The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-08-22

That Congress will emerge from the
little battles Of sectional and personal
interests, and stand as g unit for
great measure whose passage is de-
handed for the public welfare, was
strikfngly illustrated during its last
session, when a bill 10 buy land for
canal across the Isthmus Of Panama be-
came a law. A number of Senator'S and
Representatives preferred the Nicaragua
route and a strong belief prevailed il
the South that, as IL is within easier
reach than the other ports on the Gulf
OF Mexico. it would. If chosen. result in
greater advantage to that section. But
when the opponents Of the Panama
route saw that their continued oPposi-
ton would prevent Congress from pass
ing any canal measure. they reIin-
pushed their positions position that
some of them had held for years, and
joined with the others in enacting q
law which wiz mean wonderful facili-
tation Of American commerce
The fact that the Panama route is
shorter than the Nicaraguan route. by
about thirty miles, was the chief one
OF the considerations which led Con
gress to decide in favor Of the former.
says former Senator John II. ThuTston
Of Nebraska, in Success Another
argument that had weight il influencing
the decision in favor Of the Panama
route was the clearing away Of any dan
ger OF ilI-feeIing that might arise in
the minds OF a greater OF less number
Of Britons. II the other route should be
cFos en-. Notwithstanding the fact that
the Clayton Bu1wer Treaty has been
a5rogated by England. it probably
would have caused friction and irrita-
ton, had 1t been decided to build
Nicaragua canal
Il is estimated that the expense Of
constructing the Panama Canal. includ-
ing the forty million dollars TO be paid
TO the French canal company. viii be
about twenty per cent less than that OF
cutting q canal through the Nicaragua
territory, but 40 not think this matter
Of the smaller cost weighed much with
Congress. The feeling was general that
the matter Of even a considerable num-
Der of million dollars should not have
much influence in the exceedingly i'm
site for so great and enduring a public
work. The subject of volcanoes was also
touched upon in the arguments: but,
since il was difficult 10 gather from the
debates whether the volcanoes were IN
Nicaragua or Panama. the possibility Of
eruptions was not one Of major con-
siderstion Ia choosing the Panama
route
Great engineering difficulties will be
ton. but these would have been nearly
or equally as great in Nicaragua. The
chief drawback 10 the work in Panama
viii be the hot. moist. and facilitating
climate. It will be impossible for men
OF northern blood to perform the vast
amount o. manual labor that will be
necessary. Italians may be able TO stand
the climate. but as 20 that there Is 10
certainty. The ideal labor for the Ioca1i- /
ty is Chinese, but 70 employ the large
numbers necessary would probably be
fnDracticable On account Of the opposi- /
ton that would be manifested by the
labor unions Of this country. The latter
would doubtless maintain that the en-
ploy1nent Of Chinese labor on the canal
would create a precedent threatening 10
the American woFkingman, and this
hypothesis would not be without reason. !
But the question Of labor is chiefly one
for the contractors to solve, and, OF
course, viii find a solution.
il IS impossible 70 foresee all the ad I
Tantages that viii accrue 10 the United 4
States through the construction Of this !
canal but that they viii be many and /
great there can be no doubt 1t has /
been said that the Atlantic seaboard wiz /
be greatly benefited This century viii /
see the Development Of q great trade /