The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-04-14
OF LOCAL IMPORTANCE

The Nicaragua canal is brought into
prominence by the troubles that have
recently happened on the Mosquito
coast, and to which place the ill-fated
Kearsage was bound when she was
wrecked. That country is situated
near the entrance of the canal, and 1t
became necessary for the United States
to protect her interests in that regard.
1t is very probable that one of the
fleet in the harbor of Rio will be or
dered to proceed there Immediately
under the command of Admiral Ben
ham, and that no interference will be
permitted either by revolutionisss in the
surrounding countries or from foreign
powers.
The Importance of direct water
communication with the east, by means
!. of this canal, is not fully appreciated
by the people of this coast Exports
of fish, grain, wool and fruit from the
states bordering on the western ocean
are assuming great magnitude, and
any means by which freight rates can
be cheapened will be directly to the
advantage of producers. Mr.. Dosch,
n the paper read before the horticul-
tural society last evening, presented
these facts in a very forcible light,
which must have carried conviction to
the minds of all. Especially is this
true when the fruit export of Eastern
Oregon and the rates now charged for
their transportation to market are
taken into consideration. A carload
of prunes now cost l cent per pound
to New York, and cents to New
Orleans, and this will be decreased
more than one-half when cold-storage
steamers can carry the product. Then
the lessening of the distance to Euro
pean countries of our grain export, it
is estimated will cause a saving to
farmers of over IL cents a busbel.
Another matter of Importance is the
fact that this waterway will open up
new markets for our wheat, fish and
fruit, which is a consideration of the
utmost Importance to producers. Ore
gon in a few years will increase her
fruit crop wonderfully, and if these
can be transported cheaply to consum-
ers it will make the industry more
profitable. The resources of the
northwest are not nearly developed,
and it is wise to advocate those means
which will stimulate their Develop
ment.
1t is very evident that foreign ma
tions have for some time looked an
xiously to cutting canal to join the
eastern and western oceans on this
continent, and with this object in
view the Panama project was inaug-
urated by France. This failed be-
cause of the peculations of the incor
porators, and the United States is the
only country now engaged in solving
the problem. That the Nicaragua
canal should be under the control Of
the United States no American will
dispute. The Monroe doctrine can
be applied to this with beneficial re-
suits, and it is hoped that it will be
strictly enforced. While the Atlantic
seaboard aud Pacific are separated by
such a tortuous route OF water com
there cannot be that COM
mercial reciprocity which is desirable
between portions of the same republic,
and the Nicaragua canal will unite the
east and west in indissoluble bonds.
But no flag should float over the en-
trance and exit but tina. of the stars
and stripes, for it is not desirable that
our merchant marine should pay trib-
ute to foreign potentate in passing
from one ocean to the other. The
project is American in inception and
should continue American after COM
oIot;on