The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-03

money for national defense can best be
ex1ssIeSs whether IN fartincatsons. IN
snsps o. IN the means to make these
Slips more avafiabte By reason Of n.
Proposed waterway. or whether 1t might
nos Pc better 10 spend a part OF the
nsoaey IntsnGed for this purpose in each
% these directions Sox. in this bill 81
Us not proposed 10 appropriate mooney for
the construction os the canal bur simply
70 loan or Use the cre4ss. OF the govern
fns-if as guaranfor OF the bonds: ana for
mat guaranty the government is 10 have
ssyers-tenshs, or practically all. Of the
stock except that allotted for concessions
obtained, for work done and for future
working capital.
Stall we be less spirited and energetic
than EagIand. whose municipality OF
Manchester has built ana opened M TO
commerce great canal from the sea-
board TO Manchester. a distance OF thirty
i've miles a. a cost Of s6cooo.e mainly
Tor the benefit of ore interior city, and
that not the most important city in the
country?
SHAH we be less enterprfsing than Ger
many, which Is bndsaiEg a great ship
canal across the peninsula that separates
the Baltic and Atlantic coasts of that en-
pare for che purpose OF making a saving
or only 100 miles of distance IN the Jour
ney by water from the naval STATEN at
kiel on the Baltic to the great CONNER
ciai city Of Hamburg on the Eibe; this
Canal TO be about sixty-fiye mikes long, to
cost about sec, &c., CO. and to be eapacioas
enough TO float the largest man-of-1ag OF
the German navy?
shall We be less enterprasing than the
little Kingdom of Greece, that has recent
ly completed. with Greek capital Tor at
least BY a Greek company, a ship canal
across the Isthmus of Corinth at cost
of 100000, which is far more TO that
country than $500. eoe0eo would be TO the
United States? Greece has thus realized
the dreams OF ancient esnperors.
III we compare the relative Importance
OF the Nicaragua canal with such works
as these, we may well wonder that seine
reasonable and practicable way has not
already been found to accomplish this
great work
Now, what excuses have we for our
failure hitherto to inaugurate this enter
prise, SO favorably regarded, so long
talked about and OF which the details
have been so thoroughly considered?
1t may be said that the transcontsnental
railroad companies are opposed to the
building OF the Nicaragua canal, because
they suppose that its traffic may inter-
fere with their business by reason of
competition in freights.
A sufficient answer to this Is that the
development IN population and business
In the states OF the Pacific coast which
would result from the facilities afforded
by the Nicaragua canal would give 10
these railroads far greater and more pr1-
liable local traffic than they have ever
enjoyed. Moreover, the growth and de-
velopment of the country would be such
as TO largely increase the transportation
across the continent of passengers and
OF property. particularly OF that class of
freight which requires rapid transporta-
ton.
As an instance OF the benefits to the
railroads Of the country, / have already
noticed the great increase In the local
traffic on the Northern Pacific railroad in
the state Of Washington. causing this
local traffic to be considered the most
profitable business of the company as re-
lated to that Coast. Surely the best In
terests of these transcoatinentai railroads
viii be prompted by the great growth OF
the Western country Incident upon the
completion of the Nicaragua canal.
The great bugbear in this case appears
to be the indlspositiosl on the part of
some who believe in the Nicaragua canal
to favor any mode of raising the means
for Its construction unless the govern
rnent shall itself undertake it's entire di-
rect control, management, ownership and
operation. without reference to the inter-
ests that have already been acquired IN
good faith by some of our prominent eiti-
gems. While / am not averse to the gov
eminent undertaking the work, yet / am
strongly in favor a. the construction OF
the canal without fufther delay and with
| out further quibhling as to the minor
points In the method of raising the
money for its construction. provided the
government shall possess the actual con-
troll. the supervision OF the property and
all the expenditures CONNECTED Herewith,
and all OF the tolls and regulations 10 be
| established. The method of doing this. OF
course. should be honest and free from
any grounds for criticism or cavil.
In this discussion have been actuated
less by the necessity of any utterance on
my part as to the merits OF the general
or particular features OF the plan than
by natural impulse TO present briefly
the views OF my fellow citizens on the Pa
cffic coast as to their interests involved.
However, / cannot help saying that / see
no injustice In recognizing the work OF
the enterprising company. composed of
citizens OF the United States. that has al
ready taken so active part sn advancing
this enterprise. These gentlemen have,
as we know, expended a great deal Of
capital and MUCH energy, and have taken
great risks in whas they have already
done.
The United States was previously Of
ferea the concessions for the canal by
the governments OF Nicaragua and Costa
Rica; and il refused 10 accept them.
After such refusal on the part Of our
government. the gentlemen referred to
proceeded TO acquire these concessions in
a proper AMI busgness-iike way. 1t Is
Only fair TO reimburse them for the money
they have expended. and. In addition, 10
pay them q reasonable consideration for
the concessions they have acquired and
for the work they have done. not only as
10 the construction Of the canal but in
! arousing proper public sentiment through
out this country and the world on that
subject.
As / understand the situation. these
gentlemen ask or expect very Ettle for all
they have and have done. Aside from the
stock assigned 10 the governments Of Me
aragaa and Costa Rica. and that 10 be
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