The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-07-28
v|CARAGuAS WATER AYRENbNBER MAINE
A STIRRING APPEAL FROM SAN
DIEGO.
Honolulu Chamber of Commerce Re
ceives Communication from
Southern California Urging Efforts.

Annexation brings Hawaii into close
relations with international problems
affecting the United States. The Me
aragua canal question is one of these.
The Chamber of Commerce here has
Just received from the San Diego
Chamber of Commerce the following
statement regarding that enterprise,
and has endorsed it,
We are entering new era as a ma
ton. Heretofore we have been con
tent to mind our own affairs and
grow. Little have we said or done to
change the policy of other nations,
save to guard the interests of our
weaker sisters of the American cor
tinents. To no large extent have our
ships plowed the great deep. We
have produced and manufactured for
the world and let other nations trans
port. Ocean commerce we have sadly
neglected. We are now the leading
agricultural and manufacturing ma
ton of the world; why not be the
leading commercial nation? Why
should not American ships travel the
high seas and bring us into closer
relations with every part of the
world?
We are a great people and growing
greater. Physical obstacles to our
growth must be removed. One of
these is that narrow strip of land
connecting North and South America.
Nature has pointed out the place to
cut Comparatively little work and
expense will construct the proposed
Nicaragua canal. The income of the
nation for two months would foot the
bill. a great construction company
is ready to take the contract at low
er figure than government engineers
have estimated it could be done for.
All real obstacles are removed What
| is necessary now is the determination
to put the undertaking through.
With the canal in operation the dis
tance between the Atlantic and PACT
fic coasts of our country would be
shortened nearly eleven thousand
miles. Much heavy freight now pass
es around the Horn, but the trip is
long and perilous. The canal would
increase this branch of business an
hundred fold High mountains sep
arate the East and West, and the eX-
pense of transporting heavy articles
short line water way would at once
solve the freight question.
California and the Pacific Coast
states are the great orchard of our
nation. We are now shipping yearly
over $4,000 carloads of fruit to east
ern markets. The area and production
of these states are such that the So
900 cars can be made 100000 cars
whenever the markets demand. With
a soil so fertile and climate so ge-
NAL that nearly all fruits known to
man can grow to perfection, it is
simply destiny that this coast will
soon be peopled with teeming mil
lions. The canal would be great
factor in this growth and develop
ment, and make it possible for the
Pacific States to supply their lucious
fruits to our eastern neighbors at a
much less cost to them than now.
Thus it is seen that commerce de-
mands the canal, and once in opera
ton that commerce will not only sus-
tain the canal but pay rich revenues
to its owner.
And there is another great reason
why the canal should be constructed.
In case of war with any one of the
leading nations it would be half the
battle TO have control of such high
way between the oceans; thereby the
value of our navy would be doubled
and the safety of all our coast cities
largely increased.
Remember the Oregon. For full
month we trembled lest that great
battleship should be caught in trap.
AS a nation we would not have had
her destroyed for the cost of the ca
nal. The like will occur again un-
less the canal is builded.
In alarm we talk eloquently of our
coast defenses. In no other possible
way than in building the canal could
one hundred million dollars be spent
to such good advantage and afford so
much protection. The canal in our
hands would be a Gibraltar. An ang-
ry nation ready to go to war would
see our strength and sue for peace
and friendship.
Commerce demands the Nicaragua
canal The true interests of the rail-
roads and of all great enterprises of
our nation demand it! Coast defenses
demand it! Patriotism demands it!
The peace and further prosperity of
our nation demands it!