Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-18

While the investment today is only
$4,000, 600. that sum Is far from meas.
uring the Importance of the right to
US, for the time Is fast approa ching
When the Panama Canal will be found
inadequate to carry the commerce
croWding its locks and it will be nee.
essary to widen the Panama. at enor.
nous cost Tor excavations and locks,
or build an additional Panama Canal
paralleling the old ditch, or else build
the Nicaragua Canal-a route strong
~ favored In preference to the Pana
| ma route before the latter was finally
CHOSEN. Inc Panama purchase was
the most polite way of getting rid of
the French interests and recovering
the efficacy of our Monroe Doctrine.
by the use of Lake Nicaragua and
san Juan River, as part of the route.
me actual excavation required il far
TESS IMAM at Panama and there will
ne but two locks needed The present
estimate of cost in $500 900, 900. The
Panama Canal cost $375, 600. 900 and
us operation expense IL about 81. 900.
600 year, with tolls exceeding $40.
600 900 year.
me Importance OF the Nicaragua n
Canal Is two-sided. our Navy and War
Departments consider it's strategic i'm.
portance very great, for in case of
war single bomb from an enemy
| plane might so demolish the locks as
to put the canal completely out of
service. An earthquake could do the
| same in few seconds.
An enemy ship passing into the
| canal before war had been 'decla red
could seriously block 1t by being sunk
In the channel. just as HObson blocked
nf 90 II,
| war, and as was seriously considered
by American strategists In reference
| 10 the SueZ Canal in the same Spanish
war. when. according to George Creel
IL was feared that a Spa niSh fleet WIS
undertaking To pass through and at
tack our Pacific Coast. while our Navy
was mostly in the Atlantic
With two strings to our how" il
would not be SO easy TO strike, the
| United states by lodging our fleet in
| the wrong ocean.
! The saving to navigation is stupen
douS.
From New York to San Fra ncisco.
by way of Cape Horn. the distance is
| 1880 miles (mOre than half the world
circumference. while via the proposed
Nicaragua Canal it will be ONLY 1850
miles, a saving of 10.0SO miles. which
is equal to three times across the At
Idntlc. me nicaragua route between
New York and San Fra ncisco or Alas
ka IL $40 miles shorter than via Pan
anna, according to Government meas
| ures.
n n
No present plans are being consid.
cred for an immediate undertaking to
build the Nicaragua Canal, but, az the
= tratfic on the Ita mama Canal In already
approa ching full capacity. it appears
not unlikely that steps will be needed
at no distant date to meet the growth
of commerce.
II Great Britain were SO unfortu.
nate as to get into war with Italy or
! France, her route to India, via the
Canal, would be in jeopardy. and she
| would turn to the Transpa ma ma
| Canal, which emergency would glut it
Immediately.
The peace and tranquility of the
world, therefore. may easily hinge
upon our protection of the region of
the new Nicaragua Canal. just as its
recognized president invites and urges
us to do. Secretary Kellogg announces
that there is no change in our policy
in that matter, nor is any change
contemplated. in spite of partisan at.
tacks and criticisms. There has been
no "imperialistic intervention" since
all protective measures have been
taken at the instigation of the Mica
raguan administration recognized by
all governments except Mexico and
San Salvador
(Copyright 1927. by Paul v. Collins)
/