The Van Buren press., 1899-02-25

In the latest estimates fit should be
msBtionedI the anit prices adopted are
mach lower for Niearsg1a than they
are for Panama. where dredging. for
instance. II estimated to cost 50 cents q
yard. rs against a few cents at Nicar
aqua. With this disparity In prices it
IL likely the relative proportion Of | to
II In comparison Of the cost Of the
two schemes Is approximately correct
To determine the comparative advaBt
ages of the tw0 routes. were they both
completed and open TO traffic. the fol
lowing considerations must be noted.
LENGTH Or CANAL. - Panama, 20
miles; Nicaragua, 10 miles.
TINE o. TRANSIT Panama. Is hours /;
Nicaragua. IS hours.
EXTENT Of DANCER Z0sE From the
time vessel il lifted above tidewater
20 the time she reaches tidewater at the
last lock she IA liable 10 be wrecked
through the failure Of the dams lock
gates, etc. At Panama the danger
zone Is 2a nils in extent At Nieara
qua it extends for fJ7 miles
SUMMIT Level Panama. 90 feet.
reached By three locks: Nicaragua. ito
feet, reached by four locks. according
to latest surveys.
ACCESSIBILITY Panama and Sicara
gua are about equally accessible for the
world at large but for a voyage from
our eastern to orr western seab0ard
Nicaragua Is about 37j miles shorter.
This Is compensated. however. by the
30 honrs extra time taken 10 the transit
az Nicaragua as compared with Panama
STRATEGIC VALUE. If both canals
should be declared neutral We are com
mitted by treaty 10 maintain the neu
trality Of Panama aud ought therefore
to declare the neutrality Of SicaraguaJ !.
all warships, including our own. would
seek the shorter canal. because Of the
limited time they would be within the
danger zone, as explained above A
charge Of dynamite at lock gate could
shut whole feet mp in the isthmus for
an indefinite period.
In summing mp our somewhat lengthy
consideration of the broad question of a
canal across the isthmns We are free to
confess that all considerations Of 3
purely practical nature indicate that it
Is for the best interests Of this cOuntry
and the world at large that only one
canal shOnld be buiIt and that it should
be secured By the completion Of the
canal upon which two fifths Of the work
has already been done. The problems
Of construction are simpler. the cost
will be 80 per cent lower. and the time
and risks Of transit less in the case Of
the Panama route.
The only possible recommendation in
favor Of the Nicaragua scheme il the
aaF faI Ia. . ftr.r
canal, built with oar own money. con
trolled by ourselves. Without DWELL
ing upon the fact that snch sentiments
are diametrically opposed to the prevail
ing international conviction that such
great waterways should be open 10 all
and at all times absolutely neutral. we
ask, are we ready 10 spend $50. 900 900
for toy7 For If We do not gain SOME
solid advantages from Nicaragua mot
in the way Of pecnniary profits. since
the government may not enter CONNER
cial enterprise for gain which cannot
be offered to as by Panama. Nicaragua
will be nothing more In the eyes Of the
world than an expression Of national
vanity.
But we shall gain nothing from Mic
aragua. Certainly not In stragetie
'ense. II we buiId Nicaragua to let our
yarships through and keep other war
'hips ont. the rest Of the world will see
10 1t that Panama Is built to let its war
ships through and keep ours ont.
Furthermore. we have already guar
anteed The neutrality Of Panama.
Hence we should be placed in the su
prstnely ridiculous position as having
spent $50 900 900 TO open an exclusive
canal for our navy. while we are
pledged to use the very ships Of that
navy to keep open rival canal for the
,nemy.