The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-04
Is There Sufficient Business to Sup.
port the Nicaragua Canal?

port the Nicaragua Canal?
Joseph Nimmo, jr., the tariff expert,
once chief of the United States bureau
of statistics, contributes to the Wash
ington Post certain facts bearing upon
the question of the construction Of the
Nicaragua canal which open interest
ing possibilities of argument. He
quotes the remark of the Japanese
foreign minister that the importance
of the Hawaiian islands will be i'm
mensely increased by the construction
of the Nicaragua or Panama canal"
and then proceeds to show wherein in
his opinion Count Okuma is in error in
this surmise.
He asserts that the commerce be-
tween Asia and Europe will never de-
sert the Suez for either the Panama or
the Nicaragua canal, and offers as his
reasons for so believing that the pas
sage via the Suez canal is the shorter
route, with coaling stations at con-
venient intervals and with sea level
all the way, while on the contrary the
Nicaragua canal route would involve
220 feet of lockage, an abandonment Of
the beaten path of travel and only one
coaling station (HawaiD between
China, Japan and the American main
land. The lack of coaling stations
along the way would Mr.. Nimmo
thinks, effectually close the Nicaragua
or Panama route to merchant vessels
| deslrous Of going to Europe from ia
pan and Northern Asia, since it would
| necessitate a great disproportion be-
| tween coal and cargo during the 1900
mile run from Yokohama to Greytown
or Panama, and of course Southern
Asia's traffic with Europe is assured
through the Suez canal.
Turning next to the question as to
the possible commerce between Asia
and the United States, Mr.. Nimmo
notes that the distance from New
York TO Calcutta is 1850 miles less by
the Suez route than by the way of
| Nicaragua or Panama; while from
| New York to HongKong the difference
| of $50 miles in favor of the American
canal is Offset by the Suez routes sea
| level and better coaling facilities.
From New York to Yokohama is 300
miles shorter via the Nicaragua than
via the Suez canal: "but just here"
says Mr.. Nimmo, "arises an insupera-
! bic commercial condition which the
proponents of the Nicaragua canal
| persisently ignore. 1t Is altogether
improbable that any considerable pro-
| Of hn 90 To, it 4,
the United States would take the Mic
aragua or Panama route for the follow
ing reasons: The principal imports into
the United States from Japan are tea,
raw silk. and manufacturers of silk
In the future these products, In all
probability, will be imported at San
Francisco and other Pacific coast ports
and thence be shipped east by rail.
The same Is true as to our trade with
China. Let it be remembered that the
centre of population in the United
States is in the state of Indiana, a lit
tie east of the meridian of Indiana,
polls, and that two-thirds of the pop
ulation of this country is located west
Of the Atlantic seaboard states. Our
commerce with Asia in the future will
undoubtedly center at San francisco
and other Pacific coast ports, and
thence be distributed by rail- through
out that vast section OF the country
between the Pacific coast and the At
lantic seaboard states. 1t is absurd
to suppose that the products of Japan
will TO any extent pass through the
Nicaragua or Panama canal to At
lantic seaports of the United States
and thence be shipped west Of the
Allegheny mountains by rail. Anyhow
the magnitude Of our entiro commerce