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JANUARY 23; 1902. PANAMA: OR NICARAGUA—WHICH? Following the ratification of the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty ,for the construction of the Isthmian canal, is a, renewal-of the discussion as to the relative merits of the two- routes available for the proposed .waterway. ‘Ihe settlement of this question :s the first:logical step toward the execution of the project. . It is of such far-reaching importance, financially as well as. in its international bear- ings that it should’ be and will be determined only. after the broadest and most thorovgh consideration. There has» been a-widespread impression that the ultimate adop- tion-of the Nicaragua route was a foregone conclusion, thatthe Government of the United States was in some way‘committed on that point, and that the Panama route was no longer a factor in the problem. This impression, which: {s*both erroneous and misleading, has had its foun- dation on these grounds: First, the unanimous report in favor of the Nicaragua route by the Isthmian Canal Com- mission, of which Rear Admiral John G. Walker, U. S. N., retired, is President; second, the energetic support given in Congress to measures: specifically pledging the Government to the Nicaragua reute, and, third, the fact that -the price demanded by the French Panama Canal company for its concession and plant was.so high as to be virtually prohibitive of a canal along the Panama route. These considerations have naturally conveyed the itapres- sion that the Isthmian canal, if constructed by the author- ity of the United States, would follow the Nicaragua route. Brut a great: change has taken place, and the Panama route ‘has all-of a sudden become an attractive candidate for public favor. ‘The Isthmian Canal Commission pro- nounced. the Nicaragua route ‘“‘the most practical and feasible,’ for the reason that the price demanded for the Panama route made Nicaragua the cheapest by $62.5¢0,- 000. This estimate was, however, based upon a demand of $t09,141,500 for the Panama concession. ‘I‘his price was out of the question. It was not conditioned. upon the value of the property involved, but was clearly deter- mined by a desire to recover a part at least, of the millions of money belonging to French investors, which De Lesseps and his associates squandered in exploiting the Panama enterprise. So long as the French company stood out for its exorbitant figures the Panama route was an impos: sibility, and the status of Nicaragua route as “the most practical and feasible’ was firmly upheld by the convinc- ing argument of dollars and cents. Now, however, the French holders have come to their senses. Having discovered that they cannot get what they want, they have concluded to take what they can get. In short, the Panama Canal company of France, whick is merely a reorganization of the old one, has placed its concession and plant on the bargain counter and marked the price down from $109,141,500 to just $40,0c0,000. ‘This offer is reasonable and business-like. As a matter of fact the Isthmian Canal Commission, composed cf ten members, most of them engineers of high reputation, after a careful’ examination of the property of the Panama company, estimated its value at the figure now named by its owhers, The new French proposition, therefore, which is based upon “the terms and conditions of the estimates of the Commission,” is simply an offer to sell out at the buyer’s own valuation, and it brings squarely to the front the question of the relative advantages of the two routes. Granting that the two are equally desirable in other respects, the financial argument is undeniably in favor of Panama, as a brief comparison will show. Under the old demand for $109,141,500 for the property of the Panama company, a canal’along its route would have cost $63,510,- ooo more than one on ‘the Nicaragua: route, but under the new offer to sell at $40,000,000 the first cost of the Panama canal would be $5.630,000 less than a Nicaragua canal. The commission also estimates that the operating and maintenance expenses of a Panama canal would be $1.300,- 000 a year less than those of a Nicaragua canal. If this difference in favor of Panama be capitalized at 4 per cent. and taken into the general account. the cost of the canals would be about as follows: Nicaragua, $222.364.062; Panama. %184.233:;358; difference in favor .of Panama. $28,130,704. . The question which these figtires suggest is whether the Nicaragua route possesses advantages that would justify its adoption for canal purposes at the in- creased cost over Panama. And that question we com- mend to the consideration of the long line of distinguish- ed engineers of the Army and Navy who have already given it so much careful thought and investigation. Of course, the mere money payment would not be the aly. thing to be taken intc account in considering this -ew. French proposal. First of all assurances would nave: to be given that the French Government should ake no objection to the transfer of the property to the Tnited -States. . Satisfactory guarantees of title would lsovbe required, and the parties to the transaction would nave to procure the approval of the Government of Co- lombia, for the good and sufficient reason that the charter f the Panama Canal company forbids the sale of the ranchise to any government, and stipulates that a pro- posal to: make such a sale shall work « forfeiture of the company’s property. These necessary considerations, however, could doubtless be easily arranged should the overnment decide upon the Panama route, the relations tween the United States and the