|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 2
The reason for this was, that at Panama a long and deep cut had to be made
through the mountains. This had to be done by blasting, in much the same
way that the rocks are cleared away to build houses. This is a long and
tedious work.
The Nicaragua Canal will be 159 miles long, while the Panama, if it is
ever completed, will be only 59 miles; but of these 159 miles, 117 are
through the Nicaragua Lake and the San Juan River--water-ways already made
by nature. For the remaining distance, there are other river-beds that
will be used, and only 21 miles will actually have to be cut through.
The main objection to this route for the Canal is, that there is a volcano
on an island in the Nicaragua Lake, and there are always fears of
eruptions and earthquakes in the neighborhood of volcanoes. A great
eruption of the volcano might change the course of a river, or alter the
face of the country so much, that the Canal might have to be largely
remade.
The building of this Canal will cost hundreds of millions of dollars--two
hundred millions, it is said.
Nicaragua is not a rich-enough country to be able to pay for this, and it
is here that the subject touches the closest interests of other countries,
and is serious enough to overthrow a much-desired treaty.
If the Canal is to be built, it must be built by a country rich enough to
pay for it.
The country which builds the Canal will have the right to collect a toll
from every vessel passing through, and also to defend it, and prevent the
ships of an enemy from using it.
The United States is naturally anxious to be the country that controls the
Canal. But England does not appear to want us to have entire control.
England owns the greater part of the Suez Canal, which joins the
Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. This Canal, you will see by looking at
the map, makes a short cut to Asia, and saves ships the long journey round
Africa and the Cape of Good Hope.
England finds this Canal very useful; it makes a great deal of money for
her, and she would like to have just as large a share of the Nicaragua
Canal That is at least what the Senators say.
When the Treaty was mentioned in the Senate, Senator Morgan at once
demanded that his Nicaragua Canal Bill should be acted upon.
His bill provides that the United States Government shall furnish the
money for the Canal, and in return shall own nearly the whole of it, and
have the right to say who shall have charge of its affairs.
No sooner had his request been made in the Senate, than a protest came
from Mr. Rodriguez, the Minister for the Greater Republic of South
America, who was received by President Cleveland a week or two ago.
He said that Nicaragua would not consent to any such arrangement, and
would not allow the United States to have so much control of the Canal. He
added that if Senator Morgan's bill were passed, Nicaragua would not allow
the building of the Canal to go on without entirely new arrangements.
The Senators are very angry about this. They think that Nicaragua has
been told to say this by England, to prevent the matter of the Canal being
settled before the Arbitration Treaty is made with England.
They say if the Treaty is accepted in its present form, and ratified
before the Nicaragua Canal Bill is passed, England will have the right to
take a hand in the Canal question.
An interest in the Nicaragua Canal would give England a right to use both
the short water-ways of the world, and, with her great navy, it would give
her rights that might be very dangerous to us.
The excitement about the Canal has taken away all hope of the Treaty being
acted upon by Congress this session. When it does come up, the Senators
intend to have it so worded that the Nicaraguan affairs cannot be
interfered with by England.
The idea of the Treaty seemed a splendid thing for us, and all lovers of
peace will grieve if some satisfactory understanding is not arrived at;
but we must not neglect our own best interests.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|