The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-07-15
The Panama Route!

BY Senator NJ. A Hanna in Golfers Weekly. |
After De Lesseps had begun the tide |
water canal at Panama, the United |
States thought seriously OF entering the
isthmian field and constructing q canal
of It's own. The one route open TO us
appeared to be that through Nicaragua.
This was the unoccupied route; the
other had been taken possession OF.
Naturally, public attention In this
country was fixed on the Nicaragua
route. 1t was our project We were
all for Nicaragua. Political parties
passed resolutions in its favor. i was
among those who wanted . canal on
that line. We sent three commissions
to investigate IL, and each one reported
In favor OF making larger canal than
had hitherto been planned. IL was
fortunate thing that we did not build q
canal on any of those plans. 1t would
have been too small. 1t could not &C.
commodated the great ships OF the
present nor the greater ships OF the fu-
ture. -....-. .-.--..
But now, through the financial fail
ure of the French corporation, We have
q chance 10 buy its property and take
that line ourselves. All that we want
is the best route. It Is . practical
question. In reaching our conclusion,
we should not be controlled BY senti-
ment nor by prejudics. Noe everyone
is able to investigate this great prob,
lem for himself. II Is one of thoss
questions which we must refer TO ex-
perts. II we have q great building TO
erect or line of railroad to construct,
we call in architects or engineers. We
rely upon their technical knowledge.
10 this still more difficult aud compll-
Gated canal venture, we have pursued
the same method We created q COM
mission of eminent engineers and busi-
ness men. They studied the problem
patiently and exhaustively for two
years. They spent million Of money
in their work. employing many men to
make surveys. borings and soundings.
This commission has unanimously re-
ported in favor of the Panama route.
This Is not all. When the old Pan
anna Canal company failed, public-spir-
tied men in France, organized q new
company to carry on the work. They
raised some money. But before going
ahead they wished to be sure of their
ground from the engineering stand
point. So they called to their assist
ance a board of fifteen Of the most emf
nent engineers and specialists in the
world-men from all the leading coun-
tries, men who stood at the very top OF
their profession. This international
boa rd made its investigations, presented
its report, and declared that the pro
ject was feasible and sound within the
limits Of reasonable cost That verif.
cation of the enterprise has since been
, verified by our own commission, unani'
mously. 1t does not seem to me that we
; need any further evidence. It does moi
seem that any individual Judgment
whether Of layman or senator, or editor
can be set up against this most distin
, guished and authoritative expert judg
ment. I sympathize with all thoss
who. laboring in other days for an 18th
, milan canal, had but one star to guide
, them-Nicaragua To pass 1t by nov
. must to them seem like giving up al
old friend. But we are not building ,
canal as q matter Of sentiment.
We want the hest route, no. mattel
what its name What is the best route
, The one that will permit the passage o
+, vessels from ocean TO ocean In the short
= est possible time, at the smallest posi-
. BILE risk, and also on the most eeonomi
= cal lines. These are the condition
A which will bring success. Other thing
q being equal, the shortest canal viii b
the best canal. AS to length the Pan
: anna line Is 40 miles long, the Nicara gu
1873. To make the longer canal prefer
!. able to the shorter one IL must posses
great and unmistakable advantages Il
physical conditions apart from tn
? length. But precisely the contrary
!. true. Leaving out the very importau
n question Of length, the Panama line
&. superior TO the other. 1t has fewe
llocks, fewer curves and curves of large
radius, better water supply, no danger
ous navigation, absence OF winds an
lstorms, no volcanoes.
In building q canal, cost is not tn
% greatest consideration. We want th
best canal-the canal, which when fir
J. ished will be the most practicable an
safe for csrgoes, most secure in immr
II nifty from injury or destruction by th
elements. For the canal which Is 81
i perior in these respects we could affor
to pay a great deal more money tina
e for one which is inferior. Fortunatel
it is the best canal which will cost th
D. least According to the estimate {
D. the engineers. the first cost of the shol
line will be s5, 900, 900 less than that {
re the long one. Then the cost of mali
r tensnce Of the short line would be 81
r 300, 900 a year less than the cost
maintaining the other one. Capitali;
this difference at government rates
ly interest and 1t will be seen that Il
lit Nicaragua line would cost $4,000, ,0'
al more than the Panama. Nor does tn
es represent the whole Of the ditferen'
III in cost. Along the Panama route
IS much work has been done that the e
a. gineers are able TO figure with con
4 n l. ~ NJ tl