Central American publics being such that all obstacles to the construction f a’ canal over either route: would disappear through ‘riendly negotiation. No matter what may be the final outcome, we are persuaded that the one effect of this new THE MARINE RECORD. French. offer will be to hasten the construction of an Isthmian canal. The two routes are now at the disposal of the United States on their merits alone, unobstructed by unreasonable money demands or political entangle- ments. The Army and Navy Journal has repeatedly in- sisted that the Panama route had advantages which should not be overlooked. We have pointed out the hearty approval of this route by Gen. Henry L. Abbott, U. S. A,., retired, and’ other eminent engineers, and urged the utmost care in settling this vexatious and im- portant qusetion. _ After three days of debate the House of Representa- tives, on Jan. 9, passed the Nicaragua Canal bill by a prac- tically unanimous vote, only two of the 310 members pres- ent voting against it. Strong efforts were made to re- commit the measure with instructions to report a substi- tute authorizing the President to negotiate for a canal by either the Nicaragua or the Panama route, the concession and plant of the Panama Canal company, if selected, to be taken at a maximum price of $40,000,000. ‘These efforts were prompted by a statement that representatives of the Panama company now in Washington are about to make an offer to dispose of its property at the price named above which, it is claimed, would permit the construction of a canal over the Panama route for fully $60,000,000 less than it would cost to build one over the Nicaragua sur- vey. It was urged by the advocates of the motion to re- commit that the President should be empowered to con- sider both routes, but the supporters of the Nicaragua project prevailed over al! opposition, though it is admitted that the strength of the friends of the Panama route was by no means disclosed in the vote on final passage. The bill, as it passed the House, authorizes the building of a- canal on the Nicaragua route at a cost not exceeding $180,- 000,000, and $10,000,000 is made immediately available to be expended under the supervision of the Secretary of War for materials and labor in construction. ‘The bill is now before the Senate Committec on Inter-Oceanic Canals, a majority of which it is said are in favor of reporting it favorably—The Army and Navy Journal. i eeeteeenenen adipsia eee STATEMENT OF THE VISIBLE SUPPLY OF GRAIN. As compiled by George F. Stone, Secretary Chicago Board. of Trade, January 18: WHEAT.| CORN. Oats. Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. CITIES WHERE STORED. RYE. BA ‘LEY Bushels. | Bushels -—--oOcOoOo Buffalo: 222) Sicaci.ns 5,691,000] 644,000} 543,000 30,000] 1,092,000 Sw AHOAE Mag atte 538,000 Bx OOO ccloeaulecenoscman|lancemnns Chicago. ........... 6,837,000] 4,720,000] 629,000] 1,019,000} —_ 193,000 MO Pafloats an S08 ATI VOOO|iscinlia Gee may ioe ane 77,000| ... Detroit eiscsecer. 623.006 212,000 25,000 15,000 16,000 Duluth............... 9,591,900 281,020 162,007 452,000 255,00 Vie So UML OBL y ais canis fs 5I1,000]..... SERRA [ae PER SU ey Ee as ain | MEERA hea Fort William, Ont../ 3,658,000!........../.......... eae A Iitn es Milwaukee.......... 452,000 g1,00c 284,000 45,000 141 000 Port Arthur, Ont.... LoS Rfo fo} NAOT ade Fyreniahd Geran st erred IRR rn aumNoes | inter ves eu £82) 0 o Rennie: 211,900] 987,000] 459,006 245 000 6,0co an 37;000| is ones (2) elo) larry eee 44,0 0 46,000 3,000 112,000 37,000 50,000 Grand Total..... 59,273 000] 11,752,000] 4 212,000] 2,284,000] 2,161,c00 Corresponding Date, WOOP cenit neatonr 61,195,0..0] 11,74%,000| 9,535,000] 1,217,000] 2,011,000 Increase for week..| 1,196,000] ° 109,000] .. .....] ........ 12,c00 Decrease ‘‘ [Vaies Re eas Seta ah 332,000 L125. 000) 52.0. ses While the stock of grain at lake ports only is here given, the total shows the figure. for the entire country except the Pacific Slope. -— or POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES. According to a recent bulletin issued from the Census Bureau at Washington, the entire population of the United States, including all outlying possessions, was 84,233,069 in the census year 1900. ‘This is itemized as follows: Con- tinental United States, or United States proper, 75,904,575, as before announced; Philippines, 6,961,320, being the esti- mate of the statistician to the Philippine Commission; Porto Rico, 953,243; Hawaii, 154,001; Alaska, 63,502; Guam, 9,000; American Samoa, 6,100; persons in the mili- tary and naval service of the United States outside of the territory of the United States proper, 91,219. A census of the Philippine Islands was in progress in 1896 when the insurrection broke out, and returns for over two-fifths of the population were found stored in Manila. These were carefully tabulated, and the foregoing estimate is based upon the results. ‘The population of the United States has increased nearly sixteen fold in 100 years. ‘There are but three countries which now have a greater population than the United States, viz., China, the British Empire, and the Russian Empire. France, including its dependencies, is the fourth country of the world in order of population, and has almost the same number as the United States. rn Accorpine to the Engineering and Mining Journal of New York City, whose managing editor is Edward W. Parker, “the amount of coal produced and marketed in r901 in the United States aggregated 300,000,000 tons of 2,000 pounds, against 260,881,827 tons in 1900.” In 1870 America supplied only fifteen per cent. of the world’s coal, and twenty years ago less than twenty per cent. In 1877 American producers passed Germany and took rank sec- ond to: Great Britain. In 1809 the product of American mines for the time surpassed that of Great Britain, and the leading: position among the world’s producers, then wrested from our English cousins, has been maintained and increased since by the American mines. REPORTED BY THE LOOKOUT. _ The American: Ship Windlass: Co., of Providence, R.