Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-03-29

"HoriNHIpN, March rs.
Messrs. Warner, Miller, Smith. Weed
'ltcheock and Bartlett Of New York
Il S'ed on the president, Secretary
q. 9am and Secretary Lamont today
T. 1ectlon with the appointment of
e t Ission to examine the Nisa-
h.@N Hql route, as provided for oy
~ z. the last sundry eivll D.
prop Gu. The clause makes an
approl Of s25OOO for the purpose
OF ascer' -hlng the feasibility, perma-
hence and cost OF construction and
completion Of the canal on the present
route. and provides for the appointment
OF a commission TO be composed Of ,ne
army engineer, one naval engineer and
one civilian expert 10 visit and lnspsct
the canal. The work is to be done
under the regulations prescribed by the
secretary of state, and the president IL
to appoint the commission. The latter
is also authorized to suggest any dew.
alton from the present iine they lean
desirable.
The delegation also found that sqs.
fttary Lamont decided to equip nm ex-
petition to Nicaragua at the earliest
day practicable. No names were mem
toned by the canal officers for sominis-
sioners, nor have any names been yet
considered. 1t was definitely UNDER
stood that the appointments would be
made soon. The $4,000 appropriation
Will not do more than pay salaries, leav-
Ing the great bulk oil the expense Tor
transportation in this Inaccessible re-
gion, road making provisions, ETC., 10
be supplied from other sources. Be
sides this there is the scientific work "
surveying, examining soils, etc, All "
these expenses the canal officials gave
assurance OF meeting. They have the
nucleus Of an organization along the
canal route with rendezvous at Grey
town and Montague.
At the conclusion OF the conference,
Chairman Bartlett Of the executive
committee. which was recently reor-
gani2ed, the company outlined the pro-
jeet for the work.
1T is most desirable" said he. that
the expedition start at the earliest day
practicable. The rainy season begins
in March and lasts until November.
during which time the rainfall Is aA
high as four and five inches daily
This and the climate will make II hard
for man untried to the locality, but It
will not be an insurmountable OBJ
stacle. The desire Is 10 complete the
work this summer In order that re-
port may be ready. Next will occur
an organization almost equal to an eX-
petition to the heart Of Africa. Roads
alcng the route have been cut already.
but are overgrown with dense tropical
foliage. Then there are lagoons which
Will compel the party 10 carry boats
overland. Supply depots will have to
be established every five miles and
communication maintained with the
base OF supplies. The company Is Will
ing to aid the government by provld-
ing the means FOR this extensive work.
1.-THE purpose OF congress appears TO
be to secure a comprehensive inye3tl-
CATION Of the route rather than a sur-
vey, as a survey would be a work OF
years When the commission IS or
Eanlzed 1t will be put In possession Of
all the drawings, details. etc, Of the
orally accepted. II viii take some
weeks for the commissioners to IA
mlliarlze themselves with this intri-
cate work. The expedition probably |
will cover three or four months. The
rest Of the time will he required for
the notes OF investigation
and making report"
MIR. Bartlett was asked II the pend /
ing trouble between Nicaragua and |
Great Britain would embarass he work |
on the canal,
mot in the slightest" said he |
"There is sure to be an amicable 1 d. 4
justment OF tina. controversy. At one
time there was some talk that Great |
Britain would intervene and build the |
canal II we did not. but that time Ia
past The British Influence is now in |
danger Of being exerted In Nicaragua |
to the prejudice Of the United States. |
Great Britain has her commerce and |
IL satisfied to keep IT,"
Mr.. Bartlett said the new officers on |
plan of organization OF the re-organized |
company would be announced at an |
early day. The reorganization COM
mlttee. he said Mad succeeded in free
Ing the company from debt and putting |
1t on stable basis.