The times., 1901-05-22
NO CHANGE IN CANAL VIEWS.
Commission's Report to Endorse
Former Recommen

Former concentrations.
Another isthmian canal surveying
party returned yesterday, leaving only
one in the field. This last party, consist
ing of six men. is at Cachuja Dam, on
the cast side of the Nicaragua Noun
tains, and will be through with it's work
very soon. The result of it's observations
cannot affect the result of the delibera-
tions of the Isthmian Canal Commission.
which has practically all the data at hand
needed.
1t is learned that the report of the
commission. which is in course of prepar-
alton, Will not differ from the preliminary
report dated November 80. 1900. so far
as it relates to the selection of a canal
route from an engineering standpoint, but
in view of political considerations in
volYed. the commission will leave it to the
United States Government to determine
whether international politics or engi-
neering should have the most weight in
reaching a conclusion as to the route to
be selected.
This transfer of responsibility for the
selection of the route is due to the new
attitude of the Panama Canal Company
and the Colombian Government. bet
ter understanding of the position that
will be taken by the commission can be
had from a brief statement of its con-
clusion set forth in the preliminary re-
port.
The commission in that report pointed
out that the Panama Canal would be
shorter and have fewer locks and less
curvature than the Nicaragua Canal, but,
on the other hand, distances from ports
on the Atlantic Coast of the United States
to ports on the Pacific Coast were shorter
by the Nicaragua route THE time re-
quired to pass over these distances being
transit through the canals. the Nicaragua
line after completion" says the commits
sion, would be somewhat more advan-
tageous of the two to the United States,
Notwithstanding the greater cost of main
tanning the longer canal"
The commission then pointed out that
the Colombian Government was not free
to grant the necessary rights to the
United States except upon condition that
an agreement be reached with the new
Panama Canal Company, and added:
The commission believes that such
agreement is impracticable.' 1t then notes
that the Panama Canal Company was
then not willing to sell its franchise, but
would allow the United States to become
the owner of part of its stock. The COM
mission considered such an agreement
"inadmissible."
After referring to the freedom of the
Governments of Nicaragua and Costa
Rica 10 grant privileges to the United
States the commission gives this as its
conclusion:
In view of all of the facts, and par
ticularly in view of all the difficulties of
obtaining the necessary rights, privileges,
and franchises on the Panama route, and
assuming that Nicaragua and Costa Rica
recognize the value of the canal to them
selves and are prepared to grant conces-
sions which are reasonable and accepta-
BILE to the United States, the commission
is of the opinion that the most practical
BILE and feasible route for Quoting the
words of the resolution of Congress ap-
pointing the cOmmission) an istnmian
canal 10 be under the control, manage
ment- and ownership of the United States
is that known as the Nicaragua route
1t is therefore apparent that the com
mission has not changed its previously
expressed opinion that the Nicaragua
line, after completion, would be some
what the more advantageous of the two
to the United States" but regarding the
matter as of '-as much political en-
gineering and commercial Importance
will caH the attention of the Government
to the Willingness Of the Panama Com
pany and Colombia to make an arrange
ment with this country concerning the
Panama route, and point out that this
new feature involves additional political
considerations, the Government and not
the commission is better able to deter
mine what shall be done
II is understood that by political con-
sideratfons'' the commission means the
character of the arrangement that can be
made with the Republics concerned, for
permitting the United States to control
a canal through their territory. The COM
mission. IL is said, has in view the advan-
tage that Will be given the United States
by the desire of Colombia on the one
hand and Nicard qua and Costa Rica on
the other to assure the canal And its
recommendation will leave this Govern
ment free to select the route which on
account of concessions from Colombia, or
Nicaragua and Costa Rica, will be more
fully under American political control.