p, taken at the dO)d. leads on tOiOrtune'
The tide in our favor is now in fan
How II the present opportunity is i'm
proved. as ii should be, the United States
viii, with a policy of high statesman
snip, acquire sll the lights OF control and
management Of this great continental
enterprise, the commercial value Of which
is incalcuiable, and the political value Of
/ which cannot toe now estimated. and |
am decidedly Of the opinion tuat the OPP
! rOTtnniiy thus fortunately offered should
not De permitted to pass without our
securing these ineStimnble twOfold al
y1ntrges.
The measure 10 which refer Is the one
Cor the incorporation OF the Nicaragua
Canal Company, now pending in Con-
gress and which has been favorably
reported On by the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs. and is now awaiting nc.
ton in that body.
Reporier-Wh do you think Of two
transits, the one by Panama, the Lessepa
proposition and also the Nicaragua Z
Do you think then the amount OF business
in the commercial line would justify the
building of these two canals,
NICARAGUA vs.. PANAMA.