Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-12-31
THE PANAMA CANAL.
IL Approves Millions VIII he sunk An
1t ana Probably No Canal
ia the End.

49, sNNSANAN VI
loot. From the time Of Morgan the
b%uccaneer TO De Lessep the isthmus
has neen the scene OF plumber, and the
proposed canal is now being used for a
like purpose. The great value of a canal
10 the commerce of the world and espe-
cially to the United States is univer-
sally admitted, except by the few who
would lose by its building. The policy
OF President Roosevelt in his interpreted
ton of the treaty of 1876 is entirely at
variance with several of his predeces-
sors, from Polk TO Cleveland, who were
hrm in the conviction that while that
treaty guarantees to the United States
Tree transit on the isthmus, it also
guarantees the sovereignty of New
~Granada-now Colombia, of which Pan
m is a part. From what has rams
pired we appear to have committed a
great wrong in an undetermined way.
The persistent enemies of any 18TH
milan canal, the transcontinental rail
roads, have apparently accomplished
their object and have succeeded in fore
ing upon the government the adoption
of the Panama route, well knowing that
II the work shall be commenced no man
now living will ever survive long
enough to see its completion, even if it
should prove practicable, which, in the
opinion of the best engineering talent,
iG doubtful.
The people demand an isthmian canal,
The vote in the house in favor of Nicara-
qua was practically unanimous, but the
Dill was held up in the senate and the
Spooner substitute adopted to placate
n deceive the people with tke delusion
that a canal was to be built, but it was
to be one which, if built, would be of
no practical use and could never an
tagonize the railroad interests.
The adoption of the Nicaragua route
was made mandatory upon the pres
ldent n case the treaty with Colombia
fallec Of ratification. 1t did fail. The
president did not act. Why? Was it
because of an intuition that something
Wa' about to happen and that delay was
polite? Something did happen, a revo-
lhtlon was started. Panama made a
declaration of independence. The in
nuence and power of the United States
prevented Colombia from protecting
herself and ~suppressing the insurrec-
ton. The new government was hastily
recognized, and every obstacle to the
ratification of a treaty, such as the con-
spirators desired, removed, and now it
is currently reported that Senator Nor
gan, who has for so many years de-
tended the interests of the people, is o
be removed and Senator Hanna, the
pronounced enemy of those interests,
substituted.
Old-fashioned people might regard
such acts as piracy, but ~old-fashioned
ideas no longer prevail and now might
makes right. There is not a single
feature in the Panama route to recon-
mend it to favorable consideration.
The French engineers worked for
years at the Culebra cut, and with the
best appliances were able to remove but
100000 cubic yards per year. There
remain $4,000, 900 cubic yards yet to be
taken out, and at the same rate of prog
ress this will require 43 years; but the
French engineers were naturally slim
ulated by a desire to make the most
rapid progress possible, while their sue
cessors will have no such stimulant.
The aim will be to delude the public by
an appearance of doing something, and
they can easily spread the time fog the
completion of this cut over a century.
The next formidable objection is the
Bohio dam. The deepest soundings
have found no suitable foundation. and
it is doubtful if by any known
appliances a safe dam can be con-
structed.
At least nfne-tenths of the prospective
traffic of the canal will be in the north
ern hemisphere, and for all such traffic
the Panama route will be 400 miles
longer than the Nicaragua. The PAN
m route is in the region of the
equatorial Gains or doldrums and sail
Ing vessels, if towed through the canal
to the Pacific, would often be required
to go hundreds of miles out of their
course TO strike winds to carry them to
San Francisco or other northern ports,
with a loss of weeks of time. The
Nicaragua route is in the direction of
the traffic and is favored by the trade
winds. The sanitary conditions on the
Panama route are VIGOROUSLY about
the worst in the world. The conditions
are entirely salutary on the Nicaragua,
No good harbors can be constructed on
the Panama route, at Nicaragua there
are no difficulties IN either side. The
earthquake scare had no reason for its
existence except in the prolific magma
ton of Senator Hanna.
The chances are equal on all routes
n no real danger on any. If work
should be commenced on the Panama
route, and if in years to come the United
States should be so fortunate as to have
a government of, for and by the people.
it will then be found necessary to aban-
don the Panama canal and all the money
expended upon it, and take up the Nj
caragua canal and finish it with all pos
slble expedition, as the only means of
securing a connection between the two
oceans that will be of real value to our
country and to the world.
N1MMENTc M rrIE nnr1o