The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-08

speedily build. the Nicaragua canal and
I thus make the Panama canal a losing
investment With these facts before
them work finally stopped altogether
In 1901, when we were again on the
Isthmus, after the completion of our
survey at Darien. the only work being
done OF any value was that OF the 18th
mus Canal commission, looking to-
ward the yeridcation of the surveys
made by the French company. Even
at this time the opponents of the
Isthmian canal were urging the Pan
anna Canal on the American people
rights and titles of the French com
pany could be purchased at any price,
and thus canal construction would be
blocked for another generation One
of the powerful factors in the United
States Senate urged, yea almost de-
manded, the building of the Panama
canal; that good man is dead, but the
taxpayers of the United States will
have reason to rememb his goodness
What interests the reader now is,
what is actually being done and
what progress is being made. First
let US stop long enough to take the
reader on board the s s Columbia
and from her deck look over the Pa
cifc end of the canal and its sur
rOundings- The Bay of Panama is
one of the most beautiful bays in the
world, studded with a multitude of
islands of every shape and color from
the grayish brown rocks rising like
palisades out of the blue water, TO the
deep green Islands covered by a dense
tropical vegetation The city of Pan
ANA stands out like crazyQuiIt
against the green hills of the CordfI-
Ieras. As we look back. half of the
city lies in the shadow of the hill OF
Ancon, which rises to a height of
nearly a thousand feet, separating the
mouth of the canal, La Boca, from
the city.
of what value are these islands that
were mentioned, and what will be
their probable mission when the ca
nal is completed? When topped with
coast defense guns the navies of the
world combined could not reach the
mouth of the canal. Even if she were
spared 10 reach the canal, the hidden
forts on Ancon but a little more than
a mile away, would make the deck of
a Dreddnaught the most uncomfort-
able place this side of Dante's inferno.
As commercial factor the canal is
open to the world, but as a war factor
II must be closed to all but our own
vessels. and it will add fifty per cent TO
our fighting efficiency. We could fight
q battle of the Golden Gate and in ten
days be in Gatun lake out of reach OF
any combination that might be formed
against US
Conditions on the isthmus are not
promising. Up to this date our gov
eminent has spent S109. 100000 and
actual canal digging is but q shadow. |
Not a shovelful of dirt has been taken |
out from the bottom of the cut since !
the French stopped work years ago,
and there is but little hope of real |
work fer months TO come. Not more |
han a dozen steam ShOveIs are at |
work on the CuIebra section and there |
are sixty-hve cubic yards of earth and /
rock Yet to be removed before the 4
back bone of the continent is cut in /
two The Cut. as il stand today-and /
grass is growing where the French |
men left Unjust be lowered one hun /
bred and thirty feet. Few can realize |
the herculean task that must be per- |
formed before ocean liners will float /
over the Divide that is now unbroken /
rom Alaska TO Patagonia
Culebra is about the only place |
where canal construction is going on
So far the mission of the government /
las been 10 kill mosquitoes and clean