The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-05
SOLID FOR THECANAL.
Powerful Committee to Work
for the Isthmus Ditch.
THE NEwoRLEANs CONVENTION.
Delegate Drew Returns Confident That
the sherman Bill Will Pass-The
Lake Washington Canal.

r.
Orleans as the delegate from " Washington TO the
Nicaragua canal convention, has Just returned
full of enthusiasm over the result of the assem-
big, and confident that the bill now before con-
gress would pass and the canal be dug within
FIVE years. speaking of the convention he said:
This convention was called for the purpose of
deyising plans whereby the Nicaragua canal
may be built and controlled by Americana II
was a very representative body OF go delegates.
and every section, every business interest was
represented. The most prominent figure in the
convention was Senator Morgan, or Alabama
Senator Morgan Is a member OF the senate COM
rnittee and has considered the matter carefully
in every light, taa, his accurate and thor
ough knowledge of the SUBJECT proved ex-
ceedlng.y valuable. The main result OF
the convention was the choosing OF
large committee to be sent to Washington City
to assist in the passage OF tile Sherman bill,
which is at present before the senate. The
sherman bill embodies the same provisions OF a
former bill which had passed the senate, with
the addition OF giving the United states govern
ment power to control the canal when built.
In short the principal difference between the
two bills lies in the fact that in the Sherman
blli the United states Is given control IN more
complete and explicit manner. Under it the
president of the United States has the appoint
ment OF ten of the fifteen directors. Not moe
than five of these ten, however to be appointed
from the same political party. The remainder
of the directors 10 be chosen from citizens of
the United states ana of the Central American
countries. The government is further TO guar
antee of Sl00, 200 worth OF per cent.
bonds.
Tha. this plan of building an inter.oceanic
canal is no political Or sectional scheme is well
illustrated by the fact that it has received the
support OF al parties aud has been Endorsed
both by the president and president elect The
site of the canal has great geographical al
van,ages: it is a natural waterway between the
two oceans, with q great fresh water lake Ito
teet above the mean level of the tide and about
half way across. From this lake flows the San
Juan. navigable rive: emptying into the AT
lantic. The jetties at the mouth OF this river
will be improved and three locks put in be.
tween the sea coast and the lake on either side
1t is in having this great central lake
and abundance OF water that the Nicar.
aqua differs from the proposed Panama canal.
In the latter De Lesseps attempted to build
tide water canal, but soon discovered that an
impounding reservoir was Necessary, and that
the rainfall over the whole drainage area of the
the country was not sufficient to make the canal
commercial success the year around. This
difhcnity Is completely obviated by the i'm
mense body of water contained in our central
lake.
1t may be worth remarking in this connection
that this lake would offer the same advantage
to shipping that would be afforded by the Lake
Washington. namely, the opportunity of easily
cleansing their bottoms merely by the change
from salt to fresh water.
The city Of New Orleans was gaily and hand
someIy decorated with national flags and those
OF the Central aud South American ol4ntries in
honor of the convention. Numbers OF citizeus
OF the latter countries were in the city and
seemed to take the livelest interest in the pro-
apparently tifS only OUleCltOD t0aC WAS
raised IN the convention was that the proyi-
slons OF the Sherman bill would be contrary to
the terms OF the ClaytOn-Bulwer treaty. This
notion was, however, promptly exploded by
Senator Morgan, who Clearly showed that by
the terms OF this treaty the United States was
perfectly justified in resisting the encroach-
ments OF Great Britain, or any other power
unon Central American soil. Besides this,
Great Britain has herself violated the treaty in
her interference upon the mosquito coast. It
is. therefore. certain that should this canal be
built and our commercial Interests devaloped,
we should have Il right to guard it by an armed
prosectorate II necessary. One OF the features
that looked most promising for the future OF the
canal was the system which was developed at
the convention for laying the scheme before the
country. So much energy aud spirit was mani
tested at the meeting that have not the slight
est doubt but that the Sherman bill will pass
congress and the canal be built within tive
years.
The present helpless condition of our Coast
would be greatly remedied By this canal, for as
long As we held control we could mass our fleets
on either ocean weeks ahead of any enemy. Not
only would the distance between seattle and
New York be dimin shed by at least 10, 900 miles,
but present freie hit rates would be reduced at
least three-lourths. The harmony and enthus-
iasm displayed at the meeting really sur
prising. Colorado was well represented, Ill-
nos sent delegation OF forty aud Oregon and
Washington sent two delegates each. There
were assembled representative men from all
sections OF the country. and the energy and
push of the Chicago delegation INSPIRED the
meeting
In conclusion, | would saw that this is the
time for the people OF Washington, and par
tlcularly OF Seattle to press their Claim for
u0nal recognition III their attempt to build the
the people a means of developing the com
merciai interests OF the country. and while the
present enthusiasm is upon them il the proper
time to seek their assistance.