The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-08-24
Telephone No. GO.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.

There Is reason to fear the people of
the Pacific coast are over confident in
what they believe to be the general de-
mando for the construction Of the Near
aqua canal, and that proper preparation
is not being made to force the right kind
OF action before the next congress. East
ern press dispatches few days ago con-
tained long statement from c. p. Hunt
ington, of Southern Pacific fame, in
canal would not be constructed for many
years to come. 1t appears, very natur-
ely, that Mr.. Huntington thinks the
tians-contncntal railways abundantly
adequate to supply all necessary com
plunication between the eastern and
western coasts, and that the construc-
tion OF the canal would not only be an
unnecessary but an exceedingly unprofit-
able undertaking. Neither the news
papers nor the public men Of California
seem 10 be doing anything whatever to
arouse public interest in the matter, and
Without Senator Doiphs powerful in
fiuence and perseverance, Mt Washington
there Is danger that the secret foes Of
the canal may outwit its open, but some
what siothful friends. If an enterprise
Of the same relative Importance to the
east as the canal is to the west were
hanging In the uncertain balance Of con-
gress tho people CT the Atlantic coast
would now be holding public meetings on
the subject and the boards Of trade and
other commercial bodies would have long
ago perfected some kind of combined
organization, with hundreds of thousands
Of dollars subscribed to aid in pushing
the matter through congress at the very
commencement Of the session. The peo-
pie OF the Pacific coast on the other
hand seem to be expecting the project to
go through congress by sheer force of
its own weight and merit. They do not
seem to realize the power of the in
fuences that are unquestionably being ex-
erted against It, 1t is true that the COM
mission appointed under the resolution Of
the last session Is required to make its
report by November, but this pretended
expedition is only intended as blind to
deceive the people Interested In the early
construction of the canal, and the men
who are carrying on the underhand fight
against 1t will see that no definite ac-
tion Ia taken on the report, at least until
late In the session. Hon. Warner Miller,
president OF the canal company was
lately IN Montreal, and white there was
interviewed by a representative of the
Star In that city. Among other things
he said the company had done a very
large amount OF preparatory work, such
as building machine shops, stores, hos
pitfalls, as well as dwelling and other
necessary buildings, purchasing plant
and laying twelve miles OF railway track,
and that everything was in condition
to go on with the work promptly and
energetically 80 soon as the aid expected
from the United States is secured lie
also said the United States guarantee
would enable the company to get without
the beast trouble mr. ae,av nil tho mopav
,,,.. .,-..
'squ"eu W eonipie'e 'ne uhuertaN'rs' AS
an evidence OF how Others can see difll-
culties In the way OF getting aid form con
yress NJ vhloh mo noonia 30 ,,ts oo,s,
rser'' ''s eeHs'
seem "psoiuseiy ophVious' the victoria
Colonist, commenting on the statements
OF Senator Miller. saws: