The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-01

The great battleships, the oregon and
the Iowa. have started on their long jour
ney from New York 70 Manila-a journey
which viii take them ABOUT sixty days TO
complete If either the Panama or Mica
ragua canal were constructed the time oc-
cupied in journeying between the two cities
by the batueships in question wouldn't
occupy probably more than half that time
This fact is drawing attention strongly to
the Nicaragua canal If Congress were
now in session and a report should be sub
mitted from the Nicaraguan commission,
which was appointed more than a year
ago, to the effect that the Nicaragua ca
nal is a feasible project, and that il could
be constructed for about the amount esti-
mated by previous commissions, it is prob
able THAI a bill guaranteeing the bonds Of
the canal would be passed without much
d lay. The whole country is talking Of the
canal, and the sentiment in favor Of max
ing it a government work is steadily grow
ing stronger.
But 1t is not certain yet that a canal
can be constructed along the route which
has been surveyed. or any other route
across Nicaragua. The commission which
has that matter in charge VIII, it is ex-
pected, make a report at the next session
of Congress. If the report is favorable it
is probable that steps viii be taken at
once 20 begin the construction Of the ca
ual-unloss the conclusion should be reach
ed that there is a fair prospect Of the com
pletion of the Panama canal at an early
day.
A great deal of work has been done on
the Panama canal within the last few
years, and fully 5000 men are engaged
upon it now. The French capitalists who
own it are confident that they VIII com
plete ii within the next eight years. Since
it came into their possession they have
spent $125,OOOOo0 upon it, and they have
5000 600 in their treasury OF course
that amount would not be sufficient to
complete it, but they say that all the
money needed to make the great work a
success will be forthcoming. Two-ffths
of the work is done, and 1t is given out
that the part that remains to be done will
cost less than the part completed has cost.
The plan for overcoming the Chagres river
mas bttH dpptONtu ny lIlt dDiHSl eusiHcelS
of France, and there doesn't appear to be
a doubt that it will be successful.
The Panama canal has one great ad-
vantage over the Nicaragua canal 1t is
that 1t is but forty-six miles long, while
the Nicaragua canal is 176 miles. Anoth-
err advantage is that it would take only
fourteen hours to pass through the PAN
anna canal, while it would take forty-four
hours to pass through the Nicaragua ca
nal. In the matter of ports also the Pan
anna has the advantage. Those of the
Panama are splendid natural ports, while
those of the Nicaragua would be artificial
and hard to keep open.
The people of the United States would
of course, like to have a canal of their
own. Still, it is not probable that Con-
gress viii lend a helping hand to the Mica
ragua canal unless 1t appears that the
project is an entirely feasible one. AT the
next session of Congress the whole sub
Ject will undoubtedly be gone over thor
oughly and if 1t appears that there are
good reasons for thinking that the Pan
anna canal viii be completed within the
next eight years the Nicaragua canal
scheme may be put aside for the present