The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1902-07-21
The Isthmian Canal.
CONTINUED from 1st paae.)

we want the best route, no matter
what its name. What is the best
route? The one that will permit the
! passag eof vessels from ocean to ocean
in the shortest possible time, at the
smallest possible risk, and also on the
most economical lines. These are the
conditions which will bring success.
Other things being equal, the short
est canal will be the best canal AS
to length, the Panama line is 40 miles
long, the Nicaragua SO. To make the
longer canal preferable to the shorter
one it must possess great and unmis-
taxable advantages in physical con-
ditions apart from the length. But
precisely the contrary is true. Leav-
ing out the very important question of
length, the Panama line is superior
to the other 1t has fewer locks, few
er curves and curves of larger radius,
better water supply, no dangerous ma
vigation. absence of winds and storms,
no volcanoes.
In building a canal cost is not the
greatest consideration. We want the
best canal-the canal which when fin
ished will be the most practicable and
safe froships and their cargoes, most
secure in immunity from injury or de-
struction by the elements. For the
canal which is superior In these res
poets we could afford to pay a great
deal more money than for one which
is inferior. Fortunately, 1t is the best
canal which will cost the least Ac-
coding to the estimates of the engin-
GERS, the first cost of the short line
will be $5,000,000 less than that of the
long one Then the cost of mainten-
apee of the short line would he $780,
900 year less than the cost of main
tanning the other one. Capitalize this
difference at government rates of in
terest and it will be seen that the Nj
earagua line would cost $7000o,000
more than the Panama. Nor does
this represent the whole of the differ
ence in cost Along the Panama route
so much work has been done that
the engineers az able TO figure with
confidnce what will be the expense of
the remainder Eyrything is open and
known. On the Nicaragua line there
Is a wilderness to pierce. But little
Is known as to the difficulties which
may be encountered, and the intimate
cost may vastly exceed tire estimates.
The engineers know they can complete
the Panama work within the stimates:
they hope to pc able to do so at Mica
ragua.
If the latter offered the best canal
when finished | would not stop at the
cost. But it does not. Its great
length. it's crookedness, its sharp
curves in following the narrow, tor
tuous bed of the San Juan River, the
high winds blowing all the time
through that valley make it certain
that the canal by this line would be
difficult one for ships to pass through.
1t is true that the distance from San
Francisco to New York is a little less
| via Nicaagua than via Panama. This
is the one advantage which any one
has been able nationally toclaim for
| the former route. But all the advan-
| tago there is In that is completely
wiped out by loss of time in getting
through the long and crooked canal.
| caused inquiries TO be made of
| eighty-three practical vessel men
owners, captains, mates, and other Of
| ficers of both steam and sailing ships
On the ocean, many of them men of
canals. The data as TO the physical
conditions surrounding the two pro-
posed canals were fairly placed before
these practical men. They replied
una nimously, that at equal tolls they
would use the Panama canal in prefer
ence. to the Nicaragua, They unani-
mously replied they would not attempt
TIC go through the long and crooked
canal without tugs to assist them. The
| $50 miles greater distance from New
York to San Francisco was pointed
out to them, and they weee asked
to take this and the other conditions
into consideration and say which
route they would prefer in making
a voyage. Tneir answer is unanimous
ly in favor of Panama.
One very serious factor must be TAX
Ell into account, and that is the sta
billty of the canal. Earthquakes may
occur along both lines, though the
earthquake risk is not a great one in
either case. A canal Is in the earth.