Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-17
FIFTY YEARS AGO IN THE STAR

at length was solved by a member OF
the Prussian Academy of Sciences. He
suggested that the figure was in an
electric condition while the photo.
graph was taken: that streams OF
electric light were passing of at vari-
Gus points, and that these, though In
visible to the eye, were detected ny
the photograph. Hence there was talk
about invisible light. This has recent
ly been verified. BY sending an electric
current through a Geissler's tube "a
glass tube almost completely exhaust
ed of air) an interior light is pro
duced which cannot be seen by day
light. but which is distinctly shown i'm
photograph OF the tube. 1t has otten
been remarked that photography de-
tects particulars which escape obser-
walton, and here is another proof
of it,
Mention has already been made in
this column of the suggestion that
the Unite 4
Atlantic Pacific States proceed
Waterway Urged. sc re Tho
isthmus connecting the North and
South American continents. In The
Star of August IL. 1869. is an editorial
urging that this next great work"
after Suez should be undertaken.
though rather remarkably failing il
a forecast of the route eventually I"
be chosen:
THE Pacific railroad finished. and
the Suez canal soon to be opened.
there remains another great work 10
be accomplished when commercial
enterprise and engineering skin will
1slx mi tod cnrfn of
around the globe. We have all along
cherished the hope that our country
would have the honor of building n
ship canal to connect the Atlantic
with the Pacific. but this is not to be.
it seems. The United States govern
ment did all in its power TO induce
Colombia to grant il permission to
build the canal across the Isthmus OF
Panama, but this solicitation was re
jected at the very moment when the
world at large expected it to be
cepted with enthusiasm. and the Co
lombian congress was so obstinately
opposed to the canal scheme that it
actually refused to give the president
any basis whatever upon which to
make a treaty in reference thereto.
The result of this doggedness is
now evident. Nicaragua has given
the privilege to a French company.
instead of Colombia giving it to an
American one. The Panama Herald OF
the 31st ultimo says that Senior Mon
tealegre. the minister appointed from
Nicaragua to Costa Rica. to arrange
the terms of the Aylon-Chevalier
contract for the excavation of an in
teroceanic canal across Nicaragua.
has returned home, being entirely
successful in his mission. 1T seems
that owing to the interest held i'm
the river by Costa RIGA. Nicaragua
could not conclude the contract ced-
| ing the use of the river without the
consent of the former. and this Mr..
Montea1egre was sent to obtain. Not
only was he most cordially received.
| but a treaty was at once entered into
I with him by the President of Costa
| Rica granting all the privileges
! Nicaragua required for the fulfillment
of the contract with NJ Chevalier.
and this treaty now merely awaits
the confirmation of the congresses of
the two republics. which will no
doubt be granted at their next ses-
sion. This may be looked upon as the
! settlement of the question of where
the canal will be built. and seeming
| ly gives the death blow to any such
| work being undertaken during this
century. if ever, on the Isthmus of
! Panama"