Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-06-12
A New Canal Commission.

tthat sooner or later American capita
and American enterprise will build ;
canal connecting the Atlantic and tn
Pacific. The time when it is to b.
built is not far away. The demands o
commerce are more and more pressing
and our new possessions in the Pacih
make such a canal an imperative nava
necessity. The place where it is to b'
built is not yet determined upon
Several commissions have investigates
the matter and various surveys have
been made. And now a new commits
sion has been appointed by Presiden
Mckinley, by virtue of authority
vested in him by the last Congress
with full power to select what is un-
questionably the best route. It's YER
dict will be authoritative and final
The appointment of this commission
is a most important step, and the
President has chosen men who are in
every way worthy of their great re-
sponsibilities. First in order on tbs
commission stands Rear Admiral John
G. Walker. one of the most distin-
gushed sea officers of the United
States. Associated with him are
Colonel Peter c. Hains of the EnSneer
CORPS of the United States army and
..FI L
vania who were Admiral Walker :
colleagues in the recent examination OF
the Nicaragua canal and are perfectly
familiar with every phase of this
isthmian waterway question. Other
commissioners are Alfred Noble of
California. a member of the able Lud-
low canal commission of 4 few years
ago; ex-senator Samuel Pasco of
Florida. representing the Gulf coast
interests, which have so much to nope
from the construction Of the canal;
George s. Morrison of New York, a
former president of the Society of Civil
Engineers: Lieutenant Colonel oswald
Ernst of the United States army, for
mer superintendent at West Point;
Professor William II. Burr Of the de-
partment of engineering in Columbia
University. ana Professor Emory r.
Johnson Of the University of Pennsyl-
vania.
This is a commission of marked
ability. 1t embodes the very highest
engineering talent, scholarly informa-
ton and knowledge Of practical affairs.
The report which the board will render
will command quick and perfect conf
dence 1t ought to be understood that
this commission will investigate not
the Nicaragua route alone, but also the
Panama route and any other project
which may be brought to its attention.
1t is. of course, the general belief Of
persons in this country who have fol
lowed the history Of canal undertake
ings that the Nicaragua route will be
pronounced the most feasible. But
this belief rests upon nothing more
than the fact that every other Ameri-
can commission which has examined
this question has declared in favor of
Nicaragua. and that this route offers
manifest advantages to the commerce
of the United States.
Whatever route across the isthmus is
selected it will devolve upon the
United States when the canal is built,
to maintain control of it and to protect
it. This country will owe this to it
self and to the world. The petty re-
having trouble with each other. and it
would never do to let them interrupt
the commerce of two hemispheres
Through whatever region the cana.
runs. over that region the United
States. and no other country, must eX-
ercise Jurisdiction. Great Britain is in
complete control of the Suez canal
through it's control of Egypt, and it is
well that this is 50. NominaIy the
Suez canal is neutral, Actually it is a
British waterway through which in
time Of war-whatever paper agree
ments may say or may not say-nc
armed vessel would be allowed 40 pass
without the permission Of the power
which dominates the whole region
from Port Said through thesRed-Sea 70
Aden And so the great. Arnef'iear
canal must be undisputably American
in peace and war.
What was predict in the matter