Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-01-04
TO DEFEAT THE CANAL.
This Is the Object of Advocates OF
the Panama Route.


There are indications. says a Wash
ington dispatch. that the Panama ca
nal lobby, backed by the transconti-
mental railway combination, Is engaged
in a campaign having for its object
the blocking of the isthmian canal bill
in the senate. Events Of the past three
or four days have shown an outcrop-
ping in many qtfArters Of the effect Of
the vigorous propaganda under way.
The most serfsss feature OF the situ-
alton is the fact that some United
States senators, who heretofore have
been regarded as acquiescent, at least,
| in the popular demand for the con-
struction Of the canal, have suddenly
become solicitous lest the United States
Is about to overlook great bargain In
the Panama canal property. These
gentlemen are now counseling delay to
permit further inspection Of the offer
Of the Panama people. especially In
view Of the reported reduction Of the
terms by the Panama company.
Publications setting forth the alleged
advantages Of the Panama route and
|recounting supposed difficulties in the
way Of other routes, have appeared ST.
multaneously with the departure Of an
agent Of the Panama company from
Paris, on his way to this country to Of
fer lower terms than President Hutin,
of the canal company presented to the
canal commission last month. Inter-
views are appearing favoring the Pan
anna route, and it Is stated today that
Senator Depew, while in Paris on his
present trip, will look into the Pana-
ma offer. Everything points to extra
ordinary activity on the part of those
who, for one reason or another, would
hamper the construction Of the canal.
The community Of interest between
the Panama Canal company and the
transcontinental railways Is we'll un-
derstood, Of course. Both are violently
opposed to the acquisition Of the Mica
ragua route, the first for the reason
that the Panama property would be-
come a total loss, and the second for
the reason that the Nicaragua canal,
owned, controlled and operated by the
United States, as a government insti-
tuition, could not be manipulated and
traffic rates pooled, as could be done
If the Panama route is selected.
The Panama canal cannot be owned
by the government. Senator Morgan
has pointed out that the part Of the
United States would be that Of a mi
nority stockholder in a New Jersey
CORPORATION. The Panama Canal COM
pany, the Panama Railway company
and the transcontinental railway COM
bine are associated in trade, and 1t has
been stated in the United States SEN
ate. by contract. 1t Is into this CO.
partnership the United States would
have to enter If it takes up the offer of
the new Panama Canal company.
If no canal is built, the Panama COM
pany will enjoy the earnings Of the
isthmian railway there will still be
hope Of ultimately doing something
with the Panama canal, and the trans
continental carriers will keep up their
freight rates.
The friends of the isthmian canal in
congress, have not opposed the Pana-
ma route. per Sc. They wanted canal
and wanted it as quickly as 1t could be
obtained. Official investigation, long
and searching, have led to the conclu-
sion that the Panama project is involv-
ed in difficulties almost insurmounta-
BILE, and certainly not to be overcome
without great delay and much vexa-
ton.
These difficulties have been comment
ed upon from time to time. First Is
the question of validity Of title. The
concession of the Panama company
from the Colombian government pro-
vides for forfeiture of the concession II
it Is sold. There would have to be ne
gotiations to have that amended. Then
the stockholders Of the old Panama
| company have some kind Of a lien on
the new corporation, not thoroughly