New-York tribune., 1902-01-01
THE ISTHNIAN CANAL.
SUGGESTION THAT THE PRESIDENT
SHOULD HAVE POWER TO DECIDE
UPON THE ROUTE.
To the Editor of Tho Tribune.

To the Editor Of Tho Tribune
Sir: That the choice of routes for the proposed
isthmian canal is stin IN abeyance is evident and
that the situation calls for careful considera ton
before undertaking any positive legislation would
seem 10 be equally
Notwithstanding the renort of tbe commission
recommending Nicaragua II would seem that tho
present financial complications, rather than the
engineering political aspects of the question
have been the determining factor in their recon-
mendation.
That powerful private interests are striving for
the adoption OF the Panama route from purely
selhsh motives Is matter of small concern in
great public work like this. A certain amount OF
negotiation and even 'bufing" on a grand scale
there must be, but after all is said and done the
final selection must be made upon merit only The
situation as II now stands has practically exclusive
reference TO the sl09,OOO0oO asked by the French
company, and If that sum had been reduced to
SDoooOoO. being the value estimated by the COM
mission the Nicaraguan proposition would have
been sheved
Paniestreken and foreseeing that nearly $780,
O0O,G0 Of hard earned money already expended by
them at Panama is apparently about TO vanish
into thin air. the representatives OF the deluded
ana unfortunate French peasant stockholders, In
convention assembled, have suddenly realized that
their former president has proved himself but
poor negotiator. and evidently willing 10
abate their asking price and take the 500 600
estimated by commission as the value OF their
plant to the United States.
Should this offer be made. ought Il not to be ac-
eepted at once. without further haggling? Is IL
consistent with the dignity OF the United States
after he report of its commission. to try TO
knock of another SIS 100000 has been suggested
on the general principle that when you have forced
man into q corner you entitled to drive as
hard bargain as his necessities may compel him
to accept? Certainly, in what Is morally. II not
financially. great international enterprise In the
interest Of the peace and commerce OF the world
a country like ours Ill afford TO pley the part
OF I financial bully.
Let us examine the relative merits OF the two
proposed waterways. Taking the able and impair
tial report OF the commission practically the
only basis upon which rny prospective legislation
be properly enacted we find the following to
be the situation:
Co.'S: Cost Of IF NSdns Sassx hs sSas NSsaFgs s. @
ing S5ooooooo iS4 COO. 900
And here 1t may be proper suggest that In
view OF the shorter distance. the enormous work
already done. and the previous French computa-
tons TO well guide our commission
II would be only fair to assume that the Panama
estimate is much likely TO be correct than
that OF Nicarag qua.
Cost Cost per sHDS 81 opsTaas 300 600
annual saving at Pansms. 81 300 600
Time needed for building Nicaragua years
Time needed for building Panama. years
Time Of Panama I2 hours
There harbors at Nicaragua nor is an
estimate given in the published summary Of the
commissions report OF the expense of constructing
them Panama already has harbors.
On the other hand, II should be noted that
Nicaragua is better situated for domestic com
merce between Atlantic and Pacific ports, though
trade. Whether this advantage 10 domestic com
merce Is worth the additional amount OF 81 10000
question that may well occupy the attention of
Leaving aside. however the financial and eco
noInic questions involved in the choice of route.
within the scope OF the report of the commission
L certainly entitled to grave eonsideration-and
Suppose that go ahead and build our Mica
ragua Canal, and II turns out that the cost runs
modest sl89OoO,g0 estimated by the commission
and that such is likely TO be the the expert
probable Suppose. then *urther that the tolls are
proportionately increased as they would have'to
re. for the American people could hardly be ex-
pected dive annually into their pockets 10 make
up deficits. Confronted with this upon their
commerce might not European combination at
some future time readily turn 10 the more than
after having made arrangement with the
starved cut Frenchman, that they proposed TO
Doctrine no Monroe Doctrine the United States
not yet in position of sufficient power
defy a commercial and political world arrayed
The whole situation is unique, for the nearly
S300,00001 already expended at Panama is fact
Of vast significance. The American people have
entire confidence in the intelligence and capacity
OF their chief executive. He is, moreover, sur
rounded by exceptionally able body Of ad-
ogpize the facts in businesslike way, ana let
Congress enact that the President be appointed a
appear that under such conditions negotiations
would be likely to proceed in an oTderly and
satisfactory manner than seems probable at pres
Soutban,pton. n Y Dec 90 1901