Stamp Story No. 2 Canal Course Decision

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29384, 10 December 1960, Page 10

Stamp Story No. 2 Canal Course Decision

[By KEN ANTHONY] The history of the Panama Canal is well known—how Ferdinand De Lesseps, the fambus French engineer who successfully built the Suez Canal, attempted the Panama project as well; how he was defeated by the fevers of the Panamanian swamps; and how later, with the advance of medical science, the canal was built by the Americans. Less well known is the fact that if a small group of American politicians bad not changed their minds at the last moment, the canal would not have been built at Panama at all, but further north, through Nicaragua.

And the factor which made them change their minds was a stamp. ✓ A committee of the United States Congress which had been cdhsidering the rival routes reported in favour of Nicaragua. Just then that country brought out a new stamp issue, the design of which showed Mount Momotonjbo —a volcano in eruption. Changed Their Minds The stamps were seized on by the pro-Panama group; every supporter of the Nicaraguan route was sent a copy, and with a letter pointing out the risk to the canal from- volcanic action if it were dug through Nicaragua. The result was that Congress decided on the Panama route thus, because of a stamp design Nicaragua lost the importance and prosperity which the canal would have brought This seems particularly hard luck on Nicaragua, because the set of 1900, which was the one in question, featured the first design the country had ever issued showing an active volcano. The Panama continues to have its impact on the stamp album. Ever since 1904 the Canal Zone has had its own stamps—the early issues being overprinted on stamps of the United States.— (All Rights Reserved. Central Press Features, Ltd.)