A New Oceanic Canal

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 15, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 36.

A New Oceanic Canal.

The New York World has a despatch from Panama, dated August 14, stating that the Republic of Colombia will not sign the tri-partite treaty with the United States and the Republic of Panama, relating to the Panama Canal. On the other hand, Colombia is determined to dig a canal of her own, or rather let England do it. It is stated that a much easier place has been discovered east of the present Panama Canal, and wholly on Colombian territory. The route is forty-seven miles long, and only half a mile divides the head waters of a stream flowing into the Atlantic, from the source of a stream flowing into the Pacific. That spot is 147 feet above the sea level, and the digging would all be in alluvial soil. The estimated cost is $100,000,000, considerably less than the United States has already expended on the Panama Canal. The query is whether the Republic of Panama, under the United States, will enlarge its boundary so as to take in the new route. In such case international complications would probably follow.