The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-02
THE PANAMA ROUTE And Why It Was Originally

Now that the treaty for the Inter- oceanic Canal has failed of ratification in the Colombian Senate, it may be inter esting to consider why the Panama route was originally chosen. This is ex- plained In short but very interesting article in the September number of The North American Review, by Crisanto Me dina. who is Minister from Guatemala to France Sr. Medina relates how, at 1875, 1t was resolved to call together an International Congress to study upon all projects submitted for an isthmian canal, and to decide in favor of that which pre- sented the most practicable features. A syndicate was subsequently, formed in Paris, which appointed a technical com mission to go to the Isthmus and report on the best means of carrying the work through to completion. The expectation was that the commission would put itself into communication with the Colombian Government in respect of the Panama route. and with the Nicaraguan Govern ment in respect of the Nicaraguan route. But when the commission returned to Paris, 1t appeared that the terms on which canal might be built across Pan anna had been arranged with the Colom- bian Government, but that no under standing had been come to with the Mic araguan Government as to the rival convened to consider the report of the commission. It met at Paris, there he ing present sixty-two foreign delegates representing Germany, the United States, Great Britain. Russia Austria and some fifteen smaller countries. France having preponderating representation of no less than eighty delegates. ST. Medina him. self represented Guatemala. Project af- ter project was considered and thrown out. until there remained only the serious ones relating to Panama and Nicaragua. The French delegates, influenced by de Lesseps, were universally in favor of the Panama route, whereas, after the fullest discussion, the foreign delegates, with out 2 single exception, were in favor of the Nicaraguan. De Lesseps feared it might not be possible to make a favor able arrangement with the Nicaraguan Gov Nernment. and he finally for that req son. declared openly in favor of the Pan anna route, and carried with him in
 body the whole French delegation. The foreign representatives, when they under stood that the Convention was to be rush. ed for Panama, abstained from voting. ST. Medina says.
 'The foreign engineers. notwithstand- ing, continued to strive for the accept ance of the Nicaragua route, realizing its superior advantages from a practical standpoint.
 engineers could make was that, in Mica
 rs qua. a system of locks would be in dispensable; This point was argued at great length In a masterly speech, Sir John Hawkshaw. the famous English en- gineer. proved mathematically the abso- lute impossibility of building canal of
 uniform grade across the Isthmus of Pan anna. and further predicted that, even with the use of locks, the Panama route would present insurmountab ble obstacles Sir Johns prognostications impressed many of his colleagues. who shared his views: and his arguments, as well as those of other eminent engineers. soon
 began to turn the tide in favor of the Nicaraguan project.
 The delegation from the United States
 were ardent partisans of the Nicaragua | route; so were the Dutch and Belgian representativ Gradually every one of | the foreign commissions endorsed that prniaCt nntil finally without a ception, every foreign delegate cham pioned the Mica "a guan project :"