‘I., is about, to. make a shipment of, capstans to A. Rodger & — Co,; of “Port..Glasgow, Scotland!) = 2 355, 90 e ee _ A bill providing for a largé:number- of: light-house and — fog signal stations in Alaska has been reported to the Senate from the Committee on.Commerce. sais The government has just’ completed two handsome life- saving stations at Lake: Michigan points, one at Sleeping Bear Point. and the other on South Manitou Island, at a- cost of $12,000.. Inspections of. both have just been made. The steamer Francis: Hinton, owned by- Capt. William: Evans and A. A. Vanayan, of St. Joseph, has been sold to Capt. C. M. Campbell, John. Lutz ‘and J. Oliver, of the Indiana Transportation Co., of Michigan City, for $20,000. For the ‘last three seasons the steamer Hinton was under- the command of Capt. Evans. The new owners will con-. tinue to operate the steamer in the lumber trade from various east shore ports. ' ‘Capt. Malloy, of Ontonagon, has closed a deal for the’ purchase of the boat owned by Harry Corgan. Mr. Mal-. loy purchased the craft for the Lake Superior Fish Co., of which he is the manager. _The Courtney C. will be re-° named. It is the intention of the company to make ex- tensive repairs to the tug and use it in their operations off Ontonagon. The boat is 45 feet long, 10 feet beam, with a speed of ten miles an hour. Sei A steamer recently arrived at New York reports having seen the remarkable phenomenon of a collision of two hur- ricanes. The vessel happily was not in their’ track, else. she never would have brought the story to port. Some energetic western: correspondent probably will now be in- .spired to diffuse an exciting account of a contest between Kansas cyclones, with intelligent estimate of the fighting — qualities of the respective “twisters.” : The North-West ‘'ransportation Co.’s new steamer — Huronic, which was launched at ‘Collingwood, Ont., a short | time ago, will, it is said, be the fastest steel boat on the Great: Lakes. She will steam 18 miles an hour. Her freight: capacity is 3,000 tons. ‘There will’ be accommodations for 250 first-class passengers. ‘Ihe three new sister boats of the Huronic to be built in 1902, will be Canadian products all through or as near thereto as is practicable. The recent stranding of the car ferry Pere Marquette | No. 15, has led the Luddington Record-Appeal to argue in © favor of continuing the life-saving service at that port. What is true of Ludington is equally true of Grand Haven, Frankfort and all points along the west shore of Lake | Michigan reached by steamers during the winter months where stations exist. The Appeal thinks that instead of © seven surfmen four would probably be sufficient, for no~- beach patrols need be made during the winter months. The identity of the Hudson sailor whose hody was: found at Traverse Bay two months. ago antKsiwho was buried at Lake Linden,.may yet be discovered. Agent J. C. Thomson, of the Western Line,-sent some of his effects to Buffalo for identification but the officers of the steam- ship company. were unable to secure any identification. The effects have now been deposited with the county clerk in accordance with the law. ‘ They consist of a watch and chain and some papers. A book has been found in ‘which are written certain bank deposits. The officers will make another effort through this medium to discover who the man was. The grave has been marked “Unknown Hud- son Sailor,” and if any relatives are found the remains will be disinterred and shipped east. oo CANADIAN MERCHANT SHIPPING. The total. number of-vessels remaining on the register books of the Dominion on December 31, 1900, including old and-new vessels, sailing vessels, steamers and barges, was, 6,735, measuring 659,534 tons register tonnage, being an increase of 37 vessels and a decrease of 19,818 tons reg- ister, as compared with 1899. The number of steamers on the registry books on the same date was 2,101, with a gross tonnage of 293,006 tons. Assuming the average value to be $30 per ton, the value of the registered ton- nage of Canada, on December 31 last, would be $19,786,020. The number of new vessels built and registered in the Dominion of Canada during the last year was 297, meas- uring 22,329 tons register tonnage. Estimating the value of the new tonnage at $45 per ton, it gives a total value of $1,004,805 for new vessels. <q >a ——— Pror. J. T. Morrison, of the Victorian College, Stellen- bosch, has been lecturing on the possibilities of water power. in South Africa. He suggested that the Orange River Falls might very easily be used for working the whole sys- tem of the South. African railways electrically. The lec- turer calculated the cost of transmitting the power from the Orange River Falls as follows: Hydraulic works and dynamos, $900,000; copper wire necessary to carry this power 400 miles, $2,000,000; erection of transmission line, $900,000; wires. along railway, $3,000,000. The total first cost would thus be $6,800,000. Prof. Morrison submitted that the scheme was workable and would be. profitable. He thought it would be a serious blunder if the government allowed the whole of these sources to pass into the hands of large capitalists without proper taxation being returned.