The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-03
NICARAGUA CANAL CONVENTION.
Twenty-Five States Represented
Speeches by Estee and Miller.

Of. LOUIS, June e. ne NlCdraSud Cdiiat
convention met at 80 p. m. today, with
delegates present from twenty-five states.
Ex-Governor f. o. Stanard, of st. Louis,
was chosen temporary chairman. Gov
ernor d. r. Francis welcomed the dele
gates to the state, saying in part:
The feasibility of the canals construction
having been determined, the only question re-
naming after construction was control. That
issue had been settled by the Monroe doctrine.
enunciatei seventy years ago. AS to the gov
eminent guarantee, the commercial interests OF
the Union should be the actuating influence;
the old err that every application for govern
ment Endorsement was actuated by sOrdid mo-
tives was scarcely compatible with the intelli-
gence and patriotism OF so representative body
as the one now assembled.
At the close of Governor Francis adj
dress Hon NJ. NJ. Estee, of California, was
called upon. He said:
On the Goth of March, 1892 state Nicaragua
canal convention was held At San Francisco,
and was numerousy attended, and voiced the
wishes of the people OF the West by adopting
resolution calling this convention to meet here
today, and requesting the governors OF the yari-
Gus states to appoint delegates thereto. We
came here for council We have no previously
conceived plans which we would unduly urge
upon your attention. We do know that the Mica
ragua canal should be built, and will give some
reasons which inspired our action: First,we be-
lieve that the building OF u ship canal uniting
the Atlantic and Pacific is feasible: second. the
American people should build it and the Amer
lean government control II.
He then detailed at length the reasons for his
belief in the feasibility OF the scheme, and said
that a fair estimate of its cost was but little
over $S7, 100000. The canal would shorten the
distance from ocean to ocean about 10000 miles.
With regard to the second reason, IL not built
by the Americans the canal would be built by
foreigners; by people inimical TO American in
terests, and the best way to keep it under Amer
lean control was TO have the government con-
troll it. He spoke Of the great benefit the canal
would be In time OF war, enabling our govern
ment ships to reach the Pacific coast in much
shorter time than they now can do The great
commercial advantages that would accrue to
the whole country when the canal should be
built were dwelt upon at length, aud the neces-
sity for immediate action urged. He continued
Make the mouth OF the Mississippi. with its
twenty-five bordering states ana its 100 tribu-
,taries and the millions OF square miles OF which
1t is the outlet, 10000 miles nearer the Pacific
coast by boat, and note the marvellous effect
such proceeding win have on the productive
industries OF the country. The increasing and
cheapening of transportation by sea will in
crease and cheaper transportation by land. In
this age it is necessity to the producer that his
products should come quickly and cheapiy
to market Transportation thus becomes q
source of success or cause of failure. ami it is
equally nee assary to the consumer that what he
possible time and for the least amount OF
money. The United States never can produce
tea, coffee, india rubber. drystuffs, rare woods
and other articles required by our .peo-
pie, and we will always have to look to
foreign countries for much that we need.
These articles must be brought to us by sea.
This being so, our success will largely depend
upon the question of time in transporting them
by water. II time, distance ana money can be
saved by putting canal across the isthmus of
Nicaragua, then it must be built and 1t viii be
built under the control OF our government, be-
cause the whole people need it Then this vast
producing region, known as the ''great Vest,
including the valley of the Mississippi instead
of being ISOLATED fiom the trade centers of the
world will occupy central or pivotal position
between the countries OF Asia and the rich and
populous portions OF Western Europe. Think
OF what this canal would accomplish. 1t would
shorten the distance by sea from the Pacific side
of orr country to the Gulf and Atlantic states
about 1000 miles. 1t would increase the trade
OF the Pacific with the Atlantic side of the con-
tinent. 1t would build up our markets with all
the Asiatic countries. Its construction would
bring into our country the commerce. OF the Pa
ciic islands, now largely controlled by Great
Britain. Il would make New York and New
Orleans 1900 miles nearer Yokohoma than
Liverpool Is by the Suez canal. The importance
OF this trade, so secured, may be noted when it
is known that the foreign commerce of countries
fronting on the Pacific ocean is more than
$lVVO,00oOU annually, and that the actual an
nual tonnage from those vast regions which
would pass through the Nicaragua cana. would
exceed 900; that more than 400.009,000 of
continental waterway; that Japan would be one
OF our best cotton markets; that it would fur
nish the great states bordering on the Atlantic
seaboard an incentive for better investments for
capital and more remunerative rewards for
labor; ii would vitaize the tagging industries
OF the great West; in time ii would make New
York the center of the monetary exchange of
the Western world, which is now controlled by
London, and ii would Americanize ali America
by making it commercially independent
At the conclusion of Estee's address
Hon. Warner Miller presented to the con-
venton the history of the canal question,
which he said dated back 100 years. He
gave in detail the various efforts hereto
fore made to secure a shorter route to the
Pacific. After touching on the financial
subject, the speaker came down to the in
terest the government should have in the
project. ana said the company had in no
way sought government aid and would
not do SO as long as he was president,
though not unwilling that it should il it
takes proper control of it. 1T Is far better
to gain it now peacefully than to fight for
it later.
4 number of communications were read,
including expressions of Endorsement from
various boards of trade, including one
from the San Francisco Chamber of Com
merce, declaring the bonds of the company
safe investment. The committees Sc
lected by state delegations were then read
and the convention adjourned uutil $50
tomorrow morning.
Badly Cut His Leg While Choppinc.
F. II. Faulkner, aged 40 wears, while
chopping on the Weller place on Lake