, 1892-06-02
NICARAGUA CANAL.
Delegates Meet to Further the In
terests of this Great Waterway.
A Stirring Speech by M. M. Estee, of
California, Made Before the Con-
VentIOn---The Advantages to be
Derived From Its Completion.

VentIOn---The Advantages to be
Derived From Its Completion.
ST. LOUIS, June 2.-Quietly, as became
the representatives of the country's great
commercial interests, delegates from
twenty-five or more states and various
commercial bodies of the Union gathered
this morning in Entertainment hall, Expo
sition building, to open the first session
inaugurated by the business men of Cali
| fornia, with only the stars and stripes to
relieve the severity of the halrs ornamental
ton, as became so patriotic a body. The
convention gathered at 1O:3O O'Clock. The
assembly was called to order by Marcus
Bernheimer, chairman of the committee of
arrangements, who, in a few hearty,
well-chosen words, welcomed the delegates
and introduced Rev. H. A. Steinson, who
invoked the divine blessing upon the
gathering, and work commenced without
wasting time.
The convention chose Ex-Governor
E. o. Stanard, of st. Louis, as tenn
porary presiding officer. On taking the
chair. Governor Stanard returned thanks
for the honor conferred, not only on him
self, by his electio Iutupon st, Louis, by
the selection of tn cityas the point of as
sembly. ReferriL briefly to the ad-
Yantages gained by saving time and dis
tance, if the the canal was constructed, he
closed with a repetition Of his thanks.
D. H. McAdam and J. G. Broadwell were
elected secretaries. The usual committees,
one for each state on credentials, on per
manent organization and resolutions were
ordered appointed. Then Governor D. R.
Francis, of Missouri, welcomed the dele
gates to the state, the scene of the first
national gathering in the interest Of a
shorter route to the ports of the Pacific.
Referring to the objects of the gathering,
he declared the feasibility of the canals
construction had been determined, the
only question remaining after the construc-
ton was the control, that issue to be
settled by the Monroe doctrine, enunci-
ated seventy years ago. AS to the
government guarantee, he declared the
commercial interests of the Union should
be the actuating influence. The old cry
that every application for government en-
dorsement is actuated by sordid motives, is
scarcely compatible with the intelligence
and patriotism, by SO representative body
as the one now assembled.
At the close of Gov. Francis address,
Hon. NJ. M. Estee, Of California, was called
upon and explained the purposes and OBJ
jects Of the gathering, which had its in
oeption in his state. During a short re-
cess, preceding Estee's remarks, the various
state delegations held meetings. and Sc
lected members of various committees and
announced them.
Mr.. Estee's remarks were as follows:
On the 2Oth of March, 1892, the state Mic
aragua canal convention was held at San
Francisco, Cal, and was numerously at
/ tended and voiced the wishes of the people
Of the West by adopting a resolution call
/ ing this convention to meet here today and
requesting the governors of the various
states to appoint delegates thereto. We
came here for council. We have no pre-
Viouslv conceived 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
have inspired our action: First, we believe
the building of ship canal uniting the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans feasible. Sec
ond, the American people should build it,
and the American government control it.
Estee then detailed at length the reasons
for his belief in the feasibility of the
scheme, and said fair estimate of its cost
will be a little over $S7, 7,000,0 600. The canal,
he said, would shorten the distance from
ocean to ocean about 10000 miles. He ar
gued with regard to the second reason that
if not built by Americans the canal would
be built by foreigners, by people inimioal
to American interests, and the best
way to keep it under American control was
to have the government control it, He
spoke of the great benefit the canal would
be in time of war, enabling our govern.
ment ships to reach the coast in a much
shorter time than they now can do. The
great commercial advantages that would
accrue to the whole country when the ca.
nal should be built was dwelt upon al
length and the necessity for immediate
action is urged. at will make the mouth
of the Mississippi" said he, with its
twenty-five bordering states and its 20C
tributaries and million square miles, oi
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
country"
INCREASING and cheapening Of the trans
pOrtatiOn by sea-" he continued, "will in
crease and cheaper the transportation by
land. In this age it has become necessity
forthe producer to have his product carried
, quickly and cheaply to market; transpor
tatiOn thus becomes a source of success o.
cause of failure, and it is equally necessary
to the consumer that what he consumes b
J brought to him in the shortest pOssibl,
time and for the least amount Of money
Z The United States never can produce teas
f coffee, India rubber, dye stuffs and rar
] woods, and other articles required by ou
2 people if we will always look to foreigl
countries for as much as we need.
"These articles must be brought to us b,
sea. This being so, our success will largel
e depend upon the question of time in th
transportation of them by water. If time
t distance and money can be saved by put
ting a canal across the isthmus at Nicara
t qua, then it must be built, and it will b
. built under the control of our government
o because the whole people need it. Then thi
e vast producing region known as the gres
d west, including the valley Of the Missii
sippi, instead of being isolated from th
I trade centers of the world, will occupy
e central or pivotal position between til
2, countries Of Asia and the rich and pOpl
V lous portion Of Western Europe.n
Are Thankful.
y The undersigned desire to express the
b thanks to all those who so kindly assistC
- IN the war concert at both presentations.
Mrs. G. L. OWEN,
r, GENERAL O'BRIEN,
Mr.. ARCHIBALD ADAMS.
Keep Money al Home.
10 Won believe in buildinp mn homa 7