Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-10-21

First Range Light at Pacific Entrance
to the Canal.
| vember, 1901. His first message to
congress urged immediate action. and
after good deal OF wrangling over
the Hepburn act in favor of Nicaragua
the SpoOner act was passed on June
%, 1902.
The Spooner act, written by Senator
John c. SpOoner Of Wisconsin. prOvid-
ed for an isthmian canal commission
of seven members and authorized the
Panama route II the French property
could be bought for $4O.OOO.OOO and a
right of way could be obtained from
Colombia. In the event such cOndi-
tons could not be met 1t authorized
! the Nicaraguan route and seemed to
lean toward lock type canal. An i'm
mediate appropriation Of $1OOOO.OOO
was made available for preliminary
expenses.
President Roosevelt now had the au.
thority he desired for going ahead with
the project. Secretary Of State John
Hay and the minister from Colombia.
Jose v. Concha. Immediately began
corresponding over the granting Of a
strip Of territory in Panama for the
prosecution Of the enterprise.
Minister COncha drew mp treaty.
which was presented as memOrAn-
DUN to Secretary Hay on April IS.
1902. This treaty. as we'll as the Her
ran treaty that succeeded 1t. had a
number of impossible provisions. view
ed in the light Of our canal experience.
It authorized the French company to
sell its property to the United States
and authorized the United States to
build. operate and protect the. canal.
the concession to run for 100 years and
be renewable at the discretion of the
United States. The canal was to be
finished fourteen years after the adop-
ton Of the treaty, with possible ex-
tension of twelve years. everything to
revert to Colombia II the canal was not
begun within five years and completed
within twenty-five years. Colombia
was to receive 100000 in cash.
Colombia sent a new minister. Thorn
as Herran. In 1903. who negotiated a
treaty along the same lines. except
that Colombia was to receive $4,000
600 instead Of 100000 for the canal
zone Had the treaty been adopted it
ia a safe conclusion to draw that in
termlnable and exasperating friction
would have developed between the two
countries. Only an extended visit to
the isthmus can give an adequate idea
of how essential it has been to the
United States to have absolutely free
hand In the canal zone.
President Jose NJ. Marroquin Of CO.
lombia in this year. 1902. asked the
United States to maintain uninterrupt-
ed passage over the Panama railroad
during serious revolution In the prov
ince and promised in return to give
the United States treaty for a canal
zone. Az a result of American inter-
vention and good Offices peace was
patched up between the insurgents
and Colombia on Nov. p. 1902. We
had performed our part Of the agree
ment and now looked to Colombia to
perform her part.
President Marroquin was in good
faith. but fractional fighting in the con-
gress OF Colombia. with his enemies in
the ascendancy. showed the chances Of
u treaty to he dubious.
On Aug. -. 1903. the senate of Co
lombia killed the treaty after the house
had passed 1t. President Marroquin
had exerted himself to the utmost to
save the treaty. doubtless sensing the
quality Of the man in the White House.
but to no avail. and another way out
for the canal project was already TAX
ing form.
In the summer Of 1903 some leading
Panama citizens conceived the idea OF
revolution from Colombia and the
forming Of an independent republic.
The revolution was started on Nov.
in the city Of Panama. and troops sent
by Colombia to put down the rebellion
were not allowed to cross the isthmus
By United States marines.
On Nov. g President Roosevelt recog-
nized the independence Of Panama.
and on Nov. IL the new republic con-
cluded a treaty with our government
granting us a strip Of territory ten
uiiies wiue acrVss Tue is.nmus ns a Ca
nal zone. The United States paid Pan
anna 100000 In cash and. beginning
In 1918. an annual rental of $25O.OOO
for this territory. 1t was not until
May 4. 1904. that the American dag
was raised over the canal zone.