The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-29
THE r CANAL.
Arguments Tor Its Construction from the Ru-
reau OF Americas Republics.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 2s.-The monthly bulletin
Of the Bureau OF American Republics for Sop.
tember will contain an unusually large amount
OF important and interesting touch.
ing upon the trade relations between the United
States and other American countries. Joseph
Z. Smith, the director OF tho bureau. Is making
an effort to interest American merchants in
the work of securing for the United states the
benefit OF enlarged and direct commercial re-
lations with the Central and South American
States, and his scheme OF informing American
capitalists VI the great field for Investment Is
very comprehensive.
ono feature OF the September bulletin is the
chapter devoted to ramie, KS cultivation and
manufacture. 1t Is grown, the bulletin says,
successfully and protitably in many localities
OF South America, Central America, Mexico,
and the United States. The reason why the pro.
duction OF this valuable plant has never passed
beyond the experimental state in those countries
s to be found, the bureau says. in the fact that
there exists on the American Continent no
crude fibre, called technically commercial rams.
The Importance Of the rani'c industry ard its
feasibility are SGT FORTH 81 length.
Director Saith publishes, In tho bulletin the
ttin5rs IN IN h AS SsEis' q SIs Sf frs. Il On ~h %I'9 "nps ie,,Sl
In the bulletin ror lu'y. The present article IS
emit Sn,itISd an .ii'h nnt Canals as : Means Of Inter,
argument in favor of tho construction OF the
Nicaragua Canal. Mr.. Smith gives q succinct
ulSlOlS VI lut various attempts 10 DUtlu u canal
across the isthmus. supplies the statistical and
congressional records OF the Nicaraguan and
Panama Canal projects and the proposed ship
railway across fehuantepec, and publishes 4
table showing the remarkable distances saved
between the shipping points of the world by the
construction by the Mexican Government Of
tho broad gauge railroad across the Mexican
States OF Vera Cruz and OaNaca. Mr.. smith
quotes from a recent report OF Capt. William :.
Merry, the recently appointed Minister to tho
Greater Republic OF Central America, showing
the benefits to he derived by the construction OF
the Ntcarhglan Canal, especially to the rail-
roads of the World. A summary OF the praCti-
cal advantages OF the proposed canal by Lewis
and II member OF the board recently appointed
by President Mckinley TO survey a canal route, is
also given. together with arguments in favor
OF the canal made al various times by John
Sherman in and out OF Congress.
Director Smith refers to the appointment
BY President Mckinley OF the Board OF Survey
to continue the work begun by the appointeeS
OF President Cleveland, and says:
"Their report will doubtless determine def.
nitely the route o. the canal md the probable
cost OF the work. What assistance, II any, will
I've given By the Government OF the United States
to the construction OF the canal Is, OF course, q
But 1t seems clear. from the considerations I
have endeavored 10 set forth. first, that a canal
across tho isthmus, by the most practicable
route. Is the great international necessity Of tho
times: and. second. that it should De built with
the active sympathy and cooperation Ot all the
American republics, as a means Of inteTconti-
mental development and progress along the
lines marked out by the political and CONNER
cial possibilities of u closer union among them"