The Elbert County tribune., 1905-10-05

the business Itself. which is not prop
able"
The native historian who takes so
much pains to conceal everybody ;
identity then tells of the organization
in New York of a company of mer-
chants who proposed to take up the
matter in case the gentleman failed in
his negotiations with the Colombian
government. A surveying party was
sent out and reported favorably on the
proposed route. And there apparent
ly the matter rested. The unidentified
gentleman did not get his franchise
from the Colombian states; the asso-
citation OF New York merchants did
not take up the canal; weeds OF
neglect covered the priest-built ditch.
while forgetfulness cobwebbed the
memories of those who knew.
And so it has happened that gener-
ations have passed until in this month
of the year 1905 an antiquarian, dely-
ing for knowledge in musty books.
turns moldy page and reads what
has here been reproduced.
lie asks himself: Why did not the
Colombian government permit the cut,
which. while it might divide the coun-x
try, would also serve to knit it in
commercial interests?" In searching
for an answer he found out the source
of original information concerning this
forgotten Raspadura canal.
Mentioned by Humboldt
An authority no less than Alexander
Won Humboldt, the famous traveller
and geographer, seems to have been
the sponsor for the statement In his
Political Essay on the Kingdom of
New SPAIN" published in translation
in 1S41, there is this statement:
In 1902, when Spanish commerce
was harassed by the English cruisers,
a great part of the cacao was carried
across the kingdom of New Spain and
embarked at Vera Cruz for Cadiz.
They preferred the passage from Quay
aquil to Acapulco and land journey
of a hundred leagues from Acapulco
to Vera Cruz to the danger of a long
navigation by Cape Horn and the diff
ficulty of struggling with the current
along the coasts of Peru and Chile.
This example proves that If the con-
struction of a canal across the 18TH
mus OF Panama abounds with too
many difficulties, from the multiplied
ties of sluices. the commerce of Amer
lea would gain the most important
advantages from good causeways from
Tehuantepec to the EmOarcacero de
la Cruz, and from Panama to Porto
bello. The introduction of camels
would be still a surer means of di-
minishing the expense of the carriage.
These land ships as they are called
by the Orientals, hitherto exist only
in the province of Caracas and were
brought here from the Canary Islands.
by the Marquis OF Toro"
Thus did Spain plan for a commerce
which was destined not to be hers
and an extension of power and glory
of which she has been stripped.
A hint of the secret of why Spain
has fallen from her throne of suprea-
acy may be found in her attitude to-
ward this canal, which was offered to
her. Ap ancient historian tells WIN
Spain refused to permit this enterpris-
ing gentleman" to complete his
project. This is the statement, refer
ring to the tiny Raspadura canal:
But the jealous policy of the Spanish
government caused 1t to be closed and
prohibited under severe penalty any
attempt TO reopen it. The remains Of
the canal are visible 10 the present
hour" (1S1S).
Modesty has a limit which m ~