St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-02-25
THE CANAL.
written for the CALEDox1AN.l

1AlI LIN
From earliest ages, the genius of
man has been exercised in discover
ing methods by which we might
overcome some of the restraints and
modify the conditions imposed upon
us by nature. The knowledge of
the laws of science has thus increased
from year to year, and each generation
has made some remarkable advance
in the application of those laws for
human happiness. Although many
and great have been the achievements
of modern science, an undertaking
begun in 1890 will without doubt
be considered the most gigantic of
all-the Nicaragua canal.
AS all know, the countries of North
and South America are connected by
a narrow neck of land in which is
situated the republics of Central
America. The importance of a pas
sage from the Atlantic ocean to the
Pacific ocean, across this Isthmus,
was recognized very early in the
history of the Western continent.
AS early as the sixteenth century the
subject was agitated, and the need
of it became more and more apparent
as commerce increased. Negotia-
Central America commenced in 1925,
and continued until 1872, when
definite arrangements began to ap-
pear. At that time General Grant,
then president of the United States,
appointed a commission to investi-
gate the subject of inter-oceanic navi-
cation. The report of that commits
sion embraced eight routes, the three
most important of which being by
Tehuantepec in Mexico, Nicaragua,
and Panama. The report of the
commission was unanimous in favor
of the Nicaragua route, which, al
though longer than the others, is so
much more easily utilized as to more
than offset the difference in length.
AS to the Panama canal, a remark
able and quite positive proof of its
impracticability is seen in the fact
that a French company formed by
Mr.. De Lesseps, the originator of the
Suez canal, undertook to construct
it, but utterly failed. A liability of
5000, 900 900 was incurred, many
human lives lost, and yet but me
fourth of the necessary excavation
had been accomplished. After the
Investigation and report by the
Grant commission. the subject re-
.ceived much attention, but nothing
permanent was effected until Dec. 8,
1886, when an association of Ameri-
cans was formed which undertook to
obtain the necessary concessions
from the governments of Nicaragua
and Costa RIGA, and, in general, to
make all required provisions for COM
mencing and communicating the great
work of constructing a ship canal
connecting the two oceans.
Their desires were granted and the
enterprise took on the beginnings of
success On the fourth day of May,
1889, that association formed the
MARITIME canal company of Near
aqua" which is the company now in
charge of the whole work.
In 1887 the state of Nicaragua
granted to the American association
the right to construct and operate
for 90 years a canal large enough
for the passage of such steam vessels
as are used in transatlantic travel,
and allows ten years for the con-
struction and completion of the
work. The canal and its terminal
ports are declared neutral, and
all lands and materials native to
them, needed in the execution of the
work, are, by the grant, placed at
the disposal of the company free of
charge. The length of the route as
laid out is ITO miles, but twenty
seven miles are prepared river chan
mel, and the time estimated for pas
sage of vessels through the canal is