Evening star., 1927-04-27

Study of the canal problem in
Panama and Nicaragua by Govern
ment engineers under direction of
President Coolidge has ben accom-
panied by discussion at various ship
ping points in the country of the rela-
tive merits of two plans. One is to
enlarge the capacity of the Panama
route and the other is to create a
spare" canal. 1t is apparent that
Nicaragua, originally favored over
Panama, still has supporters who be-
lieve it is a superior site. The Pacific
Coast especially favorS Nicaragua as
being nearer. The Gulf Coast coin
cideS with this view, and both sections
emphasize the time required Tor con-
struction as an element in the demand
for prompt action. Those who believe
that Panama's canal can be made to
meet increased demands base their
arguments upon relative cost and the
question of defense.
THE Government at Washington
is planning q spare canal with as
little concern as a motorist contem
plates the acquisition of an extra
tire remarks the San Francisco Bull
letin, which contends that ''in case of
war an enemy might cripple one
canal" quoting engineer opinion, "but
it is unlikely that they could spoil the
second" Referring to the fact that
most people remember when the Pan
anna Canal was little more than a
dream" the Bulletin states that ''the
problem which generation ago stag
gered the world now merely suggests
a duplicate for emergencies"
Attention IN the financial Yoba CO Df
the question is given by the Bingham
ton Press, shich quotes the estimate
of $125,000,000 for construction in the
Panama Zone and the cost of a Mica
raguan canal as between $500, 900 900
and $1,000,0 100000. The Press adds
that "a canal in Nicaragua, of course,
would provide water-level route,
which would have both military and
commercial advantages" and feels
that while the prospect of a water
level canal may be remote, Americans
should keep this prospect in mind"
Emphasis is placed by the Atlanta
Journal on the inevitable demands of
commerce and the rapidly growing
traffic between the Atlantic and the
Pacific. THE practical interests of
the world and the vital interests of
America" declares the Journal, "are
here involved-and particularly, let us
add, the interests of our Southern
States. More and more important TO
the industry and commerce of this
region viii be interoceanic canal serv
ice. 1t is none too soon for the Gov
ernment to plan for the widening
years ahead, either in Panama or
Nicaragua, or in both"
Referring to the suggestion that the
10 nyNan Hn hr ttrryf1 y1d
deepened into what would virtually be
the straits of Panama, a waterway at
least 1000 feet wide and invulnerable
to military attack, earthquakes and
landslides," the Indianapolis Star ad-
vises that 1.-The wisdom of this plan
must be determined by engineers. The
chief objection to the Nicaraguan
canal" continues that paper, sis the
added problem of defense in the event
of war. Whichever plan is adopted.
years must elapse before the construc-
tion can be completed, thus emphasiz-
ing the need of an early decision
''The years that the long debate
over the choice of a canal route con-
tinued" are recalled by the Santa Bar
bara Daily News, which also remem-
bers that "the people of the West gen.
erally favored Nicaragua over Pan
anna, as the canal entrance was so |
much nearer to the Pacific Coast |
ports" and it is impressed by the fact |
that 'the sympathetic feeling for this |
route has not been lost, in spite of the |
remarkable success of the Panama |
Canal. Some day the Nicaragua canal |
will be built. When that time comes |
the Atlantic Coast will be brought
even nearer to California than it now
H. c9ncludss the News. The Indian