The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1900-02-09

MAP SHOWING DISTANCE SAVED RY THE
CANAL
tIcable one. and there isn't any doubt
that the bill providing for construction
OF the canal will be passed by both
branches OF congress with practical
unanimity and promptly receive the
signature OF The president. The amend
ment made 10 the Hepburn bill the 9th
er day. providing that SlO.OOO.OOO only
OF the S14O,OOO.OO0 which will Ice final
ly needed should he at once nppropri-
ated. removes about the last objection
In the house.
While IL Is true that another COM
mission has gone To investigate the
merits OF the Panama route. il is gen
orally believed that this is only n per-
functOry performance. as the members
or congress appear to be already CON
WINGED or the superiority OF the Mica
ragua route and have practically de-
cided in It's favor.
IL Is interesting ut this time To re-
view the history OF the Nicaragua ca
nal project. Briefly set out. il follows:
1895 Alexander Won Humboldt. the famous sci
enlist. declared the canal 10 lee feasible.
lS25-Congrcss II the United States Of Central
America decreed the digging Of the canal.
ls26-Ilenry Clay. secretary Of state, ordered the
route examined.
ls35-S,nate OF the United States voted favorlhly
for IL. President jackson appointed an agent
10 'Naminr il.
ls4s-Nicarasuau government contracted for the
canals COustTl, Ii,n. hut the concession lapsrl
4 F4n a.
by wagon and boat
Individuality of Nicaragua waterways guITan-
tecd 10y Clayton IiuiNcr treaty.
lS5l-CaEal company organi2,d 10y Cornelius Van
derbi!I.
ls67-Rear Admiral Davis advised the United
states against the canal.
1870 Report mace 10 the president by Mica
rilua canal commission.
Assoria.i"n # capitalists formed to build
the canal!
isss-Nrw canal company organized and incor-
para:.l by United states congress.
lS.1-Work actually begun az Grcytown.
lsyj-Unitcd states senate passed hill appropd-
ating S1U.Uc1.OIO Tor the canal Did not pass
the lslus.. Il representatives
ls,J Commission apl. Iutri hy the president. Il
reported uufIyurahy.
1877 Commission appointed. hraded by Rear Adj
nirsl Walker
lsoy-t Commission reports ia the strongest terms
There are those who hclicvc that
what Is known "a. the Eulwry-C layton
treaty Of 1870 will stand i'm the way
tu some extent or Interfere with the
plans of Ulr United States for the
building aud operation of the canal.
Ry this treaty the governments "r
Great Britain ami the United States
mutually hound themselves neither Ia
obtain nor maintain amy exclusive CON
troll over the Nicaragua ship canal
and to abstain from erecting amy f"rti-
ticatiun I'm the vicinity thereof. They
further undertook to exercise no do
minlon over Nicaragua. Costa l;ica.
the Musquito Coast or any other part
Of Central America. Ia make Use uI n'
form or protection ami Ia enter Int"
no local alliance in any way tending
IL give one power an advantage over
the other.
Ii is not likely that this treaty Of
81 years standing will cause uS any
great trouble, for under the inilncnc"
OF the present pleasant relations "N-
listing between this country AMI Great
Britain IL VIII not be- difficult To secure
such notifications rs are necessary
ana desirable. That this Is the way
the matter is looked AT Icy Our govern
mcnt il uttrstcd 10y the fact that no
uvrrturcs respecting the attitude of
foreign governments have a. Yet been
made 10y the administration. Ii l.
probable that the first move IN this Ill
rectiOn will he made In Costa Rica
and Nicaragua and not to European
power.
80 much relatiiAs To the route Of the
proposed canal has been printed rs To
leave nothing left To be- said-thnt Is.
nothing that Is new. But ii condensed
description may be Of Interest III this