Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-29
UNITED STATES CONTROL OF TIE
COMMERCIAL WORLD.

/ dIoSdu Cdudl pIOyoCt ID dL0duy uluo
way. Equipments have just been sen
from New York, and there is every likeli
hood that within six months thousand
of men will be employed in constructing
| the canal.
It is more than n hundred and fit,
years since William Patterson, an enthu
siastic Scotch merchant, wrote Of tn
American Isthmus: "This door of tn,
seas and key of the universe, with any
thing of a reasonable management, will
enable its proprietors to give laws to boil
oceans and become arbitrator Of thu
commercial world" Yet this door is still
closed, Notwithstanding the vast expen
ditures 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 recent
collapse of the gigantic French effort tt
cut this door through the Isthmus Of
Panama will stimulate and make sue.
cessful the American effort to open a bet
ter one by way of Nicaragua. Indeed
that effort had already reached a stage
where ultimate success was assured. The
collapse of the Panama scheme will only
hasten the result. The association OF
American gentlemen which had obtained
a concession from Nicaragua about two
years ago were even then assured of the
inevitable downfall of the scheme of M.
De Lesseps, and were laying their own
plans for pushing forward the American
enterprise. In November, 1887, they sent
from New York a well-equipped expedi-
ton, 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
exactness. 1t is known now by exact
final surveys that the distance from ocean
to ocean-Greytown to Brito-is 1899
miles, and that of this, 14O.6S miles will
be free navigation, and only $3.50 miles
of canal 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 carefully planned and
thoroughly practicable.
1t is known, also, that although 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 formidable enemy at Pana-
ma, the Americans will find a. friend at
And not only in the con-
struction, but in the perpetual use of the
canal will nature work with us, for Mic
is in the heart of the trade-winds,
and will invite and offer special conven-
fence to sailing-ships, while the wind
less area in the vicinity Of Panama would
constantly embarass navigation. The
recent careful investigation has made it
that the canal can be constructed
Tor $55,OOO,OOO. while the present obliga-
ions of the Panama company are more
than seven times that sum.
In view of these facts, the people of
his country are now looking with great
interest to the actual beginning, and
for the speedy completion of this
great national work. The parties who
re pushing it forward ask for no gov
'rnment subsidies or concessions, but
My sought the action of the government
n clothing them with corporate power
lnder the laws of the United States.
Even this is not essential, but it is very
Lesirable, in orker to invest this impor-
ant enterprise with a dignity worthy Of
is purposes. 1t seems quite certain now
hat this "door of the seas" is to be
pened at last. 1t is very gratifying that
.merican skill and energy are to accom-
lish this great work, aud, having opened
be door, will practically retain the key.
or if a company chartered by the United
tates Government, directed by Ameri-
an engineers, and supported by Ameri-
an capital, shall first throw open this
Oor, through which all the vessels of the
orld, whether under sail or steam, may
ass, we shall indeed gain the advan-
'ges forseen by the Scotch merchant
'atesman, and be able ito give laws to
9TH oceans and become arbitrator of
le commercial world"