Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-30
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
A CONVENTION IN THE INTEREST
OF THE BIG DITCH.
Patriotic Duty and Commercial Necessity
Demand That the United States Gov
ernment Should Aid the Work-A Re-
port of Progress.


SAN Francisco, March 29.-The State
Nicaragua Canal convention was called
to order by NJ. NJ. Estee today. A large
number of delegates from all parts OF
the state were present. John I. Doyle
OF San Mateo was made president; !;
Thomas j. Haines, secretary; M. M.
Estee, E. D. Beard, A. d. Judd, Law
renee Archer and w. L. Merry were
nominated as a committee on organiza-
ton, order Of business and resolutions.
A communication was read from Warner
Miller, and memorial to congress and
a number OF resolutions were intro
duced.
The memorial. as adopted, sets forth
that the construction of the Nicaragua
canal is necessary to the successful de-
tense of the Pacific coast in time of war,
and to the commercial success of the
whole nation in time OF peace. That
when the canal shall be completed, the
distance by water between San Fran
cisco and New York will be shortened
by nearly 10000 miles; that the sailing
time from San Francisco to New Orleans
will then not exceed twelve days; to
New York, sixteen days; to Liverpool.
twenty-one days; and as the most
bulky articles are shipped by water,
when possible to do so, the manufactur-
ing states of the east and north and the
great producing states of the west and
south, will each receive incalculable
benefit by the completion OF this great
work. That, in the very nature of
things at this time, reasonable
freight charges between the two most
distant sections of our country and be-
tween all parts Of the far west and
Europe, are impossible. This is true,
because the distance by water around
the horn is too long. and by land there
is no effective water competition. That
the construction of a ship canal across
the isthmus of Nicaragua is, therefore,
the only remedy for the evils complained
of. The Nicaragua canal will form
a commercial! link, binding together the
two sides Of the American continent and
cementing even more closely the ties
which unite the west, south and north
parts OF our common country.
The memorial continues ''It is a
patriotic duty and a commercial neces-
sity to build this canal. 1t should be
built now. 1t should be controlled by
the United States. If this is done the
commerce of the Pacific ocean will drift
into American, channels. New York
will soon control the worlds ex-
changes. The great west and south
will be electrified with industrial
prosperity. Our markets will increase
in number and amounts. New indus.
tries will be everywhere created and old
ones better maintained. New fields
will be opened to labor, and safer invest
ments afforded to capital. The Ameri-
can nations. which are all republics,
will be able to maintain an American
policy in the western world-a policy OF
peace and commercial independence
and then the prosecution of their trade
and commerce and the perpetulty of
their institutions villa rest alone with
their own people,"
Resolutions were adopted to the
effect that the governor of California be
respectfully requested to communicate
with the governors of all the states and
territories, requesting them to send del
egates to national Nicaragua canal
convention to be held at st. Louis June
I'd, and that delegates to said convention,
as near as possible, be chosen in
equal number from the two great ma
tional parties. Further, that an execu-
tive committee of nine members be
appointed by the chairman of this
convention, to have full charge of all
the preliminary steps necessary to hold.
ing said national convention.
A resolution was also adopted that the
saving to the government in naval con-
struction, equipment and maintenance
alone would be equal to the whole cost
OF the canal across Nicaragua. That it
will double the efficiency of our navy
without any enhancement of cost, and
constitute in itself powerful guarantee
for the preservation of peace on the high
seas.
The suggestion of President Harrison.
in his annual message, that neither
party nor sectional lines be drawn on
this great American project is ap.
plauded by the convention, which calls
on the national conventions OF both par
ties, now about to assemble, to give q
formal Endorsement to the same. and to
pledge their respective candidates to
the support of an undertaking so calcu-
lated to redound to the honor and well
fare of our country.
A letter from Hon. Warner Miller,
president of the Canal Construction
company was read, stating that work
had been actively continued upon the
canal during the past year, and substan-
tial progress has been made. About
100000 has been expended upon the
work during the past year. The work
accomplished has been chiefly upon the
extension of the railroad and upon the
dredging of the canal proper. Begin
aing at the harbor of Greytown, the
railroad has been completed dis
,ance of about twelve miles. reaching up
beyond the location of the first lock and
lnma grading hos hoon dana houox,d 4h;.