Evening star., 1902-02-18

IS practically on 800 miles of latitude and
probably COO miles of longitude through
which calm belt sailing vessels of any
and every kind must beat their way at the
average loss of fifteen days on every Voy
age 1t makes no difference from what point
the ship has sailed. This fact excludes the
American sailing ship from any advan-
ttge IN this canal at Panama. and in my
opinion 1t Is loss of more than half of
the value of the canal to our people, par
tcularly to her producers and traders 1t
makes no difference whether they are going
10 the western coast of the United States
or 10 the orient or any part of the Pacific
ocean this calm belt, which Is as fixed and
certain as the flow of the gulf stream
stands there to delay them on their Jour
ney ana to prevent them from deriving any
benefit from it.
No Wind at Panama
1t was stated by Commodore Maury that
If nature had separated the isthmus at
Panama to make a clear canal there Amer
lean ships would still sail around the Horn
III preference to going through such a pas.
SageWay. for the reason that they could get
no wind at Panama. That considerations in
my mind. is supreme inexurable and con-
elusive. | would never have spent one day
lE advocacy of Il canal from which Ameri-
can sailing ships should be excluded. We
count very much on the coastwise trade,
which is OF value to cur producers, as well
as TO the naVigatOrS and ShipownerS. The
route by Panama lengthens the coastwise
lin: of the United States by more than 800
miles.
Il am not disposed to sacrifice that to the
owners of steamship lines. The argument
in favor OF excluding the sailing ships from
the isthmian canal is that sailing ships are
going out and steamships are coming in
By the time that sailing ships disappear
from the ocean. and especially from the
coastwise trade. l shall expect to mules
and horses disappear from the farms Of
Alabama and all rloughing done there by
steam engines or automobiles 1t is sim
ply prepOSterOuS expectation.
Estimates of Cost.
I'm estimating the cost of maintenance
by the two routes. the evidence shows con-
clusively two propositions. The first is that
there is no more salubrous tropical country
in the world than Nicaragua, and. second,
there is no more unhealthful region in the
world than Panama. l estimate the loss of
life both in the construction and mainte-
nance of the Panama canal as being worth
something more than money, and L would
feel criminal if ! should connect myself by
my vote with a proposition that Will re-
peat the sacrifice of life that has taken
more than true that there is dead man
upon every crosstie of that forty-siX miles
of railroad. l do not care to go any fur
ther into this subject at this time and l
am speaking now upon evidence, the sworn
testimony of credible men as to whom
there Is no possible impea chment.
Il hope that MIR. Carnegie will agree with
me that the great class engaged in labor
and transportation by sea cannot afford to
pay taxes to build canal that simply de-
stroyS the profits of their industry and puts
them at the mercy of the transcontinental
railroads. He speaks in his letter of hav-
ing large acquaintance with railroads, and
also with navigation l do not impute to
him any desire to foster his railroad prop
critics at the expense of the industrial
classes, but think it is well for him to
consider. and it certainly will be the busi
ness for every American to consider and
to weigh the proposition that if We are to
build a canal at all 1t should be equally in
favor of all classes, industrial and CONNER
cia in the United Sta.es.'