The state herald., 1894-12-14
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
Tho Senate Considering n Bill to Aid Its
Construction.


Washington, Dec. 1O.-Mr. Harris,
president pro tenn, called the senate to
order to-day In the absence OF Vice
PRESIDENT Stevenson, who has not yet
returned from Ashoville, N. c., where
he is with his family.
Mr.. Call democrat, Florida) pre-
scented n resolution setting forth that
the Independence of the Island of Cuba
Is nm object Of great Importance to the
United States, and requesting the pres.
luent to commence negotiations with
spain for the recognition Of the indie
pehdence OF the island. and for the
guarantee by the United States of the
payment of such sum of money us
shall be agreed on between the United
States and Spain. The resolution went
over until tomorrow.
AT 2 O'Clock the senate, on motion
OF Mr., Morgan. took up the Nicaragua
canal bill. The bill was read ut length.
Mr.. Morgan began his remarks by
making statement Of the national and
International aspect of the subject.
upon which the senate and house bills
agreed. Careful calculations, he insist
ed, showed the canal could be con-
structed Mt n cost that would yield II
remunerative profit; that 1t was n ncccs-
snry Improvement; that II would he of
the greatest Importance to the United
States: that 1t could be operated and
that there was nothing to render I'M
possible concessions made by the Cen
| trail American government to the citi-
zens of the United States.
FINISHING this general statement the
senator devoted some time to the dis
| cussion of the characteristics of the
| country through which 1t Is proposed
to build the canal and Its advanta
geous routo rs compared with that of
| the Fanama canal route, and asserted
| that no such Improvement could be
| given to commerce as the construction
| of this necessary complement to the
Suez canal. The route IL feasible, the
engineering work easy and there will
be no extraordinary work required on
| any place on the whole route.
Mr.. Morgan quoted from the report
of Chief Engineer Mcnocal who csti-
mated the canal could he built for $685.
100000, and said he thought the cx-
penditurc OF the Si.0OO.OO0 already
spent had demonstrated the annual
cost would be even lower than that cs-
W Ehl' Two
houses of congress practically agreed
that the cost of the canal would be
about SI0,000,000. and the guards and
restrictions to be thrown around the
| expenditures We're matters of easy ad-
justincnt. The manner of raising the
money was II question OF cxpedlency
| that should not he allowed 10 affect its
construction. He argued in support OF
| the proposition that contemplated gov
eminent ownership In the canal. that
| England owned stock In the Sucz
canal. and why should not the United
States own stock In the Nicaraguan
canali
The canal must be built under the
fostering care OF some government
We must act now, or abandon the
canal TO Its fate.
AT the conclusion OF Mr.. Morgan's
speech, Mr.. Mitchell OF Oregon briefly
expressed his hearty approval Of the
scheme To build the canal. and said he
thought there was no great difference
among the people regarding the pro-
priety OF the work OF construction.
The senate then Mt l:l5 y. IN. went
into executive session and ut 1870 p.
IN. adjourned.