Review of reviews and world's work (1890) (14577656668)

The Isthmian Canal Commission was a commission created by

congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...

in 1899 "to determine the most feasible and practicable route" in Central America to build a canal. The commission was chaired by John G. Walker, even though he chaired another congressional commission called the Nicaragua Canal Commission, which had not yet issued its final report, which was released in mid-1899 and, true to its name, recommended the locale of Nicaragua for the construction of a canal. This change of focus was a triumph for the lobbyist

William Nelson Cromwell William Nelson Cromwell (January 17, 1854 – July 19, 1948) was an American attorney active in promotion of the Panama Canal and other major ventures especially in cooperation with Philippe Bunau-Varilla. Life and career He was born and rais ...

, who was hired by French interests wanting to get rid of the assets of the failed enterprise of

Ferdinand de Lesseps Ferdinand Marie, Comte de Lesseps (; 19 November 1805 – 7 December 1894) was a French diplomat and later developer of the Suez Canal, which in 1869 joined the Mediterranean and Red Seas, substantially reducing sailing distances and times ...

. The commission issued its report on 16 November 1901, recommending once again Nicaragua, disregarding Panama because ''La Compagnie Nouvelle du Canal de Panama''—the throwaway company under which the French assets were organized—charged over $109 million for everything, which

Walker Walker or The Walker may refer to: People * Walker (given name) *Walker (surname) * Walker (Brazilian footballer) (born 1982), Brazilian footballer Places In the United States *Walker, Arizona, in Yavapai County *Walker, Mono County, California ...

found much too high. After some further lobbying by

Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three Ki ...

and also Philippe Bunau-Varilla, the makeshift company lowered the price to $40 million on 4 January 1902. The Commission hastily reconvened on

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...

's urging to reconsider the question after which Panama was declared the preferred route.

References

{{reflist Panama Canal Zone 1890s in Panama