Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-29
THE NICARAGUA CANAL A LEADING Me-
CRSSITY TO SAN FRANCISCO.

through all Its moCee ana DOunu6, IL IN
q condition of unrest. It is felt that
there are before this commonwealth vast
possibilities, but that, to the contrary
Notwithstanding, she is in plight
which can only be adequately described
as one OF arrested development. This
feeling OF diequietude and anxiety is
perhaps felt more poignantly just now
in San Francisco than in any other por-
ton of California, and 1t is taking the
shape of at least nominal interest in
the coming Salt Lake railway, which
San Franciscans hope to defect to their
city, and in the Nicaragua canal. Both
are laudable projects, and if San Fran
cisco monocrats will only open their
purse-strings and back words with deeds
all quarters of the state will heartily
hope that their aspirations as to both
may be realized. The same impetus
that secures to San Francisco railway
from Salt Lake City will secure it to Los
Angeles. only it will come to us much
more quickly. We are secure of Salt
Lake road at an early day, while it is
only a speculative proposition ss to
whether San Francisco gets one at any
date that will be of service to any of the
older race of business men.
The Nicaragua canal project stands
entirely on its own footing, and that is
highly meritorious one. The conven-
tion which assembled in st. Louis on
the first of the current month was re-
markable representative body. 1t en-
braced distinguished gentlemen from
every state of the Union. Although the
people of St. Louis and Missouri were
only interested in it to the extent that
they are the central city and central
state Of the country, they sustained the
project with enthusiasm. They cor
rectly thought that whatever would
benefit the nation. would rebound to
their own advantage :. Governor Fran
cis greeted the delegates in speech of
great grace and force. Ex-Governor
Stannard presided overits deliberations.
Luminous presentments OF the merits
of the project were made by such men
as ex-senator Miller of New York, our
own Estee and many other gentlemen
of note.
There is absolutely no earthly reason
why this project should not receive the
encouragement of the congress of the
United States. As has been frequently
pointed out, it. would double the
strength of our navy, for one thing. 1t
would be another link in the chain
binding the states together by indissol-
uble bonds. To the Pacific Coast it
means great things amongst others, the
doubling of our population inside of
ten years. To California alone it would
signify population of three million souls
inside of luatrum. It would not only
mean a greatly increased population,
but an increment of our wealth in the
arithmetical ratio.
As to San Francisco, the fate of that
city, which ought to be imperial, de-
pends on the building of the Nicaragua
canal, and it is absolutely essential to
her continued prosperity. 1t is a case
of grounding or no meat in her case.
Her merchants, have allowed her old
time trade to pass from her. By q sa-
gacious policy she might have retained
it. She could have built railroads to
control the trade of Washington, Ore
gon, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Ari-
zona, which she has. irrecoverably lost.
and she could have projected lines of
steamships to the Orient and to the ISL
auds of the sea. She has not done this
and must take the consequences. But
che can redeem herself by plunging in
earnest into the work of insuring the
completion of this great national and
international work.
She has for years taken toll in mere
wantonness from all comers, with no
thought or heed of the agony of her vic
Tins. She must get out and work, not
for continued supremacy, which has
gone from her at least as respects the
present generation, but for her exist
ence. She is at last alive to this neces-
sity. Every voice on the Pacific coast
ought to be raised to aid her, for work
ing in unison with her they can al
themselves and the whole country. We
are not making an argument to apply to
New York or other eastern COM
munities, but to the cities and towns OF
the coast. The San Francisco capital
ist especially ought to begin to work
like roustabout to create new sources
of commercial riches to replace those
which he has unthinkingly allowed to
take unto themselves wings.