The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-05
The Nicaragua Canal Farce.

The Boston Herald has presented a
most instructive analysis of the entire
Nicaragua canal proposition, which
cannot fail to convince every intelli-
gent reader of the inexpediency, from
any point of view, of the construction
of that waterway While Senator Nor
gan's bin di6 not pass the house dur
ing the session of congress just closed,
a round million of dollars was appro-
priated for expenditure under execu
tive orders in going over the same old
subject of locating a route which has
been under treatment during the past
fifty years.
The construction of the SueZ canal
caused a revolution in commerce which
materially affected the United States.
Previously the wheat shipped from In
dia to English ports was carried around
the Cape of Good Hope and was thus
obliged to twice cross the equator in
sery this circuit, and to that extent the
Indian wheat displaced that of the
United States. But in general way
the Suez canal was not an unwelcome
Improvement.
Much has been said in regard to the
necessity of the canal in view of the
recent acquisition by this country of
the Hawaiian and Philippine islands.
A recent letter written by the super
intendent of the United States coast
and geodetic survey contains the Of
fetal statement that, while the dis
lance from New York to Manila by
the way of the Nicaragua canal would
be ,T46 miles, the SueZ canal route
is 1856 miles, or practically 200 miles
less.
And still another point is made clear,
namely. that a ship passing through
the projected Nicaragua canal would
be obliged to cross the Pacific ocean
to the Philippines at its greatest
width and that in order to take on coal
at Honolulu a DETECTION of about fif-
teen degrees to the north and the same
distance southwark again would be re-
quired. The entire voyage, even
though made direct from the western
coast of Nicaragua. would be close
upon the line of the equator. while
from New York through the Suez canal
the range would be between the eighth
and fortieth parallels.
Then, again. the fact is shown that
by the proposed canal route the dis
tance from New York to San Fran
cisco would be approximately 1880
miles. as against the rail route across
the continent, $500 miles, or 1000 miles
further
1t is difficult to discover any advan-
tage accruing to the United States, or,
in fact, the commerce of the world
generally by any canal across the 18TH
mus of the western hemisphere. The
advantage already provided by the
Suez canal must always prove greater
than by the route suggested, even TAX
ing into account the commerce of the
Atlantic seaboard of the United States
with the Orient. The Suez canal is a
sea level waterway. Any canal across
the American isthmus as has been re-
peatedly demonstrated, can only be OPP
Grated by a system of locks and at
very great expense: 80 - - ,9c>-f
The suggestion that the work can be
completed for the sum of $150,000,000 is
clearly ingenious. The promoters have,
first of ALL aimed to draw. this govern
ment into the scheme. Once the open
ing wedge enters the treasury and the
sum total would more nearly ap-
preach $500, 100000 and in the expendi-
ture of this amount there must, of ne
cessity be all manner of jobbery
The country is to be congratulated
in the defeat of the measure, even
though the people shall be obliged to
pay $1,O00,O00 for that privilege. It is
no part of the business of the United
States government to pay for unsub-
stantial assets like those of the Mari
time Canal company. The time has
passed when this interoceanic water
way can possibly prove of any bene-
fit to the world at large; and before
another congress assemblies this fact
will probably be impressed upon our
national legislators.