Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-23

ing 80 hours for Nicaragua and II hours
IL minutes for Panama. and although this
difference is offset in the case of voyages
between certain ports by the fact that
the distance from port to port by Mica
ragua is less than it is by Panama, 1t
must be remembered that a ship when
sailing in deep water is undergoing fewer
risks than when she is navigating a tor
tuous and shallow artificial canal.
:. The risks of operation are consider
ably less at Panama. for the reason that
vessels will spend far less time within
what might be called the danger zone"
this last being that portion of the canal
when is above tide level. The danger
zone at Nicaragua will be lac miles in
length; at Panama. on the other hand, il
will extend for only % IL miles. This is
most important consideration for YES
sells of the merchant marine, and it has
an even more important bearing upon the
interests of the navy.
s. Finally. while the time for the COM
pletion of the two canals is the same. the
cost of Nicaragua, now that the Panama
company has offered to sell its properties
for S4O,Oo0.Uvv, is 1890. 200 greater. To this
must be auoed the fact that a canal at
Nicaragua would cost $1,3OO.000 more every
year to maintain and operate.
Canal from the Standpoint Of Common
Sense.
The great isthmian canal problem has
reached a stage at which it needs only
the exercise of a little common sense for
its satisfactory solution. The question q
the proper location for the canal is first
and last or of engineering. In consider
ing it, the American people should re-
member that whatever of sentiment.
whatever of prejudice. whatever of so
called patriotism or national prestige has
been allowed to entangle itself in this
question ought to be entirely swept away,
and the problem looked into. weighed.
judged and a final decision reached pure
~ on the physical and engineering facts
as they have been determined by our gov
eminent engineers and presented to the
American people for their decision in the
recent most able, comprehensive and
easily understood report.
We have no hesitation in saying that il
anyone who is interested in the isthmian
canal problem will read the digests and
analysis of this report as presented in the
current issues of The Scientific American
and Supplement he will come to the con-
clusion that judged on the grounds of
practicabiiity of construction, securitys
permanence, convenience and ease of oper-
alton and cheapness of first cost and
maintenance the Panama canal as de-
signed by our engineers is by far the bet
ter scheme. HAVING Salu THIS one Has
said it all, but if it be suggested, as has
lately been frequently done. that Nicara-
qua has exclusive claim upon our national
interest and sympathy. it must be replied
that the first complete survey at Pana-
ma was made, as we have shown else
where by an American naval ofncer Tor
the American government, and that over
half a century ago this country concluded
a treaty with New Granada (now the
United States of COlombia) guaranteeing
the perfect neutrality of the isthmus at
Panama as a highway from the Atlantic
TO the Pacific The solemn stipulations or
that treaty have remained in force ever
since. and only within the last few months
our government. acting under the stipu-'
lations of this treaty, landed troops Tor
the protection of the Panama railroad.
Congress has grown so used TO consld-
erfng Panama as a French undertaking
that IT is only now beginning to realize
that If we take hold Of the, Panama
scheme under our own terms of purchase
it becomes as truly an American enter
prise as would the construction. dc noVo
of a canal at Nicaragua.
Although the Hepburn canal bill mas
been passed in the house by practically
unanimous vote. it is significant that an
amendment authorizing the president 10
negotiate for the Panama as well as the
Nicaragua route was lost by 102 votes 10
10 This result would indicate that II the
senate should send the bill back 10
the house. amended so as to provide for
building the canal on the Panama route
the house would accept the revision