Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
THE PANAMA CANAL.
French Company Offers a Good Title
to Its Property.


The congress has wisely provided that
We shall build at once an isthmian canal,
if possible at Panama. The attorney gen
eral reports that we can undoubtedly ac-
quire good title from the French Panama
Canal company, Negotiations are row
pending with Colombia 10 secure her assent
to our building the canal. This canal will
be ore of the greatest engineering teats of
the twentieth century; a greater engineer
ing feat than has yet been accomplished
during the history of mankind. The work
should be carried out as continuing policy
without regard to change of a6ministra-
ton; anG it should be begun under circum--
stances which wall make 1t matter of
pride for all administrations TO continue
the policy.
The caral will be of great beng to Amer
lea and OF importance to all the world. II
will be OF advantage to us industrially and
also as improving our military position. 1t
will be of advantage TO the countries of
hoped that all of these countries will Go as
some of them have ALREADY done with sig
nal success, and will invite to their. shores
ditons by recognizing that stability arc
greer are the prereggsess Of III
aggression from the United States. 1t be
hooves each one to maintain order within
its own borders ard to discharge its just
obligations to foreigners. When this is
core, they can rest assured that be they
strong or weak, they have nothing TO dread
from outside interference. More and more
lHt lllCIedslIS anu toIi-
plexity of International political ard eco
nomic relations reEder. IT incumbent on all
civilized ard orderly powers. to insist on
the proper policing of the world
Phe Pacific Cable.
During the fall of 1901 communication
was addressedGto the secretary of state,
asking whether permission would be
granted by the president to corpora
California coast to the Philippine islands
by way of Hawaii A statement of con-
ditions or terms upon .hich such cor
poration would undertake to lay and
operate cable wa. volunteered
Inasmuch as the congress was shortly
to convene, and Pacific cable legislation
had been the subject of consideration by
the congress for several years it seemed
to me wise to defer action upon the APP
plication until the congress had first an
opportunity, to act, The congress, ad-
ing the matter in exactly the same con-
dition in w'ich 1t stood when the con-
Sress convened
Meanwhile II appears that the Com.
| mercsai Pacific Cable company had
promptly proceeded With preparations Tor
laying its cable. l also made applica-
use of soundings taken by the U. S. s..
Nero. for the purpose of discovering a
practicable route for a trans-Pacific
cable the company urging that with ac-
its cable much sooner than If it We're
| required to take soundines upon its own
account. f1llullly consideration OF tnlS
| subject. ii appeared important and de-
! sirable to attach certain conditions to
| the permission to examine and use the
soundings If it should be granted.
| In Consequence of this solicitation of
| the cable company, certain conditions
| were formulated, upon which the presi-
dent was willing TO allow access to these
soundings and 70 consent to the landing
4 and laying of the cable sutsect to any
alterations or additions thereto imposed
! by the congress. This was deemed prop
| ntn11 Nln III
| connection of some kind with China. a
| foreign country was Il part of the COM
pany's plan. This course was. moreover,
/ in accordance with line of precedents
including President Grants action in the
case of the first French cable. explained
| to the congress in his annual message of
ring in 1879 of the second French cable
from Brest to St Pierre, with a branch
to Cape Cod.
| These conditions prescribed, among
mercial messages and that the company
should construct line from the Philip
pine islands to China, there being al
from Manila 70 Hong Kong.
The representatives of the cable com
pany. kept these conditions long under
4 consideration. continuing, in the mean.
/ time, to prepare for laying the cable
/! They have, however. at length accedeG
/ to them, and an all-American line be.
! tween our Pacific coast and the Chinese
| empire, by way of Honolulu and the
| Philippine islands. is thus provided for
| and Is expected within few months tt
! be ready for business.
| Among the conditions is one reservine
| the power of the congress to modify OF
! repeal any or all of them A copy of the
| conditions is herewith transmitted
OF Porto Rico ii is only necessary Il
say that the prosperity of the island ant
the wisdom with which it has been gov
| erned have been such as to make 1t serve
as. an example of all that is best in in
| sular administration.
PHIIIppINE IsI.ANns