The Washington times., 1929-02-08
HOOVER WINS SMO0T TO PLAN FOR LIMITED TARIFF TNKERN
TRADE AND DEFENSE NEED
NEW CANAL, WIRES HEARST.
By Universal Service

BY
MERICA'S need of the Nicaragua Canal, both for
II her expanding commerce and for military defense
aOds stressed yesterday By William hGndopk
Hearst IN telegram to Representative LoTg M tdck r
3D. of NeW York. and read by him from the ttoor o the
House.
'Mr Hearsts wire in support of the Ncaraguan Canal
project demonstrates again his enlightened vision as to the
future commercial defensive requirements Of the United
States said Black in introducing the telegram into the
record:
many of most eminent for scores OF years. and we
are fast reaching the point where the preemnent position OF
our country depends upon the adoption of this route
from sea to sea-"
The telegram of Mr.. Hearst stated:
Congressman Loring M Black jr,
House Of Representatives,
Washington, D. @.
'Dear Sir:
I have been advocating the Nicaragua route for nearly
wears advocated first in preference to the
Panama route because thought involved fewer engineer
ing difficulties and fewer sanitation problems and because
it provided opportunity for better canal and quicker
route and finally because it more easily defended and
less easily destroyed in time OF war.
1.-THE question now however, not which is the better
canal The Panama Canal has been built and another
canal needed to accommodate the constantly increasing
transisthmian traffic.
Thers practically other site for additional canal
than the Nicaragua route Consequently there no agu
ent as regards location The only question whether
commercial requirements and military defense demand an
additional canal
The statistics Of persistent transportation growth
the Ihmus prove conclusvey the immediate need of an
additional canal for purely commercial reasons
methods due largely to the perfection of the aplane show
convncingy the advisaby of another canal protec
tive measure in case Of war 1t is possible that both csns
might be destroyed in but the canals adequately
fortified and adequately defended with guns ships and air
planes it plainly less likely that both canals would be
destroyed than that would be-
There would seem to be very little room for
difference Of opinion regarding either the commercial or
military necessity for this second canal The facts and
figures obvious and conclusive that there could
be for opposing the canal except obstinate
indifference to the facts and figures unwingness
to spend the money for what is practically commercial
Finally the Nicaragua Canal would save over the
Panama route $50 nautical miles between New Orleans
and the Pacific Coast Of country and $50 miles be-
tween New York and our Pacific Coast The canal
therefore has the advantage of being Of direct bene
the three great sections Of the country The Atlantic
States the Pacific States and the Mississippi River and
Gulf States
1T is not an enterprise therefore which be Op
posed because of special benefits conferred merely upon
section It will prove Of advantage to all sections
and should have the support of the representatives Of all
sections.
as far as determine through the contacts which
these papers provide the Nicaragua Canal project is
supported very whOlsheartedy by the people Of all
sections "
Commenting upon the message Black pointed out that
the Canal is fast reaching its traffic saturatOn
point and already is employed to 70 per cent of its
capacity according official records He continued
THE Nicaragua Canal originally favored
the Panama Canal route.
'Is outside cost would be at most $16O0Ooo0O whereas
the Panama Canal has already cost $412000000.
The Ncaraguan route is three days shorter between
New York and San Francisco Its climate much better
than at Panama
1T has q natural lake 100 by 40 miles, which can
afford the water necessary the operation Of locks
AT Panama such water is stored by artificial
and might readily in case OF an enemy attack be absolutely
depleted.
1--WE paid $8OOo,OOO under the ChamOrrO treaty
for the exclusive right to build the Nicaragua Canal and
believe that the time to initiate the work by the
passage of the Edge resolution for survey.
aHnA Annl TnAF,TFRARTPN PTRTPn