Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-12-19
Nicaragua Treaty
A Scheme That Calls for
S100,OO0,00O.
What the Treaty Is, and the
Situation Explained.
A Lively Opposition Springs Up
From All Sides.
Other Items.
Other Items.
THE NIcARAUoUA SCHEME.

The Proposed Treaty and What 1t
Means.
WASHINGTON, Dec. I6.-The Near
auqua treaty which has been nego-
tiated and submitted to the senate for
ratification is one of the most import
ant in scope and purpose of any that
has been presented to the considera-
ton of the American people in long
time; and it eXcites more interest In
diplomatic circles than any other
measure brought forward i'll long
time.
THE OBJECT OF THE TREATY.
The object of the treaty is as fol-
lows: The United States agrees to
construct canal from the Atlantic
water through the territory of Mica
rauqua, by way OF the lake Of Mica
rauqua, to the Pacific ocean.
The canal starts at Greytown, on
about the 18th degree of latitude
thence runs northwesterly about sew
enty miles up the valley of the San
Juan river to the Nicaragua lake, a
body Of water about one hundred
miles long by thirty wide, in the
central part of the state. The waters
of this lake will furnish a water way
for some fifty miles. A channel must
then be cut to the Pacific through a
backbone of land some ten or fifteen
miles across to the Pacific at Brito.
This it is estimated will cost $40, ,000,
900, but is more likely to cost double
that sum.
The NicauraguaR government
agrees TO cede to the United States a
strip OF land six miles wide, three
miles on either side OF the canal,
from ocean to ocean, and the United
States are to have absolute sovereignty
and control within the strip.
Tolls are to be regulated and collected
by the United States, and one half the
proceeds paid to the Nlcarauguan gov
ernment. The United States may es-
tabtish forts, maintain troops, etc,
for the defense Of the canal, to be
used only for the defense of their prop
erty.
The cost of the undertaking and of
fortilying and putting II IN shape for
use Will be about 500, 600, 900.
THE SITUATION DESCRIBED.
Gen. Grant, who was at the head of
a corporation organized to carry out
this project in 1880, said:
The Nicarauguan route has the
advantage Of beng farther north,
less distance from the tropics for YES
sells to sal or steam going from Allan
tic or Pacific ports or from Europe, or
to the East. A line of lower levels is
found in the Nlcarauguan route than
by any other, and then at the summit
is very large and extensive plain,
and the water shed of the region is to
the lake, instead of the stream which
empties into 1t, 50 tnat it receives the
waterfall OF the heavy tropical rains,
and the lake being of so large an eX,
tent it has but a few feet to rise aud
fall. Its banks reach within II miles
of the Pacific ocean, so that canal
could be built from the lake to the
Pacific without any water course run
ming into the canal. The outlet TO
the Atlantic side is by large, navig-
able river. 1t has no tributaries flow
ing into it until you get well down
toward the mouth. This river is nav
ieable for large steamers. There are
three rapids TO go over. By a system
of dams, starting the first just above
where the tribuotry comes into the
river, the San Juan, slack water nav
igatian could be made for the largest
vessels; then by systems of dams and
locks there could be slack water navi-
CATION all the way"
OPPOSITION TO THE TREATY.
There crops out very general op-
position to the treaty from various
sources. The pending of $780,
600, 900 is quite sum. The appear
ance of a job gives the matter sds-
picious look. The fact that Am9rlca
has so little commerce and SO few
ships makes it seem almost laughable
that Americans should oe digging
bitches for the commerce Of other
nations to 'cus across" our continent
in.
FOREIGN COMPLICATIONS.
1t is said that this project will involve
US in difficult foreign complications.