FIFTY YEARS AGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22976, 2 March 1938, Page 10

FIFTY YEARS AGO

NICARAGUAN CANAL PLAN A project for the making of a Nicaraguan canal, when the Panama C'anal was still uncompleted, was receiving considerable attention in the Pacific countries half a century ago. The following comment is taken from the New Zealaxi.' Hkbai.d of March 2, 1888: "The United States Senate has agreed to the Nicaragua Canal Bill, which provides for the construction of a ship canal through Central Americas, from the Bay of Guatemala on the Atlantic eiide to Port Realejo on ' the Pacific, {he total length of the projected cutting being 278 miles. The distance is, five tiines as long as that of the work undertaken at Panama, but it is said that the engineering difficulties are not so great. ; "Two obstacles, however, stand in the way of the project. The I nited States Government, wish to avoid anything which would lead to the annexation of countries where the indispen* : : sible employment of coloured labour might revive the terrible trouble of thfl ; Civil War. In addition, the powerful railroad companies, of the I nited States do not wish a seaway made through Central America. It looks as if this Nicaragua project were revived onlv to interfere with the Panama work—to cripple the efforts of M. Lesseps irt|| raising funds for the completion of his undertaking."