The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-06-24
PANAMA WINS.
The Panama Route Chosen
for the ISthmian Canal.
The Senate Passes the Bill De-
cIaring in Favor Of the
Panama Route.
If a Good Title Cannot Be
Got for the Pam
anna Route,
The President to Choose tht
Nicaragua Route.
Senator Hanna Wears a Smile Tha
Is ChiIdIike and Bland.
The President to Choose the
Nicaragua Route.
Senator Hanna Wears a Smile That
Is ChiIdIike and Bland.


of the Isthmian canal on the Panama
route passed the Senate Thursday by |
eight majority. 1t will come up this |
week in the House for concurrence, |
and advices from Washington say il
yill pass.
To Senator Hanna is given the credit |
of its passage by the Senate, as the |
change Of q majority of the Senate to
the side of the Panama route. The
claims urged were that it would be the
cheapest TO construct, the cheapest to
maintain, much the shortest route, and
the easiest to navigate. The commits
sion appointed bv Congress to investi-
gate and decide as to the best route,
reported in favor of the Nicaragua
route, but after the French company
agreed to take $40, ,OOO, 600 for their
title and the work they had done on
the Panama route, this commission
changed and reported in favor of the
Panama route.
There has been some mysterious in
fiuence used to change the Senate, but
as we are not on the inside, and the
newspapers do not give us any light, we
can only guess.
1t Is possible that the commission"
reported In favor of the Nicaraugua
route to make the French company get
off it's high horse, and come down to a
fair price; that it was in favor of the
Panama route if that route could be
obtained at fair price, and that the
report in favor OF the Nicaragua route
was only bluff.
Again, it is possible that Uncle Sam
is fearful that il he builds on the Mic
araugua route France or some otaer
European power might buy out the
French company, and build canal on
that route, thus cutting US out of big
part of the trade, and taking from us
the control of the Isthmian canal in
case of a war.
The dispatch announcing the passage
of the bill is as follows:
Washing ton, June 19.--The Isthmian
Canal bill, passed by the Senate today,
provides substantially as follows:
Section l authorizes the President to
acquire for the United States, at cost
not exceeding $4,000. 900, all of the
rights, privileges, franchises, concess.
ions, grants of land, right OF way, un.
finished work, plants and other prop
erty owned by the new Panama Cana
Company of France, on the isthmus o.
Panama, and all its maps, plans, draw
ings and records on the isthmus o.
Panama and in Paris, including all the
capital stock, not less, however, thar
IS, S63 shares of the Panama Railroad
Company, owned by or held for the use
of said canal company. provided a sat
, isfactOry title to all of said property
can be obtained.
II Section authorizes the President Il
acquire from the Republic of Colombo,
Exclusive and perpetual control of ;
strip of. land not less than six mile
wide from the caribbean Sea to tn,
Pacific Ocean and right TO use and dis
. vste, construct and perpetually t.
, maintain, operate and protect thereon
a canal of such depth and capacity q
, will afford convenient passage of ship
of the greatest tonnage and draft nov
in use, from the sea to the ocean, thi
| control to include the.right perpetual.
to maintain and operate the Panami
, Railroad If the ownership thereof o
controlling interest therein shall hav'
been acquired by the United States
} also jurisdiction over the strip and tn
> ports at the ends thereof, to make tn
: n ecessary police and sanitary rules an
regulations and to establish judiciar
: tribunals to enforce the same. Tn
] President also may acquire such add
tional territory and rights from Col
9 ombia as in his judgement will facill
0 tate tine general purpose of the act.
To Pay $4,000, 900 for Canal.
By Section 3 10000, 600 is apprc
priated to pay for the property of th
new Panama Canal Company, and
sufficient amount to pay Columbia fo
the territory acquired from that cour
J try for the building of the canal. Tn
President is then, through the 18th
mian Canal Commission. authorized b
the act 10 proceed with the construC
tion of the canal, utilizing as far a
practicable, the work already done
!, The canal is to be supplied with a
!. necessary locks and other appliance:
e Provision is made for the constructio
of safe and cOmmodious harbors at tn
terminal of the canal. and for sue
t works of defense as may be necessar
e for the safety and protection of tt
It canal and harbors.
pl By Section the President is give
j the alternative authority OF prOceedin
!. with the construction of an isthmia
canal by what is known as the Nicars