The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-29
NICARAGUA EXPEDITION.
commissioners VIII Examine the Ca
nal Route This Spring.


WASHINGTON, March 2S.-Messrs. War
ner Miller. Smith Weed Hitchcock and
Bartlett. of New York. called on the Presi-
uent, secretary Gresham and Secretary La
mont to-day, In connection with the APP
pointment of the committee to examine the
Nicaragua canal route as provided for by
a clause in the last sundry civil appropria-
ton bill. This clause makes an appropria-
ton OF $4,000 for the purpose of ascertain
ing the feasibility, permanence and cost OF
construction and completion of the canal
by the present route, and provides for the
appointment of commission to be COM
posed or one army engineer, one naval en-
gineer and one civilian expert. TO visit and
inspect the canal. The work is to be done
under regulations prescribed by the Score
tary OF State, and the President is to ap-
point the commission. The latter Is also
authorized to suggest any deviation from
the present line that they may deem de-
sirable.
The calls ON the President and Secretaries
Gresham and Lamont disclosed a general
desire to appoint the commissioners and
equip an expedition to Nicaragua at the
earliest day practicable. No names were
mentioned by the canal officers for the
places as commissioners. nor had any
names yet been considered by the executive
officers. 1t was definitely understood that
the appointments would be made soon. The
$4,000 appropriation will do no more than
pay salaries, leaving the great bulk of the
expense for transportation in this inacces-
sible region, road making, provisions. ETC..
to be supplied from other sources. Besides
this, there is the scientific work of survey
ing, examining soils, ETC. All of these ex-
penses the canal officials gave assurances
OF meeting.
AT the conclusion of the conference
chairman Bartlett, of the executive com
mittee which has recently reorganized the
ut is most desirable said he, that the
e;xpedition start at the earliest day prac-
and lasts until November. during which
time the rainfall is as high as four and
fve inches daily. This and the climate will
cality, but it will not be an insuperabe OBJ
stacle. The desire is to complete the work
TINS sumner NINE IN order that report may be
organization almost equal to an expedition
to the heart OF Africa. Roads along the
grown with dense tropical foliage. Then
there are lagoons which will compel the
pots viii naye to be : e established P about
every five miles and communication MAIN
tanned with the base of supplies. The COM
pany is willing to aid the government by
providing the means. for this extensive
work The purpose of Congress appears to
of the route rather than survey, as a
survey would be work of years When
the commission Is organized IL VIII be put
in possession of all the drawings details,
etc, of the last and best survey. which is
now, generally accepted; 1t Will take some
weeks for the commissioners to familiarize
themselves with this intricate work. The
expedition proper probably will cover three
or four months. The rest of the time will
be required for preparing the notes OF the
investigation and making a report"
Mr.. Bartlett was asked Il the. pending
trouble between Great Britain and Nicara-
qua would embarrass the work or threaten
United States interests in the canal; Not
in the slightest" said he. There Is sure
to be an amicable adjustment of that con-
troversy. At time there was some talk
that Great Britain would intervene and
build the canal If we did not. but that time
is past. The British influence is In no dan
ger Of being exerted in Nicaragua to the
prejudice of the United States. Great
Britain has her commerce, and Is satisfied
to keep it," Mr.. Bartlett said the new Of
ficers' plan OF organization of the reorgan-
lied company would be announced at an
early day. The reorganized company, he
added, had succeeded in freeing the COM
pany from debt and putting it on stable
basis.