The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-11-11
PROPOSED STATUE AT PANAMA

There Is 2 proposition TO ask Con-
gress to make On Appropriation for a
heroic statue TO the man who first
conceived the project of building
canal across the Istbmus Of Panama,
to be erected at the sightliest place.
The very suggestion has brought forth
numerous clsjms in behalf Of mum
Der Of individuals for the honor. IT
ia 10 be noted that the prcsent form
of the suggestion is TO set up the
statue OF the person who first sug
gested the canal AT Panama. leaving
out all those who have suggested the
Isthmisn canal to be built through
Nicaragua or Tehuantepcc. The Mic
aragua proposition was a close rival
of that at Panama. Senator Morgan
insisted on Nicaragua and many others
have favored IT, The great Admiral
Nelson of England sailed good way
up the San Juan river toward Lake
Nicaragua, and declared that that was
the place TO build the Isthmian canal.
He was in favor of the British Gov.
crnment undertaking the work more
than a century ago.
Referring. however, specifically to
the Panama suggestion. the st, Louis
Globe Democrat considers that Col.
George w. Hughes Of the United States
army, who made the survey i'll lSi9
across Panama. is entitled to the honor,
as he paved the way for the building
of the railway there in 1850 to 1855,
But il comedies that if VIC are TO
honor the pioneer suggestion for the
Panama Canal project, we must 90
much further back than Col. Hughes,
and "as tho French were the first TO
make beginning IN construction,
which they did in 1881, Frenchman
was earlier in the field in proposing a
so far as any of our records show, this
suggestion, coming from Michel Cheva.
licr, the French economist, who put it
forth in 1910. But he again was
antedated by Humboldt, the great
German savaDt, who proposed it in
1903, and wrote learned essay to
show the advantages which a canal at
Panama would give to the world S
commerce. But even before Humboldt,
u Spanish mariner named Gogonche
drew up provisional plans for a canal
which he presented TO King Charles
". in 1899. but the Napoleonic wars
iptcrvcncd, and the project was lost
sight Of.
But in going back to Spain, which
was the original owner Of the isthmus
and also of all of Central and large
portions OF South America, the Globe
Democrat notes that Seuor de In Serua
made survey of the isthmus in 1927
aud l52S with a canal In mind. aud
records extant in Madrid show that
the work was done pretty thoroughly. |
but bis hands were tied by complica-
tIons Of many kinds and he gave this |
scheme but little attention. But il is
clear that if VIC arc TO 20 back to the
original suggestion Of canal at |
Panama and honor the one who made |
it the claims Of Serna cannot be ig.
norcd. Back Of Scrna however. |
stands Balboa, the first white man
who crossed the istbmus. and who may |
have suggested a water way across it, |
Certainly there would be an appro.
priatencss In having on the isthmus q
statue Of Balboa. This pertiuence can |
hardly be lost sight of in any cousid.
Grafton Of a statue for men having |
great prominence with respect TO the |
lsthmus of Panama Balboa is the |
prime figure 10 connection with the |
discovery Of the istbmus, and the hon.
ors that NAV be awarded in connec.
ton with it viii not be completely and |
we'll bestowed If be is ignored.