The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-18
A DOUBTFUL BARGAIN,

Inc news that the senate committee
lndNlllg Inc lsrhmian canal problem I'M
ger ger considefation. by a majority vote.
mas decided to recommend the original
dIspourn Nlcaraguan canal bill for
adoption by the senate, must have caus-
ed surprise, mingled with indignation,
TO al friends Of an interoceanic canal
ieglslauon in the interest Of our nation
and its maritime commerce. The senate
committee report means nothing less
IMAM the adoption of the Nicaraguan
canal route.
Both projects under consideration we
nave discussed in a previous exhaustive
art1cle, our arguments were based on
personal observations, gathered while in
t tIa service OF the Panama Canal COM
pany Tor period of over three years
ana they mad been augmented by care
fuI studies of the reports Of the Walker
commission and those of the second Pan
anna Canal company
Technical and economic considera tionz
point to the Panama route as the one
which should be adopted by our gov
ssiiGment' II We must go in the canal
walker and his associates in the com
mission, before the senate committee un-
heStatlngly gave preference to this route
MOI Lhat above reasons should be ALL
that can De said in favor of the Panama
canal there are still other and even
more important arguments to be brought
forward. The differences in the time
required for transit may be mentioned
favor OF the Panama route. Somehow
the Idea got hold of the people that
the diIference was only twenty-five hours
and the Nicaragua advocates never took
the trouble to correct this error.
The action of the senate committee
conveys the idea that its decision was
prearranged, by it's majority at least.
Tor persons acquainted with isthmIan
conditions, but having an outspokn
opinion in favor of the Panama route.
We're not wanted by the committee. The
promoters of the Nicaraguan project
and with them the opponents Of any
gained an easy. victory, the cost of
which the people of the United States
viii have TO pay. With the Nicaraguau
to Uncle Sam
If nation which clothes g senatorial
committee with such far-reaching pow
ers declares itself satisfied with the bar
gain, it win hereafter have no cause
for complaint if it has to foot the bills.
and the people may rest assured thaI
this coterie will not hasten to tighten
It's heavy burdens. But what will the
French canal company now do. after the
United States government rejects its Of
fer?
VIII they quit work on the Panama
dltch, let the work already done go to
ruin, and confront its countrvmen for,
a second time with fiasco? Not very
likely.
The REPORTS of the American commission
en- Inc Panama canal and the voluntary
statements of engineers of renown, il
anything must have convinced the French
nnanc1erS that the Panama canal can be
bullt even In shorter time than the
Nicaraguan.
With the utmost confidence in the
tncTGughness of the Investigations of the
walker commission, we have always felt
that their estimates had been given with
a view Of protecting our government from
later disappointments, should We decide
10 take up the Panama route, and latest
press reports have justified this belief.
BY careful division Of the work BIZ us ng
modern machinery for excavation and ap-
plying American methods of work. and
leaving the executive apparatus free from
than possible that the Panama canal will
be open for the worlds commercial feet
much ahead of the time allowed for the
execution of the work and by SAVING q
few million dollars of the estimated COST
The maritime nations of Europe Will not
stop to consider who built the first canal
ar; and who viii be In control of the same.
Their ships will pass the canal as soon
as traffic is possible, and they will con-
tinue to frequent the route which offers
the best and quickest opportunities for
transit from ocean to ocean
Furthermore the reputation of the
French nation is jeopardized and ii is not
likely that they will allow the Panama
canal to remain unfinished European
capital, in view of the prominence given wen
the Panama project of late might also he
ready to assist the French Canal company
should the latter so desire
The question is but ma ural what will
the Nicaragua canal amount TO # the
other is first open for traffic? There is
no need for two interoceanic canals, and
it is evident that American commerce
alone cannot provide revenues suficient
for the maintenance and administration
of the Nicaragua canal
The lesson learned by the great fasco
Of the first Panama Canal company should
not be lost sight of by our people. and
it is therefore to be hoped that the
United states senate carefully will con-
slider this great and important question
or that as a last resort the president win
make use of his veto power.
Julius Moersch.
St Paul MINI.