The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1909-02-05
FIRST SURVEY
OF PANAMA
Dates fare Into Remote His
tory Of Past. t
The Spaniards Planned Cana
Across the Isthmus as
Early as 1928.


the Northern and Southern Americas
in order TO open a channel for the
worlds commerce, IS known 10 have
been long ago 1uooted. The opera
lions OF De Lesseps are instincuvely
thought of when the earlier efforts
are mentioned. although the col apse
OF that ambitious enterprise occur
red nearly a generation ago. The
hoary antiquity Of the scheme of cut
ting such canaA is but little appre-
cia6ed and probably not known 10
many VITO take the most enthusiastic
interest in the present work.
So mar the truth was Columbus thai
but for the injustice which finally
blighted his life he probably would have
found the isthmus. IL was, however,
reserved for Balboa in 1913, more Jhan
nine years after One death OF Column
bus. % obtain the first view of the
Pacific Ocean from a mouncaintop IN
the isthmus. Then the world knew
that the Shorter route to India" was
barred 20 navigsbors.
Truly, however. sthe world Of that
period was a daring and adventurous
one Scarcely had Balboa's discovery
indicated the true geographical situa-
ton when the enteIpTisiDg Spaniards
began TO make plans TO cut through
the narrow isdhmus. In 1923, Is years
only after Balbos's discovery, the sug-
gestion was made 20 Charles V. OF
Spain by one Of his subjects nam
ed Galvao- and by the Kings orders
Oprtez was, in 1884, charged with the
location Of a noute, and surveys were
made Thus the gigsnr5c undertaking
which now engages all the resources
OF this Government, and which over
20 years ago wrecked the great French
company OF De LAsseps and honey
cosnbed this Government with corTup-
ton and intrigue. WAS first serious
~ moOted and actually ull,seGJaKan by
the Spaniards nearly four centuries
ago. And from that time IT has been
periodically discussed and has pro
gressed at least 80 Ear as exploration
with sufficient frequency to justify
the assertion that this 400 year old
project has never slept.
Even in 1851 a Spaniard named
Gomara set forth three Alternative routs
one of which WIS practically the same
as that now known as the Mica agua
route. And in 1867 Philip III. gave
the prestige of his patronage TO one
Of his subjects who made extensive
explorations on the isthmus. Up 10
this time all the efforts in this di-
rection were from Spain. bud after
ward plans and exploraaonis were orig
mated by many subjects OF other mon
archs.
The action Of the United States
which has eliminated in the actual
prosecution OF tie work as a govern
mental enterprise finds hs beginning
not long after the declaration of the
Monroe Doctrine. and at Che very be-
ginning of the term Of office OF
President jackson. The Government
then in control of Central America
proposed that this country should CO.
operate with 1t IN the construction OF
an interoceanic canal. This proposal
was first made in 1925, and 6he nego-
tiaaions were renewed dn 1881 The
matter did go so far as the MAX. ng
of a contract bw capital W as not
forthcoming
During the thiries the subject was
much discussed particularly with re-
spect to the question whether the
building Of a osnsl by foreign capi-
talists would CONFLICT with the Mon
roe Doctrine. The interest taken in
that subject by Mr.. Clayton early in
his career has often been referred to.
II resulted in such action by Con-
gresS in 1885 and afterward in 1899
as was consistent with the views en-
bodied in the Clay,on-Bulwer treaty
afterward negotiated by him as Secre-
tary OF State. These views may be
accepted as representing the best con-
sidered opinion of that period in the
United States, as we'll as the more
enlightened and liberal public opin-
ION of the world.
The substantial points thus ectab-
Iished were; First, that canal
might be constructed with individuals
or companies able and willing 10 as
sumo the responsibility; second thai
the work should be considered and
treated as international in its char
acter and thirdly that the perpetual
neutnally OF the canal should b. guar
anteed by treaties between the United
States and such cher nations as might
be interested either by locality of for
the promo.ion and protection of their
commeudal interests. THAI canal
so constructed and protected by a.
treaty would not be considered as
in violation Of the Monroe Doctrine