The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-23
MR.. sHERM ANS WARNING.
He Says Uncle Sam Must Control the
Nicaragua Canal.
(Copnriaht.l

(Copyriaht)
New YORK, Feb. 2l.-The important
question as to what action the United States
governm ent should take in regard to the
proposed construction of the Nicaragua
canal will be the subject of a careful ar
ticle by Senator John Sherman in the
March Forum.
Senator Sherman begins by reviewing
the history of the canal project from the
treaty of Dec. l, 1884, Dy which the repub-
lie of Nicaragua agreed that the work should
be undertaken by the United States. In
his message to the Senate, Dec. 10,
1884, President Arthur strongly recon-
mended the ratification of the treaty
but no formal action followed. President
Cleveland withdrew the treaty from the
consideration of the Senate soon after his
inauguration, and in his first annual mess
age gave his reasons for sofdoing,h witch
were, briefly, that he did not favor "a
policy of acquisition of new and distant
territory or the incorporation OF remote
interests with our own."
TIE incorporation in February, 1899, of
the Maritime Canal Company of Nicara-
qua, an association of citizens OF the United
States, is then considered. The republic OF
Nicaragua had granted to this association
the right to construct the canal; to sell its
stock and bonds for the funds required, and
| to seek the aid Of foreign powers, especially
! the United states.
Estimates made by engineers employed
| by this company have been revised by
board of consulting engineers; and, before
aay aid is rendered by the United States,
are to be still further revised by officers of
| the army and navy of the United States.
The cost Of the work is placed at $73, 49,
| 1908 to which is added for possible con-
tiuqencies the SUN of S14 633, 262, and an
allowance for interest on invested money
during the progress of the work, making
the limit Of aggregate cost about $780,
000, 900.
| Senator Sherman considers the engineer
ing difficulties, of which the greatest will
be met in DEMONSTRATION osfharbors at the
| termini: and it is his opinion that they are
| not so great as those which were overcome
| in the making of the Suez canal Inc total
| distance from ocean to ocean Is l69. 4 miles,
of which only 26.S miles wilt be by exca>
waited canal Work is in progress and the
results are satisfactory.
The Importance of the work TO the United
States is strongly presented. Senator Sher-
man declares that "the canal will, for the
first time, make possible an endorsements OF
| the Monroe doctrine, hitherto a mere dogma
in American policy" He then proceeds to
consideration of the question: How shall
| the financial uliuCultleS Do uot. I1o pre-
sents his views as follows:
ut is proper for me to emphasize the
fact that the Maritime Canal Company
and the construction company organized
by it have made no application to congress
for AID. The Maritime Canal Company
can, no doubt, by making great sacrifices of
its stocks and bonds, secure the completion of
the canal; but all experience shows that
this will involve an output of stock and
bonds that will be permanent charge and
burden upon the commerce that passes
through the canal The Senate committee
on foreign relations has examined the Off