The evening times., 1898-12-21
BETTER Than THE
PANAMA ROUTE
Natural Advantages OF the
Nicaragua Canal.
VIEWS OF A TRAVELLER
Public Opinion in the Far South Con
cerning American Enterprise.
Reported Deal of an American Syndicate
With the Colombian Govern
ment.

Frederick Leslie lockwood. of Bogota
United States of Colombia, is AT the
Hamilton Mr.. lockwood is the South
American representative of several firms
of American manufacturers. He speaks
interestingly of public opinion in the FAR
South concerning American enterprise
In the course of a conversation today
with a Times reporter Mr.. lockwood
said:
at has been very interesting TO hear
their opinions of us and especially OF the
building of the Nicaragua or Panama
Canal 1t must be remembered that they
send many of their children to Europe
TO be educated and their money to b
kept for security against the revolutions
to which they are subject. Besides the
people at home are constantly being edu-
Gated by the European commercial IN
teresls, which are antagonistic to US and
everything we do.
Outside of Colombia the South Ameri-
! can countries are Indifferent as TO which
| is built. the Panama or Nicaragua Canal,
| but ii was openly talked in the streets
of Bogota the capital of Colombia, that
/ a large American syndicate had made
. deal with the Colombian government
and the French Canal Company TO take
| up the French concession, which expires
/ in about two years, the Colombian gov
ernment having refused TO extend IL
twelve years, as was asked.
The European traders there say the
| Nicaragua route will be better than the
| Panama route for US as the Americans
| would have to pay for the antiquated
| machinery and for the work done, which
| will have to be done over again, and be-
ing farther from home they will not be
! benefited so much nor SO well able 10
protect it, 1t is often openly said that
| Europe will combine some day TO KNOCK
! the young Yankee bully out
| During the past seven years nave
been over both routes and personally in
/ yestigated them to make practical COM
| harrison and TO see what l then felt would
| become a work of national interest. L
found the Panama route, as far as made.
a muddy ditch. too narrow for the dreag-
ers TO pass each other in most OF places,
with a mountain to cut through and cuts
| across river
There would have TO be 46 miles of
cutting and dredging and four locks,
| while at Nicaragua | found there would
| be but 26 miles of cutting, with four locks,
| and no mountains to cut through 1he
Nicaragua route has two great inland seas
/ which never rise nor fall but few lnches
the grandest kind of reservoir known
From a disinterested standpoint the
Nicaragua route offers many advantages
The banks of the canal may be reach
| ed by a railroad now more than hall
} built that will connect il with the United
States by way of the city OF Mexico anc
Guatemala. developing our trade through
all that section. II is We'll known that tbs
Tehuantepec Railroad scheme. which i:
s,E h. Paf EAa6
panies. would fall through If the Nicar
aqua Canal was built. and you will tint
that they will fight the Nicaragua plan
, The Panama route would be preferable
} to them, being farthest from the United
States. Every manufacturing interes
ought to bear in mind that the opening o
/ the Nicaragua Canal route will give al
} impetus TO our foreign trade, and all IN
field from Mexico to the canal will be de
veloped'