New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-03
FOR THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
A CONVENTION TO PROMOTE IT'S INTERESTS.
DELEGATES FROM TWENTY-FIVE STATES AMI
MANY COMMERCIAL BoDIEs-ADDRBssES

DELEGATES FROM TWENTY-FIVE STATES AND
MANY COMMERCIAL BoDIEs-ADDRBssEs
BY WARNER MILLER AND NJ. NJ. ESTEE.
st. Louis June 2.-Delegates from twenty-five or
more States and from various commercial bodies OF
the Union gathered this morning In Entertainment
Hall Of the Exposition Building to open the first
session of the Nicaragua Canal Convention, lnaugu'
rated BY the business men OF California The AS
sembly was called TO order by Marcus Bernheimer,
chairman OF the local committee OF arrangements
who welcomed the delegates. Ex-Governor r.. u
stanard. OF st. Louis. was chosen presiding o''or'
The usual committees were appointed ana theh gov
ernor d. II. Francis. Of Missouri welcomed the de'e
gates to the State. the scene OF the first Nalioa'
gathering in the interest OF shofer rou'o '" Wv
ports OF the Pacific.
Referring 10 the objects Of the meeting ne decHrN
that the feasibility of the canals construction having
been determined the only question remaining aiter
construction was control. and that Issue was selcu
,y the Monroe doctrine cnunclated seventy Se'is ,
,go As TO Government guarantee. lie deciareu 'naV
.he commercial interests Of the Union should be 'he
,ctuating influence. .
Al the close OF Governor FTancis's address, NJ
A. Es,ee. OF California was called upon to explain
the objects OF the meeting.
In closing. Mr. Estee said ''Thnk Of what this
canal would accomplish. 1t would shorten the dis
lance by sea from the Pacific side of our country
TO the Guf ana AtlADllC SUITES uDOul iO,OVV
II would Increase the trade Of the Pacific with the
Atlantic side of the Continent. 1t would build up
our markets with all Asiatic countries. us CON
strucion would bring into country the commerce
Of the Pacific Islands. now largely contrOiHu Dy
Great Britain il would make New York md New
Orleans 1900 miles near Yokohama than Is Liver
pool by the Sucz Canal Tho Importance of THIS
trado 50 secured may be noted when II IL known
that the foreign commerce of the countries fronting
on the Pacific Ocean Is than 81 0OO0oO,OOo
annually, and the actual annual tonnage from thos'
regions which would pass through the Nicaragua
Canal would exceed eight and half milliln tlat
more than 4OCOOOOOO people would be the direct
patrons OF this ntcrcontIncnta waterway that Japan
would be one of onr best cotton parkets. 1t would
furnish 10 the great States bordering on the Atlantic
seabOard an incentive for better investments 1or
capital and more remunerative rewards for labor.
II would vitaze the Tagging industries Of the great
West In time II would make Newly the centre
Of the monetary exchanges OF the western world,
which is controlled by London, and 1t would
Americanize all America by making 1t commercially
independent
Warner Miller rccounted the history of the canal
question: which he said dated back TO the day that Co
umbus set out to discover not new world. but new
route 10 the Orient. Mr.. Miller gave in detail the
various efforts TO shorter rOutc TO the Pacific.
The physical conditions of the sthmuS Of Nicaragua
with the work already done described and then
the speaker to the matter Of the determination
by engineers Of the feasibility Of the canal all of which
has heretofore been widely published. lie also re
terred to the diplomatic negotiations and the conccs
sions and charters obtained Finance was the next
subject 20 be treated and the speaker showed wherein
the company entitled to appeal TO the public for
funds TO continue work which IL has already eX
pended $3OOOOO0 as a guarantee OF its good faiti
Coming down 20 the interest the Government should
have In the project. he said the company had In no
way, directly or Indirectly sought Government ala
and would not long as he was president, though
not unwilling that it should if 1t takes proper hold OF
ii. control it.
A number Of communications were read, contain
Ing XpreSsiOns Of Endorsement from various Boaris
of Trade and Chambers of Commerce, including ono
from the Francisco Chamber, declaring the bonds
Of the company safe investment.