The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-01-23

Gen Morgan from the Iuteroceanlc
Committee OF the Uaited States Senase
has presented his report on the great
canal, between North and South Amer
ioa, 80 long discussed. Or the Two
routes suggested-one across the Paha'
ma, the other by Nicaragua lake-the
committee recommends the latter
as the most practical and less comph'
Gated.
The committee suggests that discus
sion Of the subject is now at an end
and the thing TO do is to go ahead and
construct the canal. which has already
been TOO long delayed. The committee
propose that the United States shall
construct and own the canal, and that
sll nations shall be allowed its use Tor
the transmission Of their commerce un'
der proper restrictions and upon the
payment Of reasonable fees; that In
times of war between other nations the
canal shall be neutral. but its use by
the beligerants shall be allowed under
the observance of certain rules and
regulations. and that III case OF war
with the United States and any foreign
nation, it shall be guarded by fortitica'
tious and battleshipe and thus prevent
its use by the enemy.
The chairman speaking OF the canal
from a military standpoint says, las a
provision for the naval and military
defense, whether insular or continental
this canal is indispensable, and the
closer its location is made to oar States
on the Gulf of Mexico, the more efficient
will be its protection to our coasts, on
the Atlantic and Pacific. "
IL is very apparent that future wars
between the great nations will be fought
principally by their navies. This be-
ing so, the United States must have
some shorter route from ocean to ocean
to concentrate her navy and to better
protect her extensive sea coast.
1t will be remembered during the
Spanish war it was necessary for the
Oregon, then near Puget Sound, 10 sail
to Key West, Florida In order to reach
her destination she had TO sail around
Cape Horn and in the range Of the en-
emy's scouting war vessels, and but for
the greatest prudence of her comman-
der would have been captured by the
Spanish navy. With this canal her route
would have been shortened more than
ten thousand miles and there would have
been no apprehension Of her loss by
capture.
AS to the defences of the canal, the
committee says that Pearl Harbor, In
Hawaii, and the harbor of San Juan, in
Porto Rico, are its true military de-
fences against attack by European or
Asiatic powers, and they give a more
secure protection to its eastern and
western outlets than any fortresses
however strong. that can be located at
or near its connection with the sea "
In addition to the benefits derived
from q military standpoint, the con-
struction of the canal will bring the
markets Of the world closer together
which must be greatly beneficial TO the
whole country, and especially to the
South, which will likely give it the
unanimous support Of the Southern
Senators and Representatives.
This canal scheme should be OF pecu'
liar interest to Fredericksburg because
it is claimed that the first paper every
written on the subject suggesting the
canal and recommending It's construc-
tion by the government was written by
Fredericksburg man. 1t was then
thought to be the "vsporiuRs OF dis
-sased mind" but its Importance has
grown as the years have passed, and its
necessity will no doubt in few years
force its construction.