The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1903-02-25
The Panama Canal, end Venezuela, by Gen.
Henry B. Darlington, u. S. A.

The pcnderous volumes of the gov
eminent which Furnished exhaustive
reports and surveys of the Tehaunte-
pee and Darien routes for water con-
Eecti0n of the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans are the sufficient evidence of
the thoroughness and persistency with
which the United States added an
equally careful examination of the
Nicaragua route, and begin to reach a
complete fruition of the scheme by an
honorably adjusted acceptance of the
Panama system.
| will not here discuss the climatic,
political or social questions which
have filled volumes of congressional
debates, nor treat of the equally i'm
portant phases of related economics,
population and commerce.
During the progress of these sur
veys, and the purpose of the United
States to check that detour of its ship
ping around Cape Horn which placed
the Atlantic and Pacific trade at the
mercy aOf European rivals, the elimina-
ton of Spain from her sphere as an
important factor in all diplomatic in
cidents Of the problem, has cleared
the way for America to occupy indie
pendent ground suited to her location
and her strength. BY calm, patient
and honorable dealing, she has gained
"a fair consideration of her claims, as
well as credit for frank and concilia-
tory treatment of European as well as
sister South American governments.
The events which so rapidly gave
her leading place in the problem of
the civilization and enlightenment of
East India peoples brought along in
their train such acquisitions of island
stations in the Pacific that all cap
tious criticism is silenced as to her
-preporderating influence as well as
her ability to make water course
from ocean to ocean such a vehicle
for commerce as must bless all man
kind
A glance at tha map will furnish a
very simple illustration, of the rela-
tions of the canal to the United
States.
The northward route which, shut
of from the Caribbean sea by the
peninsula of Yucatan, was liable to
embarrassment by the "northers' Of
the gulf of Mexico, as well as costly,
with only Mexico as an Immediately
contributive power to its support
The extreme southern route, that
by the Isthmus of Darien, was shorter,
but costly, and not without other OBJ.
jections fatal to its general use
The Nicaragua route, involved con-
ltingencies as to water, levels, dredg-
iEgs, lighthouses, pilotage and seis-.
mic disturbances, with inevitable de-
lays in transit, which never could be
accommodated for speedy passage,
from ocean to ocean
The outline map, herewith furnish
cd, gives at a glance an object lesson,
worth volumes of rhetoric, theory or
partisanship. All personal or specula-
tive considerations are as dust in the
balance.
The events of the last few weeks
and the action of Germany, possibly
not wholly Of her own motion, intro
,duces a new element. which seems to
have been overlooked, or at least,
ignored. The map of the Coajira pen
Ursula and Of the lake of Maracaibo,
to the southwark must be examined,
In connection with the general map,
in order to understand existing con-
ditions and their possible contingent
ries.
The lake, fed by innumerable
streams. sheltered by high mountains.
having an outlet easily guarded, and
capable Of being made harbor Of
refuge, repair and the emergency Of
vast fleet, is not wholly Of landscape
and scenery" Modern engineering has
solved more difficult problems than to
meke Lake Maracaibo safe anchor
age for the control OF the Caribbean
sea,
The mountain passes which sepa-
rate its waters and people from the
United States of Colombia have been
utilized of late for the supply to Vene-
zucla Of provisions, which the block
ade or hersports had restricted from
3ts,cr sources.
Colombia and Venezuela, by patri-
satic struggles and In spite Of personal
have prospective future
OF great promise. With the opening.
rot to say with the immediate prose.