New-York tribune., 1902-01-13
WHICH ROUTE?
POINTS URGED IN FAVOR OF MICA
=. 4sA Editor Of The Tribune.

n The Editor OF The Tribune.
sr: All the recent communications from your
yVashington correspondent have been leading IN
a his letter OF to-day, which states that the
nreaiction is confidently made by the best informed
persons in Washington that in the end it will be
shown that the French proposition should be ac-
cepted."
Before The Tribune finally advocates the Panama
-o1te Il VIII be well for IL TO remember a few
\, the distinguished men who have studied the
canal question, and who. without prejudice are
n favor Of Nicaragua Their names are easily
obts!zable and their reasons are not based on
sentiment or comfoolery.'' but on fact and COM
mon sense. They have studied the question for
thirty years and not scratched the surface of the
urobien. Ike the Lesseps coterie
L is impossible here 70 go into details OF this
great question but permit me TO ask the following
questions:
F1rst-WM II be better 10 build canal through
nation containing 5000 600 turbulent people con-
tiuualy II seml-state OF revolution, than through
Nicaragua with population OF 450 900? In connec
ion with this the thought suggests itself What
would be the 'Americanizing" effect at Nicaragua
sx months AFTER the canal is begun? The possibfi-
ues FOR large immigration into Costa Rca and Mic
s-sgusr when those countries come under the IN
fuence q the United States, are not appreciated.
second-Add 10 the cost at Panama the additional
police force necessary there include the increased
death rate. and how will the annual expenses
compare?
ragua, viii II not be more than Offset by the
from people inhabiting a fine territory.
healthy, and IN the trade wind belt?
Fourth-Why build an artificial lake. when nature
has provided one?
Fifth-Why steam 700 miles further from New
York 70 san Francisco. when that distance can be
saved a. Nicaragua?
sixth-Is II not better to pass through two short
canals ar each end Of the Isl miles at Nicaragua,
and through ! fresh water channel between them7
Why not consider this open navigation a portion
Of the total voyage. rather than harp continually
on -he longer canaI"2
sevenrh-why are not the lake and the dredged
lagoon back OF Grsytown better harbors than
Colon with !ts '-northers,'' and Panama with It's
outlying shoal water and bad climate?
Eighth-Why pay the French anything when they
forfeit their concession II they sell 10 govern
nneut?
Ninth-why leave the line nearest the United
States open FOR some one else 10 build IN the
future
Terth-Why bother about earthquakes when the
report OF the commission does not; and when, as
q matter Of fact there are less serious ones IN
Nicaragua than ar Panama. The churches and
indigo watts built ST the time Of the Spanish con-
guest still intact AS well stop building sky
scrapers' IN New-York because there was q
seismic disturbance n New-Jersey q few years
ego
After years Of diplomacy we have at last got rid
Of the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty. Are we now about
% saddle this country q new set Of French
claims" and possible complications concerning the
Monroe Doctrine? These are only a few OF the
questions which should be answered before the
recent 'tomfooery' concerning the French PROPOSE
ZION IS thought Of seriously. J.w.M
Nsw-york, Jan. s. 1902.