The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-06
SEATTLE. SATURDAY. FEB. 9.
TO THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THIS COAST.

The speech recently delivered by United
States Senator John b. Allen, in support
of the Nicaragua canal, should be read
with care by every intelligent member
Of his constituency. Senator Allen does
: not exaggerate the resources of this coast !;
nor does he fail to hit the mark when he
pronounces the building of the Nicaragua
canal as absolutely indispensable to the
rapid development of these resources.
The United States has within fifty years
constructed 10000 miles of railroad and
expended millions on the improvement of
her rivers, harbors and canals. Her for
eign commerce during that time has
multiplied eightfoid, and now exceeds
zoo, 100000 per annum; her domestic
trade exceeds many times her foreign
trade. To fully develop her vast territory
and resources it only remains to construct
the Nicaragua canal, which will connect
her 10000 miles OF Atlantic and Gulf coast
line with her 10000 miles of coast line on
the Pacific, now separated by 1900 miles
of stormy and dangerous seas.
The Pacific coast is 5000 miles by land
from the Atlantic ports; the great trans
continental railway lines cannot transport
our agricultural products or raw materials
across the country at charges that leave
fair profit to the producer; only manufact-
ured and high-priced commodities will
bear the cost of transportation. But little
more than 10 per cent. of the business of
the transcontinental lines is through
traffic. On our Pacific coast is q popula-
ton OF 100000 people. who are dis
appointed at the slow development of the
Pacific states. San Francisco is farther
from New York and Liverpool than
any other portion of the world
which enters into competition with
the trade of California. From San Fran
cisco to Liverpool by ''The Horn" the dis
lance In 1900 miles, while Bombay and
Calcutta, via the Suez canal are distant
only 1000 and 5000 miles from Liverpool
If India could today supply the entire
wants Of England and Europe for wheat,
the Pacific states would be entirely shut
out Of that market, and wheat growing for
export on this Coast would cease. But
build the Nicaragua canal and San Fran
cisco 10 brought nearer to Liverpool than
Calcutta.
The Pacific coast contains a million
square miles; the land is fertile. producing
every variety of agricultural product and
fruit; the mountains are rich in
mineral wealth; the forests contain
an enormous supply of the best
timber in the world; the waters TEEN
with valuable food fish-but population
does not increase rapidly, because immi-
grafton prefers TO go into the Northwest,
about the Great Lakes, and into the valley
of the Mississippi, because there they
have cheap water transportation for their
products.
But build the Nicaragua canal and our
Pacific coast is brought 10000 miles nearer
New York. Then commerce between the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts will become
profitable and rapidly grow; the agricult-
ural products and raw materials Of the
Pacific coast can be sent TO good mar
kets; population on the Pacific coast will
double and quadruple in ten years, and
with increased population will come the
rapid development of manufactures.
The building of the Erie canal connect
Ing the Atlantic and the Great Lakes
created the Great West" The COM
merce created by that canal now requires
the services of six trunk lines of railroad in
addition to that which follows the canal
or goes down the st. Lawrence to the sea.
A few years ago the entire commerce GO
ing out of Lake Superior was less than
10000 tons annually The United States
government in 1851 built the Sault Ste
Marie canal with the largest lock in the
world. The result was the development
Of the iron mines; the settlement of the
adjacent wheat lands, and last year 1000
600 tons of traffic passed through this
canal. or 30 per cent. more than passed
through the Suez canal Ex-U United States
Senator Warner Miller cites these interest
Ing and impressive facts and asks the
question, "Can there be any doubt that
she Nicaragua canal will do for the Pacific
coast what the Erie canal has done for the
Central West, or the Sault Ste Marie for
the Northwest"
The Nicaragua canal will put the coal OF
Alabama into the Pacific ocean cheaper
thAeA 'aS-NN Nss thANA NANAaNAs NAS INV wy
ton of the South viii find a market in
Japan. where 100000 Of people now get
from India the cotton which they use as
their chief article of clothing. New Or
leans and Mobile are only go miles from
the eastern entrance TO the canal, which
not only shortens the distance between
the ports on the Atlantic and the Pacific
10000 miles, but also brings the Pacific
coast of North and South America nearly
5000 miles nearer our Atlantic coast than
II does 10 Europe. New York and Liver
pool, by 1.-The Horn" are equa Instant
from San Francisco. viz: 1890 IL s.. and
the same is true Of all other ports on the
Pacific coast by the canal. New York
VIII be distant from San Francisco 400
miles. whilst Liverpool will be distant
from San Francisco 7,eoO miles. or differ
ence in favor of New York over Liverpool
of . 700 miles, and this difference in favor
of New York over Liverpool holds good
As TO all the ports on the Pacide eoas, Of
both North and South America.
Today Europe controls more than three