Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-08-05

DIR, E. r. Johnson, member OF the
isthmian canal commission appointed
in June, 1899, spoke to an audience OF
over $50 in university hall Monday
on the work and benefits such
canal would entail DR.. Johnson is
professor in the University Of Penn
sylvania and is at present engaged in
the Wisconsin summer school.
The commission of which he is
member consists of nine members and
Admiral John G.. Walker is it's presi-
dent. The work of this commission is
practically completed and it is prob
able that it's meeting in Washington,
d. c.. next week will be the last. Its
work has been to point out the best
route for a canal across the isthmus.
DR.. Johnson stated last evening that
congress would probably make it's ap-
preparation to begin work at its ses-
sion next winter.
In his talk last evening DR.. Johnson
first discussed the work and merits OF
the Panama and the Nicara-
qua companies. He then explained
the work of the commission, which
undertook three lines of Investigation:
The engineering and cost of canal,
the concessions to be secured and
their cost, and the industrial, COM
mercial and international value.
cit was found" he said, "that the
engineering problems were practically
equal on both the Nicaragua and the
Panama canals. The cost of the for
mer would be $200,000000 and of the
latter SLAP, 100000. This would leave
a difference of $48,OO0,O00 in favor of
the Panama, but the French would
probably have to be recompensed for
the work they have done.
The commission finally recommend
ed the Nicaraguan route on account
of it's superiority for American com
merce. All things compared, the com
mercial advantages are in favor Of the
Nicaraguan route.
'"The new Panama company has the
exclusive right to construct canal
across the isthmus. The Columbian
government is not free, therefore to
deal with the United States, neither
can the Panama company do so on &C.
count of certain clauses in it's cOnstl
tuition At Nicaragua the situations
are different and both company and
government are unhampered in theii
treatment with the United States.
'"The construction of the Nicaraguan
canal involves a treaty between the
United States and Great Britain. The
right to control the canal and the
question of naturalization are at issue.
Nicaragua and Costa RIGA have en-
tered into agreements with other in
terested countries than the United
States for canal for the benefit of all
nations on terms of equality.
"a new convention is now in nego
tiation and the terms will probably be
different in form if not in words
'"The economic value of the canal is
the next question to be discussed
When we consider that our foreign
trade is secondh only to the united
kingdom the reason becomes manifest
why we should push the great work.
''The future growth of our foreign
trade is merely question of cheaper
transportation. The isthmian canal
will charter the distance 40 per cent
of the routes about the southern por-
ton of the country. A large trade
with tropical countries has become
great issue. Furthermore, these coun
tries supplying raw products also form
market for machinery.
"Our trade with the west coast of
South America is not large, but would
become so if direct route were
opened. Trade will be highly salts
factory to both countries"
Here the speaker dwelt upon list
from business houses to the canal
commission showing how the construc.
ton would help the various firms.
''In spite of reductions in prices of
moving freight by rail-" he continued,
'the cost over high mountains, etc., is
still large. In order to find the effect
the canal would have upon United
States business houses a member
travelled from Maine to Texas and a
large correspondence was kept up.
The large result that would follow the
construction of the canal greatly as
tonished even the commission.
nc pIOOuCI0 VI CAO OOuLn nAO q
market mostly in Europe, but they are
desirable everywhere. The canal
would benefit the cattle trade by aid
ing it's sale in China and other coun-
tries. We should, think, supply one
half of the cotton trade in the coun-
tries of the orient. Iron manufactur-
ers send large numbers of iron and
steel articles to trans-Pacific coun :
tries But the total effect upon the
iron industry will be even greater in
the most of the United States. Be-
sides aiding these products the canal
will open up markets for coal and
lumber to South American countries.
"Since the opening of the Suez canal
England has had a great advantage
over the United States in the trade
with Australia and the orient. With
the opening of the Nicaraguan canal
the United States could compete with