The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-02-08

The bill went to conference committee.
was reported back without amendment and
report adopted by tho senate ond house
January 20, 1902. In the house seven votes
We're cast in tho negative: among them
hon II. Il. Ball of Texas who had been an
route
INTEREST or GULF PORTS.
careful study Of The situation has led
me 10 the conclusion that the ports OF
Texas and Of the gulf coast OF the United
states, will not derive any especial supe-
ricr advantage from the construction Of an
isthmian canal by the Nicaragua route
and much less by the Panama route.
have believed that a ship canal across tho
th1nus Of Tehauntepec under nn amlcsbl-
or mutual arrangement with our neighboT.
sng republic Mexico lnto the Gua OF Mexi-
co, with ship canal across the Florida
peninsula connecting with The Atlantic
ocean afforded truly American route. ON
the shortest line Of communication between
the Orient our Pacific, Gulf aud Atlantic
coastwlse ports and our European trade,
free from all entanglements arising under
the obsolete Clayton and Bulwer treaty.
Relative distances, the course Of ocean
steam aud sail lines. the position OF Great
were all 10 my view agalnst the mainten-
ance OF great steamship trade between
Ie1as ports ana the UrleAt VIA any canal
IRON the Caribbean sea.
iet ~ Difference to tie almost unAnllnous
view OF Southern pubhclsts IN favor oI the
Nicaragua route nave RETAINED from
making any puonc expression y, ny views,
although the saMe have been wen known
III TIE circle OF my Immediate Acquaintance,
In the present status ot lstuuliIu canal
ID 4 Sc
discussion without respect to tAess COZ
siderNuons
The distance 10 the entrance OF the M.
cAldguh canal Ia the Caribbean sea- ~
though several hundred miles nearer 10 the
sun ports than 10 New York, yet being on
a line uOrth and through the Gull ot AeN
co away from the nsuA course Of ocean
travel, Involves the organization o. vast
capital Interests In shipping 70 enable the
gulf ports 10 secure this advantage or ,dls-
tance as against the great established lines
engaged In European aud Oriental trade.
The route dh ect r. Liverpool and London,
! the British West indies fvr Gazing aud
cunnectiua line stations, with Nova Scotia
for coal supply and Halifax practically a
| halfway pullt between the canal anu
! London, seems TO give England suGh com
| mgud ~ the Oriental carry Ing trade OF the
| world that even tue shipping interests ol
| our Atlantic ports are placed at great dis
] advantage The situation Of Halifax Vita
| in q short distance OF Boston AM command
/ Ing the trade of the great Canadian r0li-
ways and Canadian waters, lnd'cates 70
/ my mind the possibility OF concentration
/ OF British interests that might draw Largely
/ for maintenance Of their Oriental tradt
! from our own territory and TO the dl62dvan
| tege Of our merchant marine with a shi
/ canal across the lsthmus OF IehuauLepcc
! the canal entrance would De IL Lhe Tuu
/ OF Mexico, about 500 miles from the Dor
/ der OF Texas AT the mouth OF the hlt
4 Grande and about 100 miles from Calves
ton and Houston. The Walker commits
/ sion although recognizing the advantages
OF location determined against the pracuco'
( bllity OF that route for the canal IN conlem-
( plauon. While ] do not consider the con
! illusions reached as entirely iustihed ~
! the survey made Of the Hehauntepec route
! by Captain Schufeidt, I. s. n, II lStl,
doubt II II can be claimed In the hSht OF
/ his report upon proposed canal or twenty
| two feet draft OF water, that the supply
! Is sufficient for the locknge OF a Canal o,
| the dimensions and dePtA SJAlrty i've zee
! draft now contemplated. His survey ah1
report seem to indicate that the route y
! practicable for canal 70 meet the hgccs5i
! ties Of our cOastwise trade with the Pa4hs
| States Mexico, Central and South Amei
ca and by same draft vessels TO Europe ans
the far Pacinc.
THE AMERICAN MEDITERRANEAN
The Guf Of Mexico has been termed tn
Mediterra mean Of the American continent
with maritime communication through IT.
waters direct from the Atlantic TO tn
Paclnc. it's commerce would soon rival th
maritime glory OF It's sister inland ocean o
the Transatlantic continent
In giving England equal use Of the 18th
milan canal, taking IN all OF her possession
10 the Atlantic ocean and the Gulf Of Mc1i
co, she comes into competition with on
Atlantic, gull and Pacific ports for th,
trade of the west coast Of Mexico, Contra
and South America, the North Pacific an
It's Aslauc countries, relieved or Thousand
Of miles OF ocean voyage. Her great Ofl
entail steamship lines Will tap the trade o
our gulf ports at Port Roy al, the Bermu
das and St Thomas, and Of Atlantic port
at Halifax At the exit OF her steamsnip
from the Panama canal she Will have aDou
1000 miles Of coast trade southwark at con
mand and to the dividing line OF compeu
ton with San Francisco to the northWarl
An examination of ocean charts OF steal
sailing distances and comparison OF IN
length OF routes from American ports {
the Orient with that Of the. great Brius
lines via Halifax, the Bermudas, 81. InoM
as. Port Royal and the Panama canal d.
rect, with the short lines-of communicate
from Boston, Savannah and gulf ports
tapping our own direct trade, WIZ sno'
that England has cause to congratulate heI
seif an the competitive advantages the Par
ANA canal will afford her under the edra
ity guarantees OF the Hay-Pauncefott
treaty.
10 favor a ship canal across the America
Isthmus II is perhaps more q matter {
sentiment than OF business, for there
no real assurance that Il Will have sun
Gent tonnage on either OF the present pre-
nosed routes to be self-sustaining. ne
era of sail tonnage IS upon us the sever
master IL upon the deep Unless an ope
sea level way Of short distance Il atorde
fbe sailing vessel will be likely to COZ
Time 10 make the voyage around the cap
avoiding canal tolls, and probably be N
heat hone Of our gulf trade against IN
british steamship combine. Now, that v
are heing held mp by the petty revolt
Hoparv States Of Central America and u
chanrs OF front by the commission and N
General contention Of routes, have brougl
Sonfnsion. while the Inorganic marriage
Rr,tish steamship interests with Wa
street has been soicmnized as a result
our mistaken diplomacy. is II not posa
BE tbat me sober second thougnt' OF OF
, neople may determine to call halt, abr
Rste this un-AmericHn, British treaty o.
Commence anew the effort to secure "a
; ,sttmisn canal" 40 be under the contro
management ond ownership Of the Unite
The people Of the United states beiie'
Q maj they. and not the people OF the 9th
3 nations OF the earth, are entitled 70 u
Srrits ~ their toll and enterprise. Thy
/ cnastyyisA trade has thus far been held r
. Nc benoNt Of their own merchant ma1r
Construct an isthmian canal under III
! ppit,sb treaty ana the British cogihi
I wen is pretended American lines, WI n
! univ Give 70 london the direct trjpde
) the Orient, but will throttle the Yfppil
D. "a nWNu ~ aarl