Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-06-11
THE CANAL DISCUSSION.

Ponama or Nicaragua? That Is the
question on which the United states
senators IRE divided
Senator Hanna, the other day, pre-
sented the arguments In favor Of the
Panama route. He very pointedly
asked; III there were no other objec-
tion except the danger from seismic
conditions, would not any party or cor
poration pause and consider before 1t
began an expenditure Of $500, 1000, OOO2"
He then introduced as evidence the
opinion Of SO captains pilots and oir-
GERS Of vessels, TO the effect that II
both routes we're In operation. they
would use the Panama route In pref.
erence to the Nicaragua route, provided
the cost was the same.
This fact gives emphasis to the sup
position that n the United States CON
structs the Nicaragua route, some 9th
er country may take up the Panama
route, and start a formidable oompe-
titIon. "Other nations" ne said have
wealth and enterprise and II IL posi-
BILE that there may be two canals II
the United States should adopt the
Nicaragu0n route" Moreover, the ma
ton that takes over the Panama canal
and route win get them for less than
the $40, 1000, 900 which was the Offer to us.
Senator Morgan. on the other hand,
seems to be OF the opinion that there is
greater danger of volcanoes on the
Panama route than on the Nicaragua
route. Senator Turner also supports
the latter route. on the ground that,
In his opinion, the Panama company
cannot pass clear title to the property
II offers for sale. And thus the discus
sion goes no. The government has had
competent commission to investigate
all the facts and report on them The
commissioners have done 80. They have
furnished an the data, aud shown that
the Panama route presents fewer engi-
neering difficulties and would involve
a smaller investment, but the leglsla-
tors for whose benefit the investigation
was made, seem to lind 1t as difficult
as ever to come to an understanding on
the subject.
In the meantime the construction Of
the canal Is delayed. And that Is bad.
II this country Is to build Il waterway
across the isthmus, for the benefit Of
the commerce Of all the world It can
not commence the work too soon now.
II the canal is benefit, the delay is
an immense loss,
Suppose the canal were ready and
opened for the shipping OF the world.
and then suppose that some day II
should suddenly be closed, by some rev.
Dlution OF nature. or by some other
Would that not be looked upon |
IS calamity? 1t Is quite sure that
The closing Of that waterway after II |
had once been opened up. would be re-
sarded as an immense loss to the civil |
lied world. Is the delay in opening il |
up less OF loss?
The most natural thing would be to
act on the recommendation OF the com
mission. AS long as the Panama people
demanded an exorbitant price for their
the commission rightly insist
ed that the Nicaragua route was "the
most practicable and feasible route"
for an lsthmian canal under the con-
troll, management and ownership OF
the United States" But when the
rights and works OF the Panama Canal
company could be secured for $4,000
700 the commission reversed Its recon-
and the Panama route be-
came popular This concensus Of opln-
lon should have weight with all inter-
ested in the choice Of a route between
the two oceans.