would be allowed to colonize in America and thereby overthrow Republican institutions, and render our Supremacy less secure. But Statesmen in Congress contended after deep consideration, that it was more important to prevent a foreign power from owning an isthmian canal than to prevent colonizing; that the canal's control could be far more dangerous to the United States, because it could be used as a direct military agency against us, by shutting out our fleet and passing a hostile navy through to attack our coasts. Hence Congress would not consent that the canal should be under foreign control, and made it plain that America should own it. We could make no protest, if individuals built a canal, acting solely under the sovereignty of Colombia. De Lesseps positively asserted before a Congressional Committee in 1881, that the French Corporation was a private enterprise and he was perfectly willing to have American stockholders and the headquarters at New York or Washington. The United States continued to survey at Nicaragua and at Panama and to negotiate with the French Corporation. The situation remained unadjusted through the terms of Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, Harrison and McKinley; and under Roosevelt the whole matter was settled by the French Company offering to sell to the United States for $40,000,000. They first offered to sell for $109,000,000. This was deemed exorbitant and the Canal Commission reported Nov. 16, 1901, that in view of the terms, they were of opinion that the most practicable and feasible route for a canal to be under the control and ownership of the United States was the Nicaragua route. The struggle continued over the routes, until Congress was about to direct by the "Hepburn" House bill, that the Canal should be at Nicaragua. This bill on H Jan. 9, 1902, passed the House and was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee. On Jan. 18, 1902, the Canal Commission filed a new report stating that the French Company had offered to sell for $40,000,000; and that as conditions now exist, they were of opinion that "the most practicable and feasible route" for an isthmian canal to be "under the control, management and ownership of the United States" is that known as the Panama route. The opinion was unanimous. The Commission testified before the Senate Committee, that they in 1901 favored the Panama route, but the price then asked by the French Company prevented their so reporting. By the purchase of the Panama rights happily the Monroe Doctrine ceased to be a disturbing factor. It was conceded by Wyse and de Lesseps that their concession from Colombia was subject to our treaty of 1846. INVENTORY OF PROPERTY PURCHASED. The following is an abridgement of the property taken over from the French Company. 1st. 56 tracts of land, 30,000 acres; also Wyse's 3rd. All the plant, tugs, launches, dredges, loco- 4th. Excavations in the main canal, and in the diversions, of the total of 39,586,332 cu. yds. 5th. 68,863 shares of the 70,000 shares of the Panama R. R. stock, subject to mortgages. The company owned cash $438,569; and 3 ships, the Alianca, Advance and Finance each of 2,000 tons; also charters of steamers running from New York to Colon and from Panama to San Francisco; also half of the Islands, Naos, Culebra, Perico, and Flamenco in Panama Bay; the R. R. Co. owned nearly the whole of the town of Colon, the houses being built under lease. 6th. Maps, drawings and records at Paris worth $2,000,000. The Commission valued all at $40,000,000. NICARAGUA VS. PANAMA. The Canal Commission concluded that any canal at Panama or Nicaragua must be with locks; also that the water supply at either site was ample; that on account of the harbors, on the Panama route and the railroad service, the canal there could be put into operation more speedily than at Nicaragua; that the operating expense would be much less at Panama; that the Panama Canal was 134.6 miles shorter, with less number of locks, and far less curvature; and that the time of passage at Panama was 12 hours, as against 33 at Nicaragua. It was claimed that a sea-level canal, could, in time, be made at Panama, but at Nicaragua this would be forever impossible on account of Lake Nicaragua, being 110 feet above sea-level. Earthquakes and volcanoes figured against Nicaragua; but against this argument was raised the cry that the revolutionary disposition of the people at Panama would endanger the Canal. The final contest was fought out in the Senate in 1902. Bunau-Varilla secured an invincible champion when Senator Hanna came over to the Panama side. While Senator Morgan was plausible, and dealt in rhetoric and ancient history, his arguments did not convince like the strong, business-sense arguments, and clear, terse philosophy of Senator Hanna. The $40,000,000 offer and a partly built canal, caught the business men of the nation. The Spooner bill was substituted for the Hepburn bill, and after a stormy contest the Spooner Law was passed by the Senate, and later accepted by the House and was approved by the President, June 28, 1902. Under this law all the rights at Panama were secured and we now have in operation the channel connecting the two oceans one of the world's most remarkable accomplishments. There is now a single canal-an American Canal-controlled by America, and to be operated for the civilized world on terms of equality. On July 16, 1915, the three American dreadnoughts, the Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin passed through the Panama Canal from Colon to Balboa in the space of 9 hours. They moved in single file about onefourth of a mile apart, and were in command of Rear Admiral Wm. F. Fullam. These were the first large battleships to navigate the canal; a small fleet of American submarines passed through in February, 1915. It is stated that the 3 battleships paid tolls to the amount of $45,000. It is now demonstrated that the nation has attained one of the main purposes in constructing the canal-pass its fleet through this waterway and thus protect either coast in case of an emergency. ULTIMATE SOVEREIGNTY. In 1904 Panama raised a serious question-that 5th. 68,863 shares of the 70,000 shares of the Panama R. R. stock, subject to mortgages. The company owned cash $438,569; and 3 ships, the Alianca, Advance and Finance each of 2,000 tons; also charters of steamers running from New York to Colon and from Panama to San Francisco; also half of the Islands, Naos, Culebra, Perico, and Flamenco in Panama Bay; the R. R. Co. owned nearly the whole of the town of Colon, the houses being built under lease. 6th. Maps, drawings and records at Paris worth $2,000,000. The Commission valued all at $40,000,000. NICARAGUA VS. PANAMA. The Canal Commission concluded that any canal at Panama or Nicaragua must be with locks; also that the water supply at either site was ample; that on account of the harbors, on the Panama route and the railroad service, the canal there could be put into operation more speedily than at Nicaragua; that the operating expense would be much less at Panama; that the Panama Canal was 134.6 miles shorter, with less number of locks, and far less curvature; and that the time of passage at Panama was 12 hours, as against 33 at Nicaragua. It was claimed that a sea-level canal, could, in time, be made at Panama, but at Nicaragua this would be forever impossible on account of Lake Nicaragua, being 110 feet above sea-level. Earthquakes and volcanoes figured against Nicaragua; but against this argument was raised the cry that the revolutionary disposition of the people at Panama would endanger the Canal. The final contest |