The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-12
These are the figures Of imports:
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.

HltA6AGtA GANALs
The best solution of the problem Of inter-
oceanic Communication by a waterway
across the isthmus that connects North
and South America and az the same time
separates the Atlantic and Pacific will be
obtained by the construction Of the mari
time canal through the territory Of the
republic of Nicaragua via tbs San Juan
river and Lake Nicaragua. The Clayton
Bulwer treaty of 1850 guaranteed the asso-
citation Of Great Britain with the United
States in any future relations with Central
America or the interoceanic canal, the
treaty recognizing the concession for an
interoceanic canal granted in September,
1919. to an American company with Com
modore Vanderbilt at its head. This canal
was not built, the concession finally
lapsed and was declared forfeited by the
Niearaguan government. An official COM
mission appointed by President Grant in
1872 reported in favor Of the Nicaragua
route in 1876. and in 1880 a company,
which included General Grant, General
Mcclellan, President Jewett, Of the Erie
miral Ammen, obtained from Nicaragua
concession for the construction of canal.
The concession lapsed before the capital
could be secured.
Through Secretary OF State Blaine and
his successor, Secretary Frelinghuysen,
q treaty with Nicaragua was negotiated,
giving the United States the right to.con-
struct the Nicaragua canal, to be owned
jointly by the United States and Mic
aragua.
The treaty was before the Senate until
January %, 1885, when it was considered
in executive session; it failed of ratifica-
ton, but only under the two-thirds rule.
The vote upon it stood 80 ayes to q nays.
A motion to reconsider was entered and
the treaty remained before the Senate.
On the 4th of March, 1885, President Cleve-
land took Office. Early in his administra-
tion the treaty was withdrawn for further
executive consideration, and was not
again presented to congress.
President Cleveland deliberately killed
the Nicaragua canal seven years ago from
stupid partisan disposition to rob
Republican administration and Senate of
the credit Of consummating this great in
ternational enterprise. Had it not been
for this unpatriotic action of Cleveland
the United States war vessels and her
mercantile marine would today pass
from ocean to ocean via 6 completed
Nicaragua canal. It was the stupidest
and most injurious act Of the stupidest
and most unpatriotic man that ever occu-
pied the presidential chair
The Maritime Canal Company, of Mica
ragua, was incorporated by congress in
February, 1889, and under IT'S Construction
Company the work Of the Nicaragua
canal is now being prosecuted. IN August,
1880, the House committee on commerce
reported against the repeal OF the charter
Of this canal company, saying:
When completed, we have no doub. it win
be at the earliest possible date, it viii prove of
greater importance aud benefit to the United
States than any other similar work in our his.
tory. II Will make the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts substantially one and be of ineaIculabls
advantage in the development of the trade Of
California, Oregon and Warrington
Under the concession of the Nicaragusn
government the company has ten years in
which to complete the undertaking. In
January, 1891, Senator John Sherman in
troduced bill into the United States SEN
ate empowering the United States to
guarantee the principal and interest at 4
per cent. per annum, of an issue of $780,
| coz, 600 in canal company bonds 10 be issued
for construction purposes. The president
OF the United States was empowered by the
bill 10 name six of the directors of the
company, and $40 10000 OF the capital
stock OF the company was 10 be placed in
the custody of the secretary of the treas
ury, as q pledge and security for the repay
ment to the United States Of any amounts
advanced in pursuance Of the guarantee
The duty was TO be conferred upon the
secretary OF the treasury to vote upon the
stock at his discretion, and an option was
reserved to the United States TO purchase
the same at any tins before the maturity
Of the bonds.
This bill was not introduced at the in
stance Of the promoters Of the canal
scheme, bat, as Democratic Senator Nor
gan explained in his speech supporting it,
" - AANEA&2NG Is u AAN-c-HA 1*NtA measure OF
public policy approved by both the Demo
cratic and Republican members OF the
committee on foreign relations.
san Juan del Norte. or Greytown, on the
Atlantic and Brito on the Pacific are the
termini; the distance from port 10 port is
i69}s miles. OF which 28s. viii be excayated
channel and 1928 miles in lakes, rivers
and basins The summit is necessarily
Lake Nicaragua. 10 feet above the sea.
There VIII be three locks near either end;
the summit level reaching 10 within 12s.
miles Of the Atlantic and extending 10
within SO miles OF tbs Pacific. This sum-
Iais reaeh will, therefore, Do 1854 miles
long.
OF the 9ss4 miles OF excavated channel,
hus lS54 miles have Is small bottom