Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-02-09
OFFICIAL PAPER OF COUNTY
THE IsTHM1AN PROJECT.
II Approved Millions Will BE Sunk In
1t and Probably No Canal
in the End.

cially to the United States is univer-
sally admitted, except by the few who
would lose by it's building. The policy
Of President Roosevelt in his interpreta-
ton of the treaty of 1886 is entirely at
variance with several of his predeces-
Bors, from Polk to Cleveland, who were
firm in the conviction that while that
treaty guarantees to the United States
free transit on the isthmus, it also
the sovereignty of New
Granada-now Colombia, of which Pan |
anna is a part. From what has trans
PRED we appear to have committed a
great wrong in an underhanded 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
il the work shall be commenced no man
now living will ever survive long
enough to see it's completion, even if it
should prove practicable, which, in the
opinion of the best engineering talent,
Is doubtful.
The people demand anisthmian canal,
the vote in the house in favor of Nicara-
qua was practically unanimous, but the
bill was held up in the senate and the
Spooner substitute adopted to placate
and deceive the people with the delusion
that 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
ident in case the treaty with Colombia
failed of ratification. 1t did fail. The
president did not act. Why? Was it
because Of an intuition that something
was about to happen and that delay was
polite? Something did happen, revo-
luton was started. Panama made a
declaration of independence. The in
fluence 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 to
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 43,000,000 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 desire to make the mos
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 for the
completion of this cut over century
The next formidable objection is thu
Bohio dam. The deepest sounding.
3 have found no suitable foundation, ant
1t is doubtful If by any know
appliances safe dam can be con
! structed.
Atleast nine-tenths of the prosperity
traffic of the canal will be In the north
ern hemisphere, and for all such trafh
the Panama route will be 400 mile
longer than the Nicaragua The Pan
anna route is in the region Of tn
equatorial Gains or doldrums and sail
{ ing vessels, il towed through the cana
to the Pacific, would often be require
to go hundreds of miles out Of thei
course to strike winds to carry them t
San Francisco or other northern ports
with loss of weeks Of time. TIL
Nicaragua route is in the direction c
the traffic and is favored by the trad
winds. The sanitary conditions on tn
Panama route are VIGOROUSLY abou
the worst in the world. The condition
are entirely salutary on the Nicaragua
No good harbors can be constructed O
the Panama route, at Nicaragua ther
are no difficulties on either side. -Th
earthquake scare had no reason for 1t
existence except in the prolific imagins
ton of Senator Hanna.
The chances are equal on all route
Z and no real danger on any. If wor
should be commenced on the Panam
route and If in years to come the Unite
States should be SO fortunate as to hay
. government of, for and by the peopl
It will then be found necessary to abar
don the Panama canal and all the none
expended upon it, and take up the N
caragua canal and finish it with all DO
sible expedition, as the only means
securing connection between the tw
oceans that will be of real value to O,
country and to the world.
The recess which the preside
takes when he HES him to Oyster Bay
eoes on two months tour over Il
country is not OF the CONSTRUCTIVE
y kind. -Louisyille Courier-J Journal.
Republican journals are alarm
at the political effect Of the Bristow r
port, which amounted to confessit
Of wholesale venality in important d
partments Of two administrations. Der
ocratic newspapers and leaders see
the postal disclosures, together wi
other administration scandals, a logic
reason for asking the voters Of the lal
20 put their party IN control St Lou
kepubltu. -.