The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-14
NICARAGUA CANAL.

.Iresiuene Mcdonnell then introduced
captain w. l.. Merry, who was designated
TO ADDRESS the congress on the subject OF
the Nicaraguan canal Captain Merry said:
The question OF canalization is older than
american civilization. My knowledg- of the
subject was acquired by a personal Obserya-
tion OF years. 1t is necessary that Won should
become acquainted with some of the facts of
the modern history of the Nicaragua canal
In 1913 Commodore Vanderbilt Obtained the
nrSG concession for the construction of the
canal. Under this franchise thu Atlantic and
Pacific Ship Canal Company was organized
Colonel Chlds made the Typographical survey
and reported favOrably as to the conditions OF
construction. English capital was approached
on the subject, but declined to act as the great
benefit would accrue TO commerce of tile United
States and not TO their own.
The next attempt was when concession was
granted 10 an American corporation OF which
General Grant subsequently became the lead
ing spirit, and that resulted in corporation
being established in this country, and ulti-
mately bill was introduced into the American
Congress for the construction of the canal I'M
der the control OF the United States Govern
ment during the Arthur administration. Gen.
eral Grant appointed committee composed of
Admiral Lyman, Carlyle Patterson and General
Humphreys to report upon the most feasible of
the projects, and It's report was that Tor SIM
pllctty of construction, avala Dility for sailing
ships and steam rs and every other respect the
route by the Nicaragua canal was the best,
Wnlcn route has been practically adopted by
the United states Government. AT this time
the Observation-Disclosures treaty was negO-
tlated with Inc Government OF Nicaragua. This
treaty was ratified by the Senate of that couD-
try and IL provided for the joint sovereignty OF
the canal by the United States and Nicaragua.
On Cleyeland's first election that treaty was
withdrawn from the Senate because he did not
approve OF that method or constructing the
canal, as II might lead to foreign complica-
lions. he preferred a canal to be constructed
Dy corporation under the control OF the
United States Government. Another reason in
his mind was that the building of the canal
would be against the terms Of the Clayton Bull
Is force SnhSH-
queDty The Maritime Canal Company of Near
aqua was incorporated and a concession from
Nicaragua acquired for ninety nine years, with
IL right OF extension for ninetv-nine more, and
requiring the canal 10 be built in len years,
seven OF which have passed. The Nicaragua
Construction Company set TO work, expended
from S5,00O00O TO S6.OO0,O00. and the work
WAS prosecuted until the conditions became
such that no money could BE- obtained for any
further building. There came, then, the Bar
ing failure the Australian bank failures, the
Panama scandals, followed by cur own money
difficulties which led the construction company
INTO the hands OF receiver. This, however,
does not affect the Maritime Company.
The question is how shall the canal be con-
structed. l know the feeling against corporate
control is strongest on The Pacific Coast. They
insist on the Government having the control.
With that theory coincide, but since The doing
away with the Zavala- FrelnghuySen treaty
there is no method except through a cOrpof-
alton as President Cleveland has outlined and
for which Senator Morgan has introduced
bill. The corporation would no doubt sell its
rights on payment of what has been spent.
While we have been hesitating several parti es
are coming forward. English capital is ready
and Tor inducemeut 1t has The case OF the SueZ
canal, where the British Government, for a1
investment of 100000 has a property
worth S20.0oo,ooo, bearing interest at the
and through which in 1892 over TO-
100000 of tonnage passed on account of
dues being lowered but with an increase of
gross and net receipts. Is there any sensible
man that doubts If we do not do it Europeans
Will. when the traffic TO pass through the Mica
raguan canal Is young and ever lnc easing
one. whereas Suez Canal only benefit ed by the
change Of route OF an ola and hide bound
traffic? The enterprise OF the United States
has not been creditable In this matter. We Will
not build IL ourselves nor let other countries
build it,
The conditions of this coast and country re-
cure that he canal shall be built. We suf-
fering for the want OF t. Ii is inimical to no
interest. 1t means development for iii Pacific
States and Territories, increased population,
wealth and prosperity, and is detrImenJ TO no
carrying corporation.
The bill of Senator Morgan gives the United
States control over the Maritime Company. 1t
Is 10 own absolutely SeVen-tcnthS OF the stock
and out of fifteen directors is TO appoint ten,
Costa Rlca and Nicaragua one each, leaving
| three to represent the stockholders. The canal
! IS necessary Tor our commercial success. For
/ the want OF cheap water transportation to the
! Atlantic our commerce is languishlng, and
| L ask gentlemen not 10 oppose he present
measure because it is not precisely according
to heir ideas. 1t Is necessary for US on ac-
count of It's strategical position. By its posses
from the Windward Islands IN the Atlantic 10
Hawaii and Samoa in the Pacific. On the Pa.
clfic, as w. Ii. Seward said will be the scene
of mans greatest achievements on the Ihres-
hold OF which we are entering, | do not know
whether Great Britain would want to enforce
the Clayton Buwer treaty If the Government
of the United STATES built the Nicaragua canal.
L would save 10000 miles of navigation;
the necessary development of commerce in
Nicaragua would make the canal selfsus-
tanning.
do not speak for any corporation. want
to see the canal built for The benefit OF this
coast and the Mississippi region. lie
would bring the Mississippi Valley within 900
miles OF the Pacific Ocean; it would give i'm
petus to our shipping md that of the Atlantic
Coast. 1t would benefit the railroads and help
their development, as was the case OF tue con-
struct0n of the ST. Mary's canal in the lakes,
through which last year 25 per cent more tom
mage PASSED than went through the SueZ canal.
Our country owes it TO herself TO construct the
canal 10 hold the performance In the Amer
lca<. our national heritage aud pride.
want gentlemen in this connection to be
practical. We must act according TO eondi-
tions; we cannot tight them. and we can con-
troll a corporation If there Is any honesty in
Congress.
Mr. Manson spoke in opposition to in
trusting the building of the canal to a cor
poration, and gave many pertinent reasons
against it, especially Judge Marshall's de-
clsioG on partnership between the United
States and private corporations. He
quoted from the articles of concession,
showing the impossibllity of the United
States ever obtaining control of the canal
under their wording.
The president then called Jacob Neff to
the chair and said:
do not desire to perpetrate joke. but sim
ply TO call your attention 10 an obi ct lesson
familiar 10 CalifOrnIans for Thirty years. The
danger OF a corporation getting control 1
think this country Of ours the greatest the sun
ever Shone on; think the American people
are the greatest that God ever breatned tile
breath of life into and believe we are able to
control our own business affairs. You think
we can fight conditions? By thunder we can.
We cannot and VIII fight them and 10 the
bitter end until every man and woman is free
from the thralldOm of corporation. he idea
that great Government fike ours be dictated
TO by a little province like Nicaragua. The idea
that Cleveland or Senator Morgan does not be-
ieve in this theory What In the dickens DO
we care fer what they believe? They never
believe what is TO our interest. / could net
leave unchaenged certain propositions, and 1
Will say that God has given us rights and that
every American citizen will stand up for those
rights. We will bud that canal and America
shall own IL il we have to go down and contr9f
1t at the muZze of our guns. We do not care
what England, or France. or Germany, or any
other power may say. Ii is our great roadway,
aud we viii control IL.