The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-21
As no SEA ROUTES.


The influences that have for 80 long OPP
posed the Nicaragua canal project are be
coming active again since the experiences
of the war seem 10 have given new i'm
pctus to the canal scheme. Back of the
open opposition to the canal are undoubt-
eddy to be found the great transcontinental
lines and Eastern agencies that now enjoy
a trade that would largely be controlled by
tho Gulf States after the completion Of this
connecting link between the Atlantic and
Pacific,
The favoritc mode of attack Is to question
the profltableness of the undertaking. or
It's convenience or utility--its feasibility Ia
beyond dispute The Baltimore sun re-
Gently contained the following editorial:
As to the point that the Nicaragua canal, II
now completed would DO OF great use In
reaching Manila, MIR, Joseph Nimmo shows In
recent letter That IL Is IL .o61 miles from New
York to Manila via the Sues canal and II .Ti6
miles via the Nicaragua canal From Manila
to London 1t IL $500 miles via the Sue1 canal
aud 1850 mles Via tho Nicaragua canal The
utility OF tho latter IL not therefore, SO clear
Tho fact that the Nicaragua canal involves
g20 feet OF lockage and tolls--n serious inn
pcdiment for lurge vossols--adds In effect 1000
| niiNh To inc distance VIA inc NICARAGUA canal
from New York to Manila. For military pur-
poses tho canal would be useless unless we
| protect 1t from damage by large fleets nj both
ends and with soldiers distributed all along
! tts length For trade II Ia not much needed,
| In view Of the many lines of railway We have
crossing from the Atlantic to the Pacific Sail
| Ing vessels could not reach 1t for want OF
I wlnd and but 100000 tons NJ steam tonnage,
! Mr. Nimmo says would be likely to use It.,
| Tho Suo2 canal being AZ tho sea level, will
| BIO a successful cumpenitor.
| The fact seems to be overlooked that the
otiet reason for building this canal at gov
ernment expense is it's strategic value In
case OF war and to obviate the necessity OF
constructing a great fleet for the Pacific
! and another for tiSA Atlantic or what use
! 10 us is the Sueg canal in the event OF war
with one of the European governments
! If il were 5000 miles nearer by the Mediter-
rnnean from New York to Manila than by
the Nicaragua canal. we should still nocd
the latter to cut Off tho $4,000 miles We
now have 90 make around the continent of
! South America. In discussing the possible
| benefits OF this American route the correc,
route. controlled by our enemies, but with
| the Cape horn route now entailing upon
us such a vast expense and occasioning SO
much delay in our naval movements II
may he 200 miles nearer by the European
canal from New York to Manila than BY
way of Nicaragua, but 1t is 1900 to $4,000
nearer by the latter route than around thc
Horn. This ia the point to keep in mind
ana this rs the point the war has empha.
sized so strongly.
| The Nicaragua canal would create new
commerce for us, add to present ocean ton
mage and enable us to defend our interests
with half the naval force that will other
wise be required These things are worth
all the millions the canal will cost. What
the suez canal has done for Europe the
Nicaragua canal viii do for the Western
Hemisphere and selfish interests should not
be allowed to defeat its construction.