The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-11
OUR NEED OF THE NICARAGUA CANAL.


It Would Neutralize the Advantage Which
the Suez Canal Gives to Europe.
Hon. Warner Miller. in Engineering Magazine.
The construction of the Suez canal has
secured TO the commerce Of Great Britain
and southern Europe great advantages
Although less than half century ago
Great Britain protested against Its con-
struction and hindered il by diplomatic in
reference, because of her apprehension
that the canal would be detrimental to her
commercial and military interests. yet she
to-day Is the largest owner of Its shares.
the greatest GontrI butor to Its revenues and
it's greatest beneficiary. An annual report
of the Suez Canal Company shows that dur
ing the period from 1870. when the canal
was opened to business. to 1887, the COM
merce of England with the Orient IN.
creased from 1851, 000. coo to S752. 000, OOO q
gain of over 40 per cent IN seventeen years,
while the increase of her commerce with
the entire world during the same time was
but II per cent. All this proves the rapid
development of her Oriental commerce on
canal To the Suez canal must also be at
tributed the development of commercial
undertakings which otherwise might have
been wholly neglected. The increase of
companies trading with east Africa may
fairly come within this category.
The Suez canal was not without It's effect
upon the commerce OF America. Once New
York was substantially as near to Chin a
and japan as was Liverpool, but the open.
ing OF the SueZ canal made Liverpool prac.
tically 2, 200 miles nearer than New York.
With the opening of the Nicaragua canal.
New York will be once more as near by
available routes as Liverpool to China,
nearer by one thousand miles to Australia,
two thousand miles nearer to Japan, and
2700 miles nearer to the ports of the Pacific
COASTS of South America. which are now
practically as near to Liverpool as they are
to New York. The advantage of the gulf
ports of the United States over LIVERPOOL
or any European port will be- greater by
seven hundred miles than that of New
York. lnasmuch as they are that much
nearer the eastern port of the canal
The opening of the Nicaragua canal will
provide gateway and direct route be.
tween the Atlantic and Pacific for the COM
merce OF the world, but especially for the
commerce of the United States. The wheat
neets which now annually take their LONG
and stormy voyage around Cape Horn from
California. Oregon and Washin gton to the
markets of Europe. will find their route
shortened by One-half the distance. and ex.
empt from more than one-half it's perils,
hardships aud discomforts. The same al
vantages. though in lesser proportion. will
be realized by European trade with the
Pacific ports of South America, with Aus.
traiia. New Zealand. and with the islands
of Australia and the Pacific ocean. The
canal will make saving in distances
traversed between ports. rs regards Eu-
rope, of from /, 900 to 5000 miles: as regards
the eastern ports of the United States. from
5000 to 10. 700.
10 European commerce the event of the
completion OF the Nicaragua canal would
be merely one of increased economics and
further gains. TO the United States IL rs
of far greater Importance. Europe. by op-
ening an ocean route across the isthmus of
Suez. has gained an advantage over earlier
conditions to which natural advantages
and energy of character are not an ade-
qnate Offset The equilibrium under which
this growth WAS made has been distur bed
by the construction of the Suez canal in
the East, and can only be restored By the
construction of the Nicaragua canal in the
West. This new construction may, and
probably will. permanently overbalance
the scale as much in favor of America as is
now turned in favor of Europe.