The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1892-10-12

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street, Chicago, III.
(Signed) J. F. MERRY, Iowa,
GEO. T.. CONVERSE, Ohio,
S, Fl. HAWKINS, Georgia,
JOHN B. JONES, Arkansas,
r. w. MMLsAP, Mississippi,
JNo S. PILLsBURY, Minnesota,
AMBosE Snow, New York,
GEO. s. BAKER, Sec, Illinois.
One cannot help but experience a feel
ing Of admiration for the patriotism
which actuates this honorable committee
In the performance Of the task of fur
nishing information, electrotypes, ETC., to
the press of the United States, even II
there is lingering suspicion that their
patriotism is not unmixed with business
considerations, and that when the dlstri-
button Of surplus stock shares takes
place, these gentlemen will not be for
gotten.
With this letter is enclosed a full copy
of the committees address, and also the
following abstract Of such address:
The committees appointed by the ma
tlonRl Nicaragua canal convention at ita
meeting In st. Louis, June 2 and 3, to
prepare an address to the American peo-
pie giving information as 10 the feasibil-
ity of the Nicaragua canal and its
commercial and other advantages to the
United States, has Just finished the prep
aratlon of such address. The committee
Is composed Of John s. Jones, Of Arkan-
sas; ex Congressman Converse, of Ohio;
r. W. Mlllsap, the prominent banker OF
Mississippi; Capt. J. F. Merry, of Man
chester, Iowa; s. Fl. Hawkins, the rail
road president, Of Georgia; Capt
Ambrose Snow, president OF the New
York board of trade and transportation,
and ex-Gov. John s. Pillsbury, Of Mime
sofa.
The address is supplementary to the
resolutions adopted by the st. Louis con-
ventlon, which pointed out the advRnta.
ges of the canal, and urged ita
construction, ownership and control by
the American people rather than the
English, French or any other nation. Il
takes the position that q canal Joining
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans should be
constructed for the most important com
mercial, strategic and patriotic reasons,
and says that the subject of such canal
Is the most vital connected with the
welfare, growth and prosperity of the
United States. It declares that the only
feasible route for such a canal is by way
Of Nicaragua, and points out that the
conventions of the two great political
parties have endorsed the project.
It appears that all the engineers have
agreed In expressing a decided prefer
ence for the Nicaragua route, because
among other reasons only 284 miles Of
the entire distance Of 169b miles from
the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans through
Nicaragua will have to be excRvRted. The
other 1929 miles consist Of Lake Mica
rsgua, the San Juan river and depres-
slons In the surface Of the earth. Lake
Nicaragua will constitute harbor
sufficient to accommodate the navies and
commerce Of the world. Il Is 10 miles
long, go miles wide, and 10 $50 feet st its
deepest points. Vessels entering the
canal from the Atlantic ocean will sail on
q level with the ocean for 1294 miles, at
the end Of which they will be raised by
three locks to the level Of the lake. They
will sail alo.g the San Juan river and
the lake on the lake level to q point
within three and one-half miles Of the
Pacific ocean. Here they will be lowered
by the locks to the level of the Pacific
ocean.
The committee says the cost, including
the payment Of interest during the