Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-25
ONE CANAL MUST Be BUILT
John jenkins Says Interocesnic Waterway
is Commercial Necessity.
FAVoRs NICARAGUA OVER PANAMI
Objection Based on Liability 60 Earth
quake shocks Answered by Point
ing TO Deep Mines and Ar
tesian Wells Along Route.

Hon. John Jenkins. United States consul
general to San Salvador, who has within
the week returned from Central America, is
very much interested In the fate OF the
isthmian canal question pending in con-
gress. He expresses a decided preference
for the Nicaragua route and answers the
objections recently advanced against It,
based on the volcanic character OF con-
tiguous territory.
Il do not know the position Of the canal
of Nicaragua or that Of Panama in con.
gress." said Mr.. Jenkins, "as / have been
more than a month away from where ]
could get news in relation to the merits of
either. l have always been in favor Of the
Nicaragua canal, and 1t seemed TO me at
one time as though that route was to be
selected as the right one. Much has been
said about the merits OF either route. That
q greater expense would be incurred IN
building the Nicaraguan route needs no
explanation. 1t is a TACT; It would be more
expensive than the building Of the Panama
canal. according to the figures for which
the French commissioner offered to sell
their vested rights in that route.
ut is claimed for that route a short dis
eanoe. as compared with that Of Nicaragua.
] believe that position is true. IL must not
be overlooked, however, that certain ad-
vantages of the Nicaragua canal route
offer which cannot be found in the Panama,
namely that OF seagoing ships with a foul
bottom, which will have a greater oppor-
tunity Of being thoroughly cleansed by
passing into the fresh waters OF the lakes
of Nicaragua. To the mariner and the man
experienced in steamship building that ad-
vantage is a great one, making a difference
In speed Of one or two knots, and, perhaps
more, Per hour at the same cost of fuel.
Question of Earthquakes.
II have lately observed that since It has
become known that there have been seismic
troubles in the Caribbean sea and the north
Fart of Guatemala, ranging from Nicaragua
up to Mexico, that this is advanced as a
reason why the canal should not be built
In Nicaragua. as Il would be subject to
these upheavals and in one minute destroy
the whole canal. To the person who has
lived In those countries for many years
and has taken the pains to inform himself,
that objection would carry no weight.
From inquiries made, as we'll as from OBJ
servRtions taken by myself, / know that
in the mines OF San Salvador those earth
quakes never have any effect beyond a
shake, do not destroy the work, nor impair
II in the least. Even artesian wells that
have been sunk to a great depth have never
been disturbed by the earthquake. showing
that an earthquake has greater effect on
the surface of the earth than on the in
terior. The workings of an earthquake are
well represented by the distu ..ances at
sea by winds, which send the waves very
high. The waves do not disturb the water
below to any great depth, nor is the effect
Of the earthquake felt at any great depth
below the surface.
IF the advocates of the Nicaragua canal
were as determined and persistent as the
promoters Of the Panama canal in having
no canal unless IT is built in Panama, they
would not offer that as an objection. They
would very properly, IL that was their mode
of pursuing the advocacy Of their canal,
point out to the. great cut known as the
Cut Of C~ulvera. or better known under its
old name OF Golgona, where a shake would
cause the two sides Of that hill to come
down and close up.
Canal IL n Necessity.
"As an advocate OF a canal, in the inter-
est OF commerce. l would rather see a cana
built In Panama than to have none. 1t is
q necessity for the development OF the
American that It be had. With
all the objections that have been offered
against the Nicaragua canal there is one
reason in favor Of It that must not be lost
sight Of in the interest Of true economy.
We have a large navy. and IL the canal OF
Panama is built with the acquired inter
ests which the United States will
1t will demand an additional force to guard
the coast line OF 1000 miles more, as
Nicaragua Is about that distance further
north than the ithsmus. While the cost OF
that canal may be greater. and while it will
be longer than the route of Panama, a
great deal Of time would be saved by ships
having business between San Francisco and
f~1he Atlantic coast. which saving would
rebound as against the first and original
cost OF the canal.
There Is. perhaps. another reason tina
may be advanced and that is that deem
It TO be the mission OF the United States tc
foster its higher civilization upon this
continent. / know the task to be a Erea,
one, but II we take it by pieeemeal, we
will accomplish 1t in due time and stay
An the limits, as IL weres with Nicaragua
10 begin with. II will be much easier tc
take the rest In due time.
I'm conversation with the most advanced