The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-12-08

summit is barely 800 feet above mear
tide. After a detailed description Of tn,
entire route, the commission gives tn,
following cost of completing tn,
Panama canal route:
Colon entrance and harbor, 1884 I3.
Harbor to Bohio locks, including levee
Bohio locks, including excavation, SO.
Lake Bohio, 81, 7S6, 4s.
Obispo gates, S293, 436.
Culebra section, s4i, 31S, 333S5.
Pedro Miguel locks. including excava.
ton and dam s.. 496. 326.
Pedro Miguel level, 81. 169, GIL.
Miraf1ore's locks. including
and spillway, IS, 1906
Pacific level, sl2, 36s, 9I4.
Bohio dam, S. 500, 900.
Gigantic spillway, 81. 124, 524.
Channel between the marshes, s1,44s.-
Chagres division. 81. 92e.s BAG
Gatuncillo diversion, 500, 900.
Panama railroad diversion, 1926, so.
Total, Sis, 6lS, SIG.
Engineering. police, sanitation and gen,
erai contingencies, So, 123, 1853.
Aggregate. SIZE, 342, $40.
This estimate is capable of reduction to
Sll5,94l .215 IL single locks and a narrow
bottom are adopted. An alternative esti-
AlhaJuela dam built to impound the WA
is s156. 37S. 25S.
che commission reports that the value
of the French work already done is esti-
mated at So, 1874, 1853.
1t is estimated that the tonnage that
would use the canal will amount to a.
G0. or tons in 1909.
Referring to the commercial advantages
of an isthmian waterway, the report says:
A compared with Europe, the United
greater benefits, both commercially and
industrially. The of Europe
with the Pacific coast of North, Central
and South America, under existing condi-
iS SCmaKybat larpar than the total
volume of the present traffic of the Unit
ed States that may be considered tribu-
tary to the canal: but this fact does not
Indicate the relative advantages which
the canal will possess for the trade of
Europe and that of the United States. As
soon as it has been opened, our trade
will rapidly increase, as will also the
volume of our trade with the orient. The
amount of the American
through the canal will quickly surpass
the total amount of European traffic.
AN isthmian canal will strengthen the
unity of the national and political inter-
ests of the United States, develop its Pa
citic territory and promote the
and industries of the entire country. The
benefits which Europe will derive from
the canal will be commercial. In addi-
By bringing the eastern and
western sections of our country into
closer relations, by reducing the time and
cost of transporting our western products
" iaiopCB allu oS SidDiiiIS llc SdSlCti-
and central states to each the
materials and markets of Pacific
cheaply and expeditiously, the
canal will more fully identify political
and social interests and quicken the in
dustrial activity of every section of the
States.
The iron and steel, the textiles. and
other manufactures of eastern and
states, the coal from the min
ing regions. the cotton from the south.
and the grain and forest products from
~ nv rnn4inn- mill Anr- ont. " ar1soy
in an increasing volume, and
his larger trade will be shared generally
by the ports of all our SeaboardS-the At
the Gulf and the Pacific. The
will cause the competition of the
nited States with Europe in the coun-
tries of western South America and the
orient to be much keener. with the re-
sult that the trade of our country will
Increase more rapidly than will that of
)ur rivals. The canal will aid the United
States in securing and maintaining a po-
sition of primacy in the international
of the world"
The commission concludes with a care !
,ul comparison of the Nicaragua aid
Panama routes. 1t shows that distances
,etween Atlantic and Pacific ports are |
by the Nicaragua than the Pana-
ma route. This is in part offset by the
increased time in getting through the
Nicaragua canal. h latter route IS re-
ported to be more favorable for sailing
.-esSels. The Nicaragua route is also re-
'arded as advantageous through its de-
tlf'DIlltlll u lllt IouIlIEN llGouSH WHICH 3
{ passes. 1t is pointed out that the Pana-
Ia concession, now held by the French
company. prohibits a cession of rights to
my nation or foreign government The
concession Is limited, so that if the Unit |
d States acquired it, there would not DE
n absolute ownership in perpetuity, as
he concession provides that the canal
hall pass to Colombia after 80 years.
The commission has asked President
Iutin of the French to name
upon which the company will dis
United States. No formal reply was re-
eived until the commissions report was
eing closed. The report says that the
differences have resulted in no offer to
ispose of the property to the United
'tates upon any terms, nor had the COM
any expressed any desire to negotiate
With the United States witt reference to
UGH a disposition: 1t was proposed by
Hutin that the United States
obtain control of the canal scheme
8 a majority. stakeholder of a new or
yer, to re-incorporate in the United
tates, and accord to this government
UGH representation on its board of di-
ectors and u purchase of interest as
s concessions permitted.
The final conclusions of The commits
are stated as followS
81. The estimated cost of building the
Nicaragua canal is about SIS, 600, 600 more
anal, leaving out the cost of acquiring
latter property. This measures the
in the magnitude of the obsta-
les to be overcome in the actual con-
of the two canals, and covers
II physical considerations such as the
or less height of dams, the great
r or less depth of cuts. the presence or
bsence of natural harbors, the presence
r absence of a railroad. the exemption
ON liability to disease. and the amount
/ work remaining to be lone.
The new Panama canal mpa has
1own no disposition to sell its property
!. the United States. Should that COM
any be able and willing to sell. there is
JASON OF believedthat the price would nos
? such as would make the total cost to
lie United States less than that of the
canal
III. The Panam canal, after compile
less curvature than the Nicaragua
NAL. The measure of these advantages
the time required for a vessel TO pass
which is estimated for an aver
&c ship at twelve hours for Panama and
hours for Nicaragua |.
ION the other hand. the distance from
an Francisco to New York is 337 miles. !
New Orleans 5l9 miles and to Liverpool
6 miles greater via Panama than via
icaragua. The time required to pass
lie difference in the. time of transit
the canals. the Nicaragua line.
completion, would be somewhat
ore advantageous of the two to the
nited States. Notwithstanding the great
cost of maintaining the longer canal.
iii. The government OF Colombia, in
hich lies the Panama canal, has grant
an exclusive concession, which still
Is many years to run. 1t is not free to
ant the necessary rights to the United 1
.reement be reached with the New Pan s
Canal Co. The commission believes =.
al such agreement is impracticable. So D.,
r as can be ascertained. the company