Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-11-21
WILL PUSH THE CANAL.
Powerful Influences Are Now Lined
Up for the isthmain Project.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 2O.-Infiuep-
tial opposition to the construction of
an isthmian canal. which for several
years has been instrumental In re.
tarding progress on the great enter.
PRISE, mas at last been withdrawn
The great railroad magnates who
hitherto have regarded a water way
between the Atlantic and Pacific as
endangering the interests and have
thrown all possible obstacles in tn
way OF its construction have now so
shaded their business affairs as to be-
come the most active advocates OF
the canal
Messrs. Morgan. Hartman Hill
Gould. Vanderbilt and other directors
in the affairs of the transcontinental
INES mutually agreeing among them
selves upon plans to maintain rates
and promote harmony are now
branching out with the intention of
ultimately controlling all transporta.
tion facilities upon the sea as well as
upon the land. AS steamship owners
these railway magnstes no longer
1ear injurious competition by water
and from the position of opposing the
construction of the canal they are
now urging it, AS the owners of
steamships they can divide the trans
portation business most proftably
assigning to the railroads that which
VIII pay best and to the steamships
the heavy bulky. lorg hauis,
Mr. MoIsah v";eh he started 70 oh
tain control of ocean image went
to Europe. not so much to buy few
steamship lines as TO look into the
Panama Canal project. with the OBJ
ject of buying it If 1t was found a
good investment. Conferences with
President Loubet of France and al.
rectors of the canal company con
vinced him that title could not read.
lily be obtained, and the report of eX-
perts demonstrated that the canal
was not good business proposition at
the price set upon 1t. He therefore
abandoned the idea of working for
the construction of an isthmian canal
by the transportation companies ~
the country. and with his colleagues
is directing every effort to facilitate
the construction of canal by the
government
These magnates will line up in op-
position to the passage OF the sub
sidy bill in the form in which it was
presented to congress last session.
While they would. as owners of steam.
ships. benefit In degree from such
measure, they would rather forego
the the subsidy than have 1t dang
ling as temptation for the constrtic.
tion and operation of rival lincs
They do not want the government IN
offer any encouragement to the ship.
ping interests Il at might result in
producing competition.
They want. by controlling the
freight carried upon their railroads.
to annihilate independent steamship
companies. bankrupt them and force
them out of business. BY controlling
rates upon the ocean as well as upon
land, the great capitalists can pro-
duce satisfactory profits. and are
therefore. determined to prevent, II
they can. the government encourag-
Ing competition. They are not OPP
posed, however to a subsidy to steam
ships in any form. They are willing
that 1t should be offered ships EN-.
gagged in the commerce with Latin
America. At present the trade be
tween the United States and the 90
coast of South America is conducted
by way of Europe. and this triangular
course they wish to have abolished