Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-12-31

traI ermOnG are also neaGeQ Dy Guo
same system. The other cars run on
passenger trains on the Central Yer
mont are warmed by the improved
Baker heater, which is a system Of
heating by hot water pipes. The
Connecticut River road adopted the
Emerson system for heating its trains.
The system of steam heating in use
on the st. Johnsbury and Lake
Champlain Railroad was devised by
Master Mechanic Babb of the Port
land and Ogdensburg Railroad.
The Nicaragua Canal.
1t is more than a hundred and
fifty years since William Paterson
an enthusiastic Scotch merchant,
wrote of the American Isthmus:
ssThis door of the seas and key of
the universe, with anything OF a rea-
sonable management, will enable its
proprietors to give laws to both
oceans and become arbitrators OF
he commercial world" Yet this door
is still closed, Notwithstanding the
vast expenditures of skill and wealth
it has invited, and the great prizes
its opening holds out.
Although it seems like a paradox,
yet it is probably true that the re-
cent collapse of the gigantic French
effort to cut this door through the
Isthmus of Panama will stimulate
and make successful the American
effort to open better one by way of
Nicaragua. Indeed, that effort had
already reached a stage where ultl-
mate success was assured. The col
lapse of the Panama scheme will
only hasten the result. The asso-
citation of American gentlemen which
had obtained a concession from Mica
ragua about two years ago were even
then assured of the inevitable down
fall of the scheme of M. de Lesseps,
and were laying their own plans for
pushing forward the American en-
terprise. In November of last year
thev sent from New York a we'll
equipped expedition, to supplement
and complete former surveys, and to
prepare for actual work. This work
has been done, and the whole subject
| is now understood with scientific eX-
actness. 1t is known now by exact
final SURVEYS that the distance from
ocean to ocean-from Greytown to
Brito-is 169. .67 miles, and that of
this, 14O.68 miles will be free navi-
CATION, and only $3.50 miles of ca
nal in excavation. There will be
12O.5O miles on the River San Juan
and the Lake of Nicaragua, and the
rest of the free navigation IN basins
formed by engineering works care
fully planned and thoroughly prac-
ticable. 1t is known, also, that al
though the work Of constructing the
canal will be of great magnitude, it
will not be one of difficulty. Nature,
which the French found such a for
midale enemy at Panama, the Amer
leans will find friend at Nicaragua.
And not only in the construction,
but in the perpetual use, of the ca
nal will nature work with us, for
Nicaragua is in the heart of the
trade-winds, and will invite and Of
fer special convenience to sailing
ships, while the MINDLESS area in the
vicinity of Panama would constantly
embarrass navigation.
The recent careful investigation
has made it evident that the canaI
can be constructed for ffty-five mil
lions of dollars, while the present
obligations of the Panama Company
are more than seven times that sum.
In view of these facts, the people
: of this country are now looking will
great interest to the actual begin
ming, and hoping for the speedy
completion of this great nationa
work. The parties who are pushing
, it forward ask for no Government
subsidies or concessions, but onl.
seek the action of the Government
, in clothing them with cooperative
, power under the laws of the United
States. Even this is not essentia
but it is very desirable, in order t.
: invest this important enterprise witt
a dignity worthy of its purposes.
{ It seems quite certain now tha
) this s:door of the seas is to be open
: ed at last. 1t is very gratifyin:
that American skill and energy ar
l to accomplish this great work, am
i having opened the door, will prac
: tically retain the key. For if com
t pany chartered by the United State
= Government, directed by America
engineers, and supported by Amer
lean capital, shall first throw ope
this door, through which all the yes
sells of the world, whether unde
y sail or steam. may pass, we shall IL
e deed gain the advantages foresee
4 by the Scotch merchant statesman
= and be able s'to give laws to bot
! oceans and become arbitrators of tn
: commercial world"
The office of Secretary OF Stat
will be no bed of roses during th
V coming four years. According t
q Senator Sherman there are, for il
: stance, the unsettled fisheries ques
/ ton; the smuggling of Chinese in
Il migrants across the Canadian border
# the possibility that England will nc
,r send a successor to Lord Sackville g
e minister to Washington ,and that I'll
:. r.:+oJ C+otac will up.1ar Such cor