The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-05
r,,r tImES-KICHMOND VA. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5; 1877

Government. and has served the London
Times a. its special correspondent in the
far Past and South Africa ana more re-
GENTLY In Central America. Mr. Colqu-
noun quotes the great German author,
- .s s,viug 4 should wonder 81
80. r-,t,,d states we're 10 let such an
er.rort,,rfty ia escape Of getting such >
,,.orl, INTO their own hands, and as add
a., offer describing the marvellous
.u,t, ~ the United states, and It's
nrobable future intercourse with the Tar
J.aet in such a case, IL Would not ohly
be desirable. but almost necessary thal
more rapid communication shoulu ne
maintained between the Eastern ana
yvcsfern shores Of North America both
t,,, merchant ships and men-of-war than
has hitherto been possible with the
tardv dlsaqreeable. and expensive voyage
around Cape Horn. J. theIeloie' repeat
that IL IS absolutely Indispensable TOT the
United States 20 effect a passage from the
Mexican Gulf to the Pacihc ocean, ana
1 am certain that they VIII 90 IL. MI
Colquhoun also quotes the ElnpeIoI M
poleon H. as saying that the 9lale OF
Nicaragua can become tne ne
cessary route for the great commerce OF
tho ,.orid Tor n Is Tor the United States
The shortest route 20 China and che East
indies and for England and Ito rest or
Furopo to New Holland. Polynesia, and
the rrbole Of the western coast OF
America Mr.. Colquhoun fully admits
the inporfance OF the canal 20 the
limited States and the other American
Renublics and saws. j believe that the
canal can be made. and that long him
dered by political difficulties alone II VIII
now be carried out under the auspices
of the United States Government"
"What is the real attitude OF Great
Britain towards the building or the ca
nalg
THAT has been the subject Of great
deal OF controversy L have no doubt
that Great Britain seeks here, as every
where, as much influence as she can pos
sibly obtain. Although Mr.. COQubOun eK-
presses the opinion that the construction
OF the Nicaragua Canal viii, taken I'm
connection with the vast changes oc-
curing in the far East bring about the
most serious rivalry TO the commercial
supremacy Of Great Britain which she has
had 90 encounter De undoubtedly voices
the furthost claim of British statesman
ship in declaring that In the interest
of the world 10 must bee neutr1lized, and
the true policy of the United states Is
to forward that end and thus make of
this international highway powerful
factor in the preservation of peace.
THAT. however, d. "a question which must
Dee LEFT 90 our own statesmen for deter
miuation. the great object s 90 build a
canal and 10 make lt distIuclively an
American work.
do you believe that the canal would
De as beneficial % the commerce of the
world as has been ci1imed2' concluded
your reporter.
Eyes. indeed. and far more advan-
tagcOus than any one now thinks. My
interest iu the undertaking arises chiefly
from its significance 10 the American
Republics in promoting closer relations
and trade intercourse among them. but
glance AT tine folloying map. The
Bridge OF Commerce of the World pre-
pared for the bureau by Nr. Anderson.
fully suatains the claim that the Nicar3-
qua Canal is fairly entitled to that ape
peiiati0n its importance Co the world
commerce is obviously greater than that
of the Sucz Canal. which has fully de
monstrated its usefulness and its capacity
t0 yield rich returns o. the investors.
The Suez Canal is utilized chiefly for tine
commerce Of Europe. The Nicaragua Ca-
nal would not only bring Europe much
closer 10 the Pacific littoral of the two
Americas and 20 The South Pacific islands
but would De of immense advantage in
shortening distances between the eastern
and western coasts OF North America. the
eastern and western coasts Of South
America, tho western coast Of South
America and The eastern shores OF North
America, and the eastern coast of South
America and tho western shores Of North
America, besides making tributary 10
America the whole field OF Japan. China,
Eastern IndO-Chna. Malaysia, and Aus
tralasia. One of the most interesting
facts in connection with the Asiatic trade
Is tho remarkable advancement OF Russia
by means OF tho Great Siberian railroad
into tho north part OF China. Tho com
plction Of that railroad viii give am inn
mcnsc impetus TO Asiatc trade. from
which tho countries Of the two American
continents would undoubtedly receive
great benefit by means Of n shorter route
10 the AsIatic ports. The Nicaragua route
offers 10 the commerce OF the eastern
ports ~ tho United states trading 10 the
Pacific ports tho advantage OF from
1900 20 1000 miles in distances saved.
and 90 those Of Europe from 03G 10 G100
miles TIE distance saved from New
York by waior 90 san Francisco would
De 0S9i miles; from Liverpool 10 San
Francisco. COOS. From Now York 20
Hong Kong there would De saving Of
1@ miles. 90 Melbourne. Australia. 200
miles These economies in distance
might De multiplied almost indefinitely.
and there seems 90 mo 90 Doe no question
whatever Of the vast commercial import
o al