The Washington times., 1902-06-22

the different members OF the commission
have pronounced the Panama route the
more feasible. the shorter. the more
easily constructed, the fewer obstacles
to overcome, the less expensive to build
the less costly to maintain, the more
easily navigated, and altogether the
most practical in every way.
Commissions Work Conscientious.
This commission was made up Of
honorable, independent, and capable
men, distinguished as engineers and ex-
They did their work most conscientious
ly. There is no man who WILL l pre-
sumo, dispute the honest work OF this
commission.
Both the Panama and Nicaragua, in
the course of construction. Will probably
develop many surprises, but while in the
case OF the Nicaragua they are likely to
be in the nature of unlooked-for diff
culties, in the case of the Panama they
are likely TO be in the nature of un-
looked-for facilities or advantages. Ger
tainly there are more unknown quanti-
ties in the Nicaragua than in the Pan
anna.
cessfully assail the title that the Gov
ernment receives from the French COM
pany. II is given by a liquidator or re-
ceiver and comes by the way of the
courts. and / understand that title by
a receiver through the courts is regard
ed as one of the best titles that can be
given either in France or the United
States.
The adoption of the Senate amend
ment insures canal at the earliest
possible moment. 1t practically guar
antees that there viii never be but one
canal. For. If it is Luilt, the Nicaragua
canal Will never be built.
A Sea Level Canal.
1T is the consensus of engineering and
expert opinion that the Panama canal.
when com1leted as a lock canal, can be
changed to a sea level canal. 1t is only
a question OF time and money.
Il believe that long before the canal
is completed, II not when the Govern
ment enters upon the work, steps will
be taken TO make it a sea level canal.
and that. TOO. without interruptinG its
use as lock canal. The same expert
opinion holds It practically an i!npos-
sibility to make a sea level canal at
Nicaragua.
"Pcnama has less deviatiors from
straight lines, and its curvatures are
of larger radii than Nicaragua. Panama
has a lower summit level by twenty
TWO feet than Nicaragua, and it is be-
lieved that long before completion it Will
be still further lowered. The summit
level of Nicaragua can never be lower
than Lake Nicaragua itself.
The fact that there is a railroad In
full operation at Panama simpliies the
construction of that canal. The fact that
the cost of maintenance of Panama is
Sl,35O.OC0 less. means at a capitalization
at ? per cent interest-a saving of S65,-
900 over Nicaragua.
THE shorter route. the shorter period
Of transit; the saving in underwriting.
he completest harbors at both ends OF
the Panama canal, together with many
more obvious advantages constitute suf-
hcient reasons for adopting that route.
The Senate amendment can safely be
adopted because it means IA canal at all
vents.
There can nc longer be any force in !
he claim that vote for Panama means |
10 canal. The Senate amendment wipes |
hat all out and any persistent use of |
iuch an argument fails of its mark
If we are to contend for an open |
Ioor in tao Orient. We certainly ought /
c have an open gate leading through
he great roadway from the Atlantic
0 the Pacific"