Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1902-12-06
TIE PANAMA CANAL.
French Company Offers a Good Title
to Its Property.

French Company Offers a Good Title
to Its Property.
The congress has wisely provided that
we shall build at once an isJhmian canal,
eral reports that We can undoubtedly ac-
quire good title from the French Panama
Canal company. Negotiations are now
pending with Colombia to secure her assert
TO our building the canal. This canal will
be one of the greatest engineering feats OF
ing feat than has Vet been accomplish he'd
during the history of mankind. The work
should be carried out as a continuing policy
without regard to change of a6ministra-
ton; and 1t should be begun under cfrcum-
stances which will make it a matter of
pride for all administrations to continue
The canal will be of great benefit to Amer
lea, and of Importance to all the world. 1t
will be of advantage to US industria!ly and
also as improving our military position It
tropical America. It It is earnestly to O. be
hoped that all of these countries will DO as
som. OF them nave ,f aIrea4Gy done Win slg-
commerce and improve their material con-
ditions by recognizing. that stability aEG
development. No Independent nation in
America need have the slightest fear of
aggression from the United States. 1t be
hooves each one to maintain order within
its own borders and to discharge its just
done. they can rest assured that. be they
strong or weak, they have nothing to dread
from outside Interference. More and more
plexity of INTERNATIONAL political and eco
nonic relations render 1t incumbent on all
the proper policing of the world.
The Pacific Cable.
During the fall of 1901 a communication
was addressed to the secretary of state.
asking whether permission would be
granted by the president to corpora
California coast to the Phiiipnine Stands
by way of Hawaii. A statement of con-
ditions or terms upon which such cor
ton toll %n To- oV16
operate cable was volunteered.
Inasmuch as the congress was shortly
had been the subject of consideration by
the congress for several years, it seemed
nTicatiom 1.ntii the con9ross bed rs+ 5n
opportunity to act. The congress ad-
journed without taking any, action. leav-
ing the matter in exactly the same con-
dition in which it stood when the con-
gress convened.
Meanwhile it appears that the Com
promptly proceeded with preparat tons for
laying its cable. 1t also made applica-
ton to the president for access to and
use of soundings taken by the u. S. S.
Nero, for the purpose of discovering a
cable the company urging that with ac-
cess to these soundings it could complete
required to take soundings upon its own
account. Pending consideration of this
subject, it appeared important and de-
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 pFesi-
dent was willing to allow access to these
Soundings and to consent to the landing
and laying of the cable, subject to any
alterations additions thereto imposed
by the congress. This was deemed prop
er, especially as it was clear that a cable
connection of some kind with China,
foreign country. was a part of the com
pany's plan. This course was moreover
in accordance with a line of precedentS
including President Grants action in the
case of the first French cable, explained
to the congress in his annual message of
December. 1875, and the instance occur
ring in 1879 of the second French cable
from Brest to st. Pierre, with a branch
to Cape Cod.
These conditions prescribed, among
other things, maximum rate for COM
mercial messages and that the company
should construct a line from the Philip
pine islands to China, there being at
present. as is well known. a British line
from Manila to Hong-Kong.
The representatives of the cable COM
pany kept these conditions long under
consideration, continuing, in the mean
time, to prepare for laying the cable.
They have, however. at length acceded
to them, and 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 a few months to
be ready for business.