Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-02-12

MAP SHOWING DISTANCE SAVED ny 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 to the Hepburn bill the 9TH
er day, providing that S10O00,000 only
Of the $140,000000 which will be final.
ly needed should be at once appropri-
tad, removes about the last objection
,use.
Wa Is true that another COM
mission gone to investigate the
merits of 60 Panama route. 1t is gen.
orally believed that this is only per-
functory performance, as the members
of congress appear to be already con-
vlnced Of the superiority Of the Mica
ragua route and have practically de-
clded In It's favor.
1t is interesting at this time to re-
view the history Of the Nicaragua ca
nal project. Briefly set out. it follows:
lso5-Alexander Won Humboldt. the famous sci.
enlist, declared the canal to be feasible.
ls25-Congress Of the United States Of Central
America decreed the digging Of the canal
1s28-Henry Clay. secretary Of state. ordered the
route examined.
iss5-Senate Of the United States voted favorably
for it. President jackson appointed an agent
to examine it,,
iSss-Nicarnguan government contracted for the
canals construction, but the concession lapsed
1s40-Corneius Vanderbilt ran an overland route
by wagon and boat .e
1s50-Neutrality Of Nicaragua waterways guaran-
teed by Clayton.Bulw treaty.
1s5l--Canal company organized By Cornelius Van.
dcrbit.
,1ss7-Rear Admiral Davis advised the United
States against the canal
1s7e-Repcrt made to the president by Mica
ragua canal commission r.it ,tf
1ss8-Assoeiation Of capitalists formed to build
the canal.
1sa8-New canal company organized and incor.
porated by United States congress.
1s90--Work actually begun at Greytown.
ls95-United States senate passed bill appropri.
ating $4,000, 900 for the canal. Did not pass
the house OF representatives.
1s95-Commssion appointed by the president. 1t
reported uniavorably.
1so7-Commssion appointed. headed by Rear Ad.
miral Walker.
1900 Commission reports In the strongest terms
in favor OF the construction Of the canal
There are those who believe that
what Is known as the Bulwer Clayton
treaty of 1850 will stand in the way
to some extent or interfere with the
plans Of the United States for the
building and operation of the canal.
BY this treaty the governments Of
Great Britain and the United States
mutually bound themselves neither to
obtain nor maintain any exclusive con-
troll over the Nicaragua ship canal
and to abstain from erecting any forti-
fication in the vicinity thereof. They
/ further undertook to exercise no do
minlon over Nicaragua. Costa Rica,
the MusQuito Coast or any other part
of Central America. to make use Of no
form of protection and to enter into
no local alliance In any way tending
to give one power an advantage over
the other.
1t is not likely that this treaty Of
30 years standing will cause us any
great trouble. for under the influence
of the present pleasant relations ex-
listing between this country and Great
Britain 1t will not be difficult to secure
such notifications as are necessary
and desirable. That this is the way
the matter Is looked at by our govern
ment Is attestet the fact that no
overtures resppr' the attitude of
foreign govcrnm have as yet been
made by the II illustration. 1t Is
probable that til, list move In this di-
rection will he nInde to Costa Rica
md Nicaragua and not to a European
power
So much relating to the route Of the
proposed canal has been printed as to
leave nothing left 10 be said-that is,
nothing that is new. But condensed
description may be OF interest at this
time. The distance along the line OF
the canal route proposed by the COM
miss en- from the seven fathom curve
OF tie Pacific oceaL 10 the seven faith
ON curve of the Caribbean sea Is 1890
miles. The region within which the
canal can be constructed is comprised
within comparatively narrow limits,
BY the term Nicaragua route" is un-
derstood canal which uses Lake Nj.
caragua as a part of It's system. For
convenience this may be divided as
follows: First, the division between
the Pacific and the lake. called the
western division: second, the lake It.
self; third, the division between the
lake ana the Caribbean sea. called the
eastern iivision, : At the easterly ter.
minus of the canal there is no harbor
A harbor Will have to be constructed
at Greytowp. where about 80 years ag,
there was a good harbor. which ha,
been destroyed by sand deposited b,
thG San Juan river. BY the term har
boz II Is not intended to convey tn,
iden OF large harbor TO be construct
cd for commercial purposes. 1t Is no
expected that vessels will lie in such {
harbor for any time, but win move
through in Que direction or the other
Various surveys Of the harbor hav,
been made with a view to determining
the amount of material to he control
led. This amount is estimated to var,