Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-03
NICARAGUA CANAL CONVENTION
A Dighifled Body Assemblies at
st. Louis.
Ex-Governor Stanard Of Wisconsin
Temporary Chairman.
Governor Francis welcomes the DeIe-
gstes-Hon. N. M. Estee Makes
Ringing Response- Warner
Miller Elucidates.

commercial interests, delegates from
twenty-five or more states and various
commercial bodies Of the union, gathered
this morning in the entertainment hall
Of the exposition building, to open the
session Of the Nicaingua canal conven-
ticn, inaugurated by the business men
Of California. The stars and stripes
were used to relisve the severity Of the
halls ornameutation, a. became so pat
riotic body.
The convention met at $50 O'Clock,
and before the assembly was called to
order, 1t was addressed BY Marcus Bern
helm, chairman of the local committee
on arrangements, who, in well chosen
words, welcomed the delegates and in
troduced Rev. H. A. Steinson, who in
voked the divine blessing upon the
gathering and work.
Without wasting time, the convention
chose ex-Gov. E. 0. Stanard of st. Louis
as temporary presiding officer. On tax
ing the chair, Governor Etanard re-
turned thanks for the honor conferred,
not only on himself by his election, but
upon st. Louis by the selection Of this
city ae the point of assembly. Referring
to the advantages gained by the saving
of time and distance, if the canal be
constructed, he closed with repetition
Of his thanks.
D. H. Adam and ]. @. Broadwell were
elected secretaries. The usual COM
mittees, one for each state, on creden-
tiale, permanent organization and reso-
lutions, were ordered appointed. Then
Gov. d. r. Francis Of Missouri well
coined the delegates to the state-"the
scene of the first national gathering in
the interests OF the shorter route to the
ports Of the Pacific"
Referring to the objerts Of the gather
ing, he declared that the feasibility Of
the canals construction having been
determined, the only question remain
ing after its construction was its con-
troll that issue was settled by the Mon
roe doctrine, enunciated seventy years
ago; as to q government guarantee, he
declared the commercial interests of
the union should be the actuatipg influ-
ence; the old cry that every application
for government Endorsement was actu-
ated by sordid motives, scarcely being
compatible with the intelligence and
patriotism Of q representative body, such
aB the body now assembled.
At the close Of Governor Francis's ad-
dress, Hon. M. N. Estee, of California,
was called upon and explained the pur-
poses and objects Of the gathering,
which had its inception in his state.
Mr.. EsTkE's ADDRKss.
The following il Mr.. Estee's address
"GENrLEllRN: On the Goth of March,
1892, state Nicaragua canal convention
was held in San Francisco and was nu-
merously attended. II voiced the Wishes
Of the people Of the west by adopting
resolution calling this convention to
meet here today, requesting the gov
ernors of the various atstes to appoint
delegates thereto. We came here for
council. We have no previously con-
ceived plans which we would unduly
urge upon your attention. We do know
that the Nicaragua canal should be
built, and will give some reasons which
inspired our action.
"First, we believe the building Of q
cific oceans is feasible.
"Second, the American people should
build it, and the American government
control it."
Mr.. Estee then detailed at length the
IcoSUu1 4O1 nA1 O0lA01 IN tuC 4oA6tUAiAty VI
the scheme. He said fair estimate Of
its cost was q little over $87 ,000, 600.
The canal, he said, would shorten the
distance from ocean to ocean about
1O, ,OC0 miles.
He argued with regard to the second
reason, that if not built BY Americans
the canal would be built by foreigners
by people inimical to American inter.
ests, and the best way to keep it under
American control was to have the gov.
ernment control it.
He spoke of the great benefit the canal
would be in time Of war, enabling our
government ships to reach the Pacific
coast in shorter time than they now can
do; of tho great commercial advantages
that would accrue to the whole country
when the canal should be built, and
dwelt at length upon the necessity fol
immediate action.
'sMake the mouth Of the Mississippi,'
said he, with its twenty-five bordering
states and its 200 tributaries, and the
1,000, 900 square miles of which it is the
outlet. 10000 miles nearer the Pacific
coast by boat, and note the marvellous
effect such a proceeding will have on
the productive industries of the coun-
try. The increasing and cheapening oi
transportation by sea will increase and
cheaper transportation by land.
producer that his product be carried
quickly and cheaply to market. Trans
portation thus becomes source Of sue.
WinterIITa sounds so nice,