The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-24
Washington
Day by Day

| possessed OF more ltldn oIuihaiy iieSfH
gence write that it makes no difference
to the people of that state whether the
proposed isthmian canal to unite the At
lantic and the Pacific oceans is construct
ed across Nicaragua, Panama OF Da-
rien, then one is impressed with the pre-
vailing ignorance concerning the material
conditions of a question Of public utility
which has been under discussion In this
country for nearly a century.
"What we want is the canal-the route
of It is of no consequence to Alabama"
they In effect declare.
Reference to any map of North Ameri-
ca and South America with the connect
ing land which for convenience we call
Central America, will demonstrate in a
moment that the Nicaragua route means
everything to Alabama.
So far as Alabama especially is con-
cerned, canal through Nicaragua would,
as compared to one through Panama, be
as a river of gold to the hill of a mole
after a shower of rain.
The Nicaragua route is everything to
Alabama and the South generally, all the
Panama route would mean no more to
those states than the Northern Pacific
Railroad means. In truth, Senators and
Representatives of the Gulf states would
be warranted in voting mo canal rath-
er than vote for the Panama scheme, the
trickery of the most powerful lobby ever
organized to influence the action of Con-
.-.az. Gov tho M rieT route. IT Is out
side Of all discussion and has never been
seriously considered by any serious states
man.
The vital facts and figures involved In
all this Nicaragua Panama discussion
have been repeatedly given to the world
by Senator Morgan and other men of pre-
eminent authority.
At the moment months ago when the
Panama scheme was made public for the
sole purpose of preventing the eonstruc-
ton of any canal, former Senator James
! l.. Pugh Of Alabama, who is In the broad
est sense the best Informed man In
America regarding all great national
issues of legislation accomplished and leg
islation proposed, gave through the medi-
sons why the Nicaragua route was every
| thing to Alabama and the South.
Mr. Pugh pointed out that the Panama
route Is five hundred miles further from
Mobile than the Nicaragua route; or, on
the necessary round voyage of ship
Panama is a thousand miles greater in
distance from the Alabama seaport than
| Is Nicaragua.
Great as this natural condition Is, and
momentous as 1t Is to Alabama and ad-
Joining states, it Is yet almost trifiing
as measured by an additional artihclal
and natural condition so eloquently dweit
upon by the illustrious Albanian, whose
great love for his state strengthens as his
long and honored years lengthen.
Mr.. Pugh demonstrated that the ships
of the great lines already operating from
New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia and
Boston. together with the vessels of new
lines that would be organized In event
canal should be constructed, would not,
IL the canal were at Panama, pass within
/ eight hundred or a thousand miles of the
Alabama coast All such ships would pass
the map will show, for they would be
sailed over the shortest route from the
North Atlantic ports. Practically an ocean
would roll between the route of those
ships and Savannah, Pensacola, Mobile,
New Orleans and Galveston.
The vast consequence of this may be
realized when we reflect upon the fact
that one single line now trading between
our North Atlantic coast and Central
and South America owns and operates
seventy ships; and If the Nicaragua
canal were. constructed all these ships
would necessarily enter the Gulf of Mex
leo off the Florida Coast, and would
make Mobile their most important port
OF call.
Thus we may recognize the absurdity
of the proposition that 1t would make no
difference to Alabama whether Panama
or Darien should be chosen for a location
of the proposed canal 1t is doubtful If
Alabama would be directly benefited to
the extent of the value of one bale of
cotton or ten tons of coal IL the canal
should be built through the isthmus of
/
Darien The only possible means whereby
Alabama could be benefited by the canal
on either of the two routes would be for
our people to construct swift steamships
to ply between Mobile and such canal.
| conveying coal and iron to be stored al
| the canal entrance for possible chance
| customers! AS these ships would have to
return to Mobile empty, 1t would be diff
| ficult to run them at profit, even II we
| could find the capital necessary to build
| them. To make any kind Of show in that
| direction would require more than a mil
lion dollars or the profit on millions of
| tons of coal.
| Yet we hear the argument that ut
makes no difference to Alabama" Assur-
eddy Senator Morgan has not labored in
the Senate for quarter of century in
absolute blindness as to the value to Ala
hama of the Nicaragua route!
Senator Morgan continues to be hopeful
| that the Senate will this session pass the
Houses Hepburn bill for the construction
of the Nicaragua canal; but unhappily
very few men in and out of Congress
feel justified in sharing his hope. Hope
fulness implies expectation. though most
| Of us often express the sentiment without
any manner of expectancy or belief. The
general impression or opinion Of the
/ -