The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-17
N PRELIMINARIEs.

CANAL PRELlMINARiEs.
Minneapolis Journal: Senator Nor
gan introduced a bill in the senate
yesterday, providing for the construc-
ton of the ship canal via Nicaragua.
1t is barely possible that the senate
may not ratify the treaty at sight, and
may not feel bound to accept the Mic
aragua route. The senate is a rather
uncertain body.
The Morgan bill places the canal
under the control of eight American
citizens, with salaries of $4,000 a year.
The bill makes special provision for
chief engineers and assistants. 1t
should have placed the engineering
direction of the work under the super
vision and control of the war depart
ment and all the engineering work
should be done by army engineers,
both for the sake of economy and eff
~fciency. The corps of army engineers
is intended to perform government
engineering work and might as well
have been placed in charge of the ship
canal.
The right of way has been acquired
from Nicaragua, the protocol having
been signed by u minister at Mana
qua and by the Nicaraguan secretary
of foreign affairs, the United States
guaranteeing the sovereignty, integ-
rity and independence of Nicaragua.
The latter should be made to give an
extraordinarily strong pledge that she
will not hereafter fool with any revolu-
tionists in Central America or On the
Isthmus of Panama, as she seems to
have been doing during the Colombian.
Venezuela trouble.
Our government, if the Nicaragua
canal scheme is carried out, Wi keen
absolute order in the six-mile strip
nppertaining to the canal, removing
the dangers of insurrection and riot
Last al there was some fear ex-
pressed in Nicaragua and Costa RIGA
lest u government, being strongly
established between Greytown and
Brito, might proceed to absorb other
territory when an instruction might
break out. 1t is enough that our gov
eminent disclaims absolutely any such
purpose. The Morgan bill makes pro-
vision for the proper policing Of the
1o~ol o~I tho ooo,,iro5 ctrs, Inv limit
ed States soldiers. Mr.. Morgan con-
tended last year strongly against fort
flying the canal, on the ground that
fertilization would invite attack and
make the region about the canal and
the waterway itself the eel of hos.
tilities and point of attack in time of
war. The strong maritime nations
would rush their navies to capture the
prize. The whole idea of fortifying
the canal is antagonistic to the mod
ern view of such waterways which
would make them free to the worlds
commerce and representative of it's
civilization.
1t must be admitted that there are
advantages pertaining to the Panama
route which cannot be ignored by prac.
tical and thoughtful people. Any such
person who will read the comparative
statement by Bunau-Varilla as to
the merits Of the two routes, made be-
fore the New York Chamber Of Com.
merce, will be convinced that the Pan
anna route is superior to it's rival in
some respects. Bunau-Varilla, it is
true, was formerly chief engineer OF
the Panama canal and looks with ia,
yor upon that route, but he gives data
which show that, if economy is re
sired, and the French syndicate will
sell out cheaply enough, it would be
for the advantage of the United States
to make the cut by the shorter route
where there would be fewer locks re
quired, less curvature and far less
danger of volcanic outbreaks and
earthquake shocks than there actually
is by the long Nicaragua route. But
most of our senators cry: "Nicara
qua or nothing" And what can be
done under such obstinate circum
stances?
THE MINER AND BRYAN.