The evening times., 1900-03-23
FOR AN ISTHNIAN CANAL
Americans in China Grow El0qaent
on the Subject,
Consul General Goodnow Explains
How the Waterway Would Assist
BickaeI Declares That the Pro-
posed Facility L. a Naval Necessity

At the request Of Senator Perkins Of
California there has been printed as
public document The proceedings OF a
meeting held under the auspices of the
American Association Of China TO cOnsid-
er the question Of an Isthmian Canal, con-
sisting OF remarks and addresses by the
Rev. F. L. Hawks Pott. president of the
association: V. G. Lyman, secretary Of the
association: John Goodnow, United States
Consul General: Capt. George 4. BickDeI,
United States Navy. and E. 7 Williamse
translator Kiangnan Arsenal.
Consul General Goodnow was the princi-
pal speaker He said in part:
L am firmly of the opinion that canal
should be constructed at either Nicaragua
or Panama. as the engineers and diploma
lists decide; that It should be constructed
by the United States Government: and that
The United States should acquire the land
for say fifty miles on either side Of the
route determined on, so that the canal
would be constructed on our own soil
Il will not discuss the naval argument,
though few will forget the long voyage of
the Oregon last summer from san Fran
cisco via Cape Horn TO Cuba; and the oh
ject lesson il was to us all Of how an
istbD,ian canal would add greatly TO the
efficiency OF our Navy. would only call
attention TO the fact that such a canal is
most needed for all purposes at the time
when its existence might be endangered Il
il was constructed on land owned by fee
bic country. which might be coerced by
an enemy. and the canal thus closed TO US.
IL We need canal for defence and as
part of our coast line, We need to absolute
lv control Il by forts on our own territory
al both ends of il. The control Of the land
would now only be a matter Of price. and
no price is too great TO pay for safety 10
our commerce and to our own coast cities.
Il will not attempt 10 discuss the effect
Of a canal regulating traGs-continental
rates by water competition on the great
hallway systems of our country except to
say that I believe that a canal opening up
the markets OF the world more freely 10
our products would so stimulate production
that the transportation systems would
gain more than they would lose by it.
The Effect ON Trade.
.'Our subject for discussion is only as TO
the effect OF an Isthmian Canal on the
trade OF The United States with China. 1
viii discuss for a few minutes the compari-
son OF this proposed route with the present
routes from New York TO China the pro-
ducts and sections Of the United States
particularly TO be affected by the new
route to China; the increasing market
here: our competitors; and very briefly the
products OF China now being taken by US.
In the comparison OF routes l will note
the three points most potent in the max
ing of rates. II is also necessary TO note
the location OF our principal competitors in
leading lines as regards present routes and
tn =
routes now from New York TO China. In
figuring distances I have used Shanghai as
representing China. as it does for all prac-
teal purposes, all the trade for central and
northern China passing through this port.
By the Cape of Good Hope the distance
from New York TO Shanghai by full-pow-
cred steam vessels is 1880 nautical miles
while sailing vessels must take from 5000
90 le 34O nautical miles, according to the
season Of the year. BY this route the
Equator must be crossed twice; the whole
breadth of the Indian Ocean, with the
damp heat detrimental TO cargo crew, and
passengers, must be crossed; the storm re-
gions of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific
Oceans must be traversed.
BY this route insurance must be high on
account of the dangerous storms. Many
kinds of cargo are affected by the long-con-
tinued heat. Few passengers take this
trip From New York TO Shanghai via
Suez is IL. $50 miles for steamers. Sailing
vessels do not take this route. The ex-
pense of towage is prohibitive, as not only
must each vessel be towed through the Suez
Canal. but also for more than 800 miles
through the Red Sea, where the dangerous
navigation makes sailing out of the ques-
tion. This route lies from east TO west
along the hot latitudes. Especially hot is
the passage through the Red Sea and the
Indian Ocean. BY this route the storms of
the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian and
Pacific oceans must be passed through. A
most important objection to those routes
lies in the fact that they can be easily
closed TO us in the time of war
In these days steamers imply coaling