The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-01
rHn AICARteUaN cANAL.
Director smith Thinks 1t VIII be ADJ
ynnced,

The Bureau Of American Republics Will
issne a bulletin on the Nicaragua canal
In a few days Director Smith. the au-
thor of the bulletin, I'm reply 10 qucs-
tion, said that he believed the present
administration wo'ld prosecute the Nica-
raglan canal enterprise.
"YOu regard the Nicaragua canal then.
as something more Than q scheme or mere
partisan issue
Yes. indeed. u Is clear 10 me that II
ought not to be considered In a specula-
the light al all and n has never been
a party question. No one can say now
how FAR II is proper for the Government
of the United Statcs 20 go in assuming
for II ought 90 be built with tho co-ope-
ration and active support Of all the Amer
fcan countries cOucerucd. AS TO the party
aspect Of the matter, glance az tht
platforms Of the two great parties iO'
many wears back Will show that the Mica
raglian route has commended itself equal
IN 10 both The Republican platform ot
1883 expressly endorses the Nicaragua
canal Ii will be remembered that Major
Mckinley was u9mher Of the commlt, +,
that il was unanimously adopted by the
convention The bfmocratic platform OF
1872 was also cmphatlc.
TO these Official declarations Of the
party platforms may be added lons
series of quotations from our leading
ENNNf."iiliii Niii'i NNNhN'N' '''ff'r
I'm affirmation Of the same geheih Ioh,l
n may be said. indeed that every Presi-
dent Of the UnitodlStates from the time
Of Mr. Monroe has Favored the construc-
tion OF "a canal acrbas the isthmus under
American ouspices.l The canal would be
more beneficial TO Hhe commerce Of the
world than any Ond now THINKS
Its inheritance t0 the worlds commerce
Is obviously greater than that OF the
Suez canal, which has fully demonstrated
it's usefulness and fits capacity 10 Yield
rich returns TO thq investors. The Suez
canal is utilized clt fly for the commerce
OF Europe The Nicaragua canal would
not only bring Eurapo much closer 10 the
Pacific iittoral ~ the two Americas
and 10 the Southi Pacific Islands, but
could be OF immense advantage IN short
ening distances be1reeu the eastern ana
western coasts OF North America. the
eastern and western coasts or South
America, the western coast or South
America and the eastern shores OF North
America. and the eastern coast OF South
America and the western shores of North
America. besides making tributary TO
America the whole field OF Japan emma
Eastern Ido-China, Malaysia and Aus
tralasia.
zone of the most Interesting facts In
connection with the Asiatic trade is the
remarkable advancement Of Russia by
means Of the Great Siberian railroad into
the north part Of China. The compieloh
OF that railroad viii give an immense
impetus 10 Asiatic trade. from which the
countries Of the two American continents
would undoubtedly receive great benefit
by means OF a shorfr route 10 the Asiatic
porte
"The Nicaraguan route offers 10 the
commerce Of the eastern ports or tne
United States trading to the Pacific ports
the advantage Of from 5000 to about To-
600 miles in distance saved and 20 those
of Europe from OBS 20 6,l00 miles. The
distance saved from New York by water
10 san Francisco would DE 0S9t miles
from Liverpool TO San Francisco, Gm6.
From New York TO Hong Kong there
would be a saving Of 4.i63 miles; to Mel
bourne, Australia. 1920 miles. These
economies I'm distance might be multiplied
almost indefinitely and there seems "a
me to be no question whatever Of the
commercial importance Of the canal"