Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-03

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The Chiriquf lagoon. in national.
naval and maritime point of view, gener-
ally, cannot be overestfmated In the eyes
of any nation aiming at ascendency in the
Central American states. 1t is situated
just half way between Aspinwaf and San
Juan del Norte Tor Greytown), and pos
sesses healthy climate. 1t possesses very
many of the requisites for great naval
station, and any maritime nation of even
limited power, once obtaining a foothold
there, would make her influence decidedly
felt in that quarter"
Transactions of the United States.
The acquisition of California and the In
creasing number Of passengers and the
amount of traffic for transportation across
the American isthmus ensuing thereon,
together with the obligations of the treaty
between the United States and New Gran
ada, requiring, on the part Of the United
States, the guaranty and protection of the
neutrality and, under certain cfrcum-
stances, the peace of the isthmus, inter-
ested the administrations of Presidents
Fillmore, Pierce and Buchanan In the in
quiry for locations upon the isthmus suit
ed for naval stations, in order to facilt-
tate the government in the discharge or
the duties imposed by the treaty, and or
the obligations to render efficient protec-
ton to our citizens In transit as Well as our
commerce in that region.
President Buchanan's efforts extended to
the formation of the Cass-Herran treaty,
the seventh article Of which, providing for
a naval station at the isthmus, was re-
jected by the congress of New Granada
The pressing necessities of the government
then brought about an offer for purchase
of the rights, grants, privileges and prop
erty of the Chiriqui Improvement Company
for $3,OOO,oO0; and, finally. during the al.
ministration of President Buchanan, led
to a contract between the United states
and the company for the use Of the har-
bors supplies of coal, etc. This PROVISIONAL
contract was transmitted to Congress,
with recommendation for 1DDrODrlate ac-
ton. The Senate, after thorough and IN
teresting discussion, voted for an appro-
priation of 100000 with which to begin
the necessary work, but the House IN
sisted upon having more information tnan
was then at hand; Sc the differences be-
tween the two houses were compromised
by providing for the sending OF a commas
sion to Chiriqui province, for which pur-
pose $4,000 appropriation was made
Naval Expedition.
A naval expedition set out from Norfolk
in August, 1860, in charge of Captain Engle,
in the United States steamer Brooklyn,
Captain (afterward AdmiraD Farragut
commanding. The commission, composed
Of officers of the army and the navy OF the
United States, detailed for the purpose by
the President, and instructed to make
photographed, topographic and geoloSi-
cal survey of the portion of the Chirlqul
isthmus embraced in the contract, landed,
on the 24th of the same month, IN Chlrllul
lagoon and returned on the 18th OF NO
vember following, having made complete
exploration of the harbors upon both
coasts and an examination of the inter-
vening country across the isthmus, lnciud-
ing the coal fields on the Atlantic side.
Captain Engle's report of the Work OF
the expedition under his command referred
to the harbors on both sides of the isthmus
as unsurpassed for all maritime purposes.
This very favorable and satisfactory re-
port of the results Of the expedition, sus-
tanning in all respects the action OF the
administration of President Buchanan, was
by the President transmitted to Congress
January % 1861, and it attracted marked
attention. But the troubles preceding the
outbreak of the civil war precluded action
by Congress on the report OF the Chlrlqul
commission.
President Linco1n's Course.
The interest of the government in the mat
ter continued, however, and in the following
year the report of the results of the Chlrl-
qui expedition and the action taken by
the preceding administration having in the
meanwhile been brought to the attention
of President Lincoln, after very careful
consideration, a new agreement was en-
tered into, embracing, together with the
stipulations in substance of the preceding
contract an elaborate plan for the coion1-
zation upon the Chiriqui isthmus OF such or
the recently emancipated people OF the
south as might desire to emigrate. Con-
gress had previously appropriated the ag-
gregate amount of Se00,e00, to be used at
the discretion of the President In further
ance of the plan of colonization.
President Lincoln, in speech delivered
at the door of the White House to a dele
CATION of colored men, explained to them
his colonization plans and why he selected
Chiriuui province as the best place Tor the
accomplishment OF his purpose.
Later Action by U. 5. Government.
In 1S79-1SSO considerable international
agitation was occasioned by the project Of
an interoceanic canal across the 1sthmus
Of Panama. to be built by private F'rench)
capital under a concession from the Co
lombian government for that purpose.
President Hayes in March, 1880, in spe-
cial message to Congress, expressed the
opinion that it is the right and duty OF
the United States to assert and maintain
such supervision and authority over any
interoceanic canal across the isthmus that
connects North and South America as will
protect our national interest"
Secretly, just previous to the Issuance OF
President Hayes special message, the
select committee on interoceanic ship canal
of the House of Representatives had unant-
mously adopted, on January 70, 1850,
resolution that
1T is the opinion Of the select committee
on interoceanfc ship canal that the gov.
eminent of the United States should
promptly establish coaling stations on the
Pacific coast at the Gulf Of Dulce and
(90lf1tO. ana on the coast OK Tic SdIlDOSdA
sea at the Bay Of Bocas del Toro, Lake
Chiriqui."
a certified copy Of this resolution was
delivered to Secretary Thompson on the
day it was adopted by MIR. King, the chair
man, and Mr.. Singleton, a member OF the
House committee and on that day, IN re-
Spouse to the opinion expressed in the reso-
luton, the Secretary of the Navy issued
orders to Commander Picking of the kear-
sarge to proceed to Bocas del Toro, Lake
Chirtuui, and deposit coal, and to Com
mander Howell Of the Adams to proceed to
GoIfito, In Golfo Dulce, for a like purpose.
These orders were promptly executed.
Congress, by act OF March 3, 1881, appro-
priated 100000 ''to enable the Secretary OF
the Navy to establish at the Isthmus Of
Panama naval stations and depots Of coal
for the supply of steamships OF war, the
money to be available for expenditure as
soon as suitable arrangements can be made
to the proposed end"
This fund Is now available for usa at the
pleasure of the Secretary of the Navy.
Interesting Diplomatic "Incident."
Some alarm In Panama was caused by
the operations of our naval vessels. the
Kearsarge at Chiriqui Lagoon, and the
Adams at Golfito, which led to an interest
ing diplomatic incident" The president
Of the state of Panama issued what Secre-