Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-04
The Nicaragua Canal.


A. far as we see and understand the mat
ter the canal question is as follows
The VOYAGE of Columbus was 10 discover
a short passage to the East. Ho found
the two Americas in his way. And four
hundred years have been spent in peo-
ping them. The United States Of
America now stands forth equipped. en-
lowed, manned, and located to be the
| foremost nation of the earth.
The isthmus is before 1t great barrier TO
progress, divides Its sections and shuts
| ont its States from the commerce of the
Pacific, aud holds the arms of its eastern
| and western powers apart. The I'M
crossed isthmus keeps our power cramped,
| our energles dwarted.
From Washington's time the passage of
the isthmus has had the attention of every
! administration.
For twenty years the United States
Government has been surveying and IN
yestigating the isthmus TO open thu way
| over IT, Hundreds of thousands OF dol
| lars have been spent IN the work. The
| best skill and character in the power of
| the government have been employed IN
! the work.
The passage by the San Juan river and
Lake Nicaragua has been fixed upon as the
cheapest and as practicable. That choice
has been approved and verified by repeat
ed expeditions.
The cost of the work has been aseer-
tanned by the most laborious and careful
surveys, borings, measures. and tests. The
government engineers make the cost $780,
900 600. A committee of five of the ablest
and most distinguished 5pE ineers of the
country have examined the government
estimate. They profess to have estimated
every possible contingency. They do not
question the government estimate, but to
III a..fIanfa aud tancSthla nnGta fhau
put the cost az Ss7 ,0O0.O0O.
The whole question Of the building has
been fully studied and Investigated and
determined.
A long line of Presidents approve the
canal.
The platforms Of the latest three parties
| call for the government 70 build the canal.
The Chambers OF Commerce OF all the
| leading cities Of this copE;ry have asked
| the government 10 complies the canal
Special conventions and state Legisla-
lures have memorlahzed Congress to CON-
plete thework.
The Committee Of Foreign Relations,
| composed of our ablest lawyers and states
men, have recommended IL.
Most valuable franchises have been OBJ
tanned from Nicaragua aud Costa Rica as
surfing the proposed route.
Private citizens have hazarded several
1 mflliOns OF uJuhfs III uelSOuatTdtlug the
| practioability OF the canal, in opening the
harbor, and preparing the way.
A bill N before Congress 10 pay for the
work done only what Ii coat, and to give
| 10 the company now in charge q small
| fraction Of the stock OF the canal com.
| pany to compensate thela for their frau
\ ch!aes and for their time and trouble, and
risk. The government VIII own eighty
million Of tue hundred million of stock.
Costa Rlca. Nicaragua, and the original
| projectors the remaining twenty million.
The Government Of the United States
is really to build the canal and 70 own and
control il.
Better terms are not to be hoped for,
nor csn more information be asked tor.
Government by five directors of each
political party and the Secretary OF the
| Treasury Is 70 control the finances.
The only question is. Has the Govern
ment OF the United States the courage. the
enterprise. and the confidence in their
own public men 10 enter upon work tha.
Is 70 give them the supremacy Of the
worldy II We are nation OF thieves and
our public men unreliable, we are un-
WORTHY OF the place we claim, and must SIT
stu IN shame.