The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-24
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.

The state legislature should lose no time
in memorializing congress TO pass the
Nicaragua canal bill. The objections made
10 It's passage by the Popuists are without
force, since under the pending bill the
power OF the government was reserved in
control Of the operations Of the company.
The government was to own $50, 900 of
the 800, 90, 600 Of stock, and would there
fore have control, SO far as the direction
OF the company was concerned.
The pending bill provides for ten gov
eminent directors out Of fifteen. The
government, as wise and economic act.
q means OF national defense, and special
protection TO the Pacific coast, could az
ford TO build the canal. If there vas no
other way OF obtaining 1t, bu. it is not re-
CURED to build il, it is only asked,
under safeguards that seem to exempt
the public treasury from any possibility OF
loss. TO guarantee The bonds OF the COM
pany which constructs the canal.
Prof. Warehouse, of Washington uni
versity, in his able address before the New
Orleans Nicaragua Canal convention
portance TO the Pacific coast:
The deiense!essness OF our Pacific coast ex-
cites alarm. separated By mountain barriers
and long distances from the main body OF the
American people, our Western frontier IS pecu-
larry exposed to attack. Foreign warships.
anticipating resort 10 arms. could ssil into Pa.
cite waters and alter the outbreak of hostilities
and long before the possible arrival OF our own
feet, ravage coast powerless TO repel their as
no Mt lfrrn y-rfyx
in lew hours effect the destruction, or compel
the ransom, OF ya.ues far greater tnau the cost
OF the Nicaragua canal. AT present the shortest
distance by sea between San Francisco and New
York is five times the width of the Atlantic
ocean. he duration OF long q voyage
would preclude prompt assistance or rapid con-
centration. 4 failure o. our national govern
Inent adequately to defend the people on our
PACING borders might awaken popular dtscon-
tents that would seriously disturb the tranquil
lily OF the nation. Even so loyal and patriotic a
population would justly feel impatient OF any
unnecessary perils 10 which the inertness OF the
government might expose 1t. As the security Of
our coasts largely depends upon the efficiency
OF our navy, the construction OF the Nicaragua
canal would afford the best means OF protect
ing our Pacific states. Through such a waterway
our war vessels could hasten wherever danger
threatened.
GiDuS now plouutEc
OF wine and % 10000 pounds OF fruit. The an
nual commerce of San Francisco is $3.50 OF, 600.
The North Pacific coast yields 50,000,00) bushels
o. wheat, 65,G00,O00 pounds OF WOO. and l6j co.,
COO pounds OF salmon. The total lumber prod
uct oil this region Is es irnated al Loo 000 co.,
90 feet. Such magnitude is too vast Tor the
Imagination 10 grasp. The disappearance OF the
forests of the Northeastern and North Central
states is creating Larger demand Tor this lum-
beg. The rise in the value OF this one product
would, II there were a cheap outlet to the mar
kets OF the world, amount 10 more than the cost
OF the Nicaragua canal. The plenteous harvcsts
which the fertile fields OF the Pacific states yield
far exceed the wants OF their sparse popula-
ton. A much larger portion OF their staples
would be exported If the profits were not con-
summed by high rates OF transportation. If the
Nicaragua canal were Quilt, the great bulk OF
their products would be sent to market by the
cheaper Isthmian route. The domestic com.
merce o! the United States is now more than
S. oOJ 00,000 year, and above three-guarters OF
this vast business is carried on by rail Az
shipments by sea cost on y from fifth to one
ninth as much as transportation by land, it ia
certain that the bulky commodities OF the trade
between the Eastern and Pacific states would be
carried 70 their destination by water. An econ
ony in carriage would divert heavy freights
from rail TO canal.