The Triumphant Life of Theodore Roosevelt edited by J. Martin Miller

CHAPTER XI
THE PANAMA CANAL
History of the Project—Its Inception — The Nicaragua Route Proposed —
The Canal Bill Signed by the President — Text of the Law — The
Spooner Substitute—The Direction of the Panama Canal Placed in the
Hands of the War Department — President Roosevelt on the Canal
Question-The Incompetency of Colombia—A Bloodless Rebellion—The
Duty of the United States.
Probably the greatest event of international significance and
importance in President Roosevelt's administration was the
treaty between the new Republic of Panama and the United
States, for the construction of the isthmian canal. The his-
tory of this great project is exceedingly interesting. Follow-
ing the discovery of gold in California and the opening up of
the Pacific coast, interest was naturally manifested in the
question of providing an alternative route, safer, more rapid
and less costly than those round Cape Horn or across the wild
country and passes of the Rockies. The result was the con-
struction of the Panama Railroad across the Isthmus of
Panama, which connects North and South America and sep-
arates the Atlantic from the Pacific. This railroad was five
years in building, being completed in 1855.
PLANS FOR A CANAL
Following the building of the Panama Railroad came plans
for a ship canal to be made across the Isthmus of Panama,
connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific. The plan was to fol-
low the course of the waterway connecting Colon or Aspin-
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