302 THE PROPOSED AMERICAN INTEROCEANIC CANAL 



In this connection there arises an important question as to 

 markets. The value of the products of all industries in the states 

 of the Pacific coast and in the so-called arid region is fully 

 $700,000,000 annually. This gives rise to an enormous com- 

 merce with the states east of the Missouri river. Chicago, St 

 Louis, St Paul, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, and other interior cities 

 are now the centers of that commerce over direct lines. Hence 

 arises the important question as to whether the people of those 

 cities and of the entire western and northwestern states are or 

 are not in favor of the payment of a capital subvention probably 

 amounting to at least $200,000,000 and an additional subvention 

 on account of interest and maintenance of works amounting 

 annually to at least $9,000,000 for the purpose of diverting this 

 great trade to rival commercial centers. 



The utter absurdity of the proposition that the Nicaragua Canal 

 would be of any possible benefit to the great interior cities or to 

 the entire western and northwestern section of this country is 

 also indicated by the following statement of distances : 



San Francisco to Chicago : Miles. 



By direct rail line 2,356 



By Nicaragua route and rail , 5,803 



The seaport cities of the Pacific Coast have also to face the ques- 

 tion as to whether they are or are not in favor of such Panama 

 or Nicaragua Canal subventions having in view the object of 

 diverting our commerce with Asia and Australasia from Pacific 

 Coast ports. This inquiry is accentuated by the fact that Hono- 

 lulu, the intermediate coaling station of the Pacific Ocean, is 1,142 

 statute miles south of San Francisco. I have no faith in the 

 potentiality of such subventions upon the course of commerce 

 for reasons of an economic and commercial nature herein set 

 forth, but merely allude to the obvious purpose and tendency of 

 such subventions and to the necessity for honest and thorough 

 official inquiry into the matter. 



Neither the Panama nor the Nicaragua Canal will ever be 

 available for sailing vessels on account of lack of wind and tow- 

 age charges. This constitutes one of the most important con- 

 ditions affecting the practicability of any American interbceanic 

 canal. It would be necessary not only to tow sailing vessels 

 through any American canal, but also, as a rule, to tow them to and 

 from the canal through the Doldrums. For the same reasons no 



