The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-05

States to reach the raw materials and mar
kets of Pacific countries cheaply and expo
ditiously, the canal will more fully fdentii7
political and social interests and quicken
the industrial activity OF every section OF
the United States. The iron and steel, the
textiles and the other manufactures of the
Eastern and Southern States. the coal from
the mining regions. the cotton from the
South and the grain and forest products
from many sections will flow out to foreign
countries I'm an increasing volume. and this
larger trade will be shared generally by
the ports of all our seaboards-the Atlantic,
the gulf and the Pacific. The canal will
cause the competition or the United states
with Europe In the countries Of Western
South America and the Orient to be much
keener, with the result that the trade of
our country will increase more rapidly than
viii that of our rivals. The canal Will aid
the United States in securing and main
tanning a position Of primacy in the inter-
national trade of the world"
The commission concludes with a careful
comparison OF the Nicaragua and Panama
routes 1t shows that distances between
Atlantic and Pacific ports are shorter by
the Nicaragua than the Panama route This
is, in part, offset by the increased time In
getting through the Nicaragua canal. The
latter route is reported to be more favorable
for sailing vessels. The Nicaragua route is
also regarded as advantageous through its
development Of the country through which
Ii passes.
II is pointed out that the Panama con-
cession, now held by the French Company.
prohibits a cession of rights TO any nation
or foreign government. The concession Is
limited, so that If the United States ac-
quired it there would not be an absolute
ownership In perpetuity. as the concession
provides that the canal shall pass TO Co
lombia after n~inety-nine years. The COM
mission has asked President Hutin, of the
French Company, TO name terms on which
the company will dispose of its property
and interests to the United States. No for
NAL reply was received until the commit
Sion's report was being closed. The report
says the conferences have resulted In no
offer to dispose of the property to the
United States upon any terms, nor had the
ompan expressed any desire to negotiate
with the United States with reference to
such a disposition. II was proposed by
President Hutin that the United States
might obtain control OF the canal scheme
as a majority stakeholder of a new or
ganization. The company prefers, however,
to reincorporate in the United States and
accord to this government such represen-
tation on its board of directors and such
purchase of interest as its concessions per-
mitted.
FINAL CONCLUSIONS.
The final conclusions of the commission
are stated as follows:
''First-The estimates cost of building the
Nicaragua canal is about $5S. coo, 900 more
than that of completing the Panama canal,
leaving out the cost of acquiring the latter
/ pIOpcIII. HIS DltdSuItS IhC AiLC ChSC III
the magnitude of the obstacles to be over
come in the actual construction of the two
canals and covers all physical conSldera-
tons, such as the greater or less height OF
dams, the greater or less depth of cuts, the
presence or absence of natural harbors, the
presence or absence of a railroad, the eX-
emption from or liability TO disease, and
the amount of work remaining to be done.
The new Panama Canal Company has
shown no disposition to sell it's property to
the United States. Should that company
be able and willing to sell, there is reason
TO believe the price would not be Such as
would make the total cost to the United
States less than that of the Nicaragua
canal.
"Second-The Panama canal, after COM
pletion. would be shorter. have fewer locks
and less curvature than the Nicaragua
canal The measure of these advantages is
the time required for a vessel TO pass
through, which is estimated for an average
ship at twelve hours for Panama and
thirty-three hours for Nicaragua. On the
other hand the distance from San Francis
co to New York is 81 miles, to New Or
leans $40 miles and to Liverpool $50 miles
greater via Panama than via Nicaragua.
| The time required TO pass over these dis
tances being greater than the difference In
the time In transit through the canals, the
Nicaragua line, after completion would be
somewhat the more advantageous of the
two to the United States, nothwithstand-
ing the greater cost of maintaining the
longer canal.
"Third-The government of Colombia, in
which lies the Panama canal, has granted
an exclusive concession, which still has
many years TO run. 1t is not free to grant
the necessary rights TO the United States.
except on condition that an agreement be
reached with the new Panama Canal Com
pany. The commission believes that such
agreement is impracticable So far as can
be ascertained the company is not will
ing TO sell its franchise. but 1t will allow
the United States to become the owner of
Part of its stock. The commission considers
such an arrangement inadmissable. The
governments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
on the other hand, are untrammeled by con-
cessions, n are free to grant to the
United States such privileges as may be
mutually agreed upon.
I'm view of all the facts. and particular
" in view of all the difficulties of obtaining
the necessary rights. privileges and fran
chises on the Panama route, and assuming
that Nicaragua and Costa Rica recognize
the value of the canal to themselves and
are prepared TO grant concessions on terms
which are reasonable and acceptable to the
that the most practicable and feasible route
for an isthmian canal to be under the con-
troll. management and ownership of the
United States, is that known as the Mica
regue route"
The message OF the President, transmit
ting the report. is as follows:
ITO the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives: l transmit herewith. for the infor-
nation of the Congress, a preliminary re-
port of the isthmian canal commission.
dated Nov. 60, 1900.
.'WILLIAM M'KINLEY,
Executive Mansion, Dec. 4. 19O."
Affemuf IN Scnra A,a-fcuu