Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-13
NICARAGUA CANAL.
DISCUSSION BEFORE THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE on RULES.
pRACYICABILIYY OF YHE SCHEME.
Speaker Reed Wants Information
Respecting the Possibility pf
Canals Advantages.

WASHINGTON, January l2.-The House
Committee on Rules to-day gave an audi
ence to a number of Representatives and
Senators. principally from the Pacinc
Slope. who are interested in the Mica
ragua-canal bill. Among those present
were Representatives Hermann and Ellis,
OF Oregon; Doolittle, of Washington:
Loud Bowers, Barham, and Hilborn. Of
California: Joy, OF Missouri. and Mahon,
of Pennsylvania, and Senators Mcbride
and Perkins, of Oregon and California,
respectively.
Mr.. Doolittle. who is a member OF the
House Commerce Committee, which
framed the measure. read it at length.
and explained its various sections. He
was interrupted from time to time by
members OF the Rules Committee. who
questioned him closely respecting the
practicability OF the scheme. the engineer
ing difficulties TO be encountered. the cost
of the waterway and the effect OF the
governments guarantee OF the bonds.
Some doubt was expressed as TO the
feasibility of the canal
Mr.. Doolittle thereupon explained to the
officers OF the Maritime Canal Company
had surveyed the route and how fully
their work was supplemented by that OF
the special engineer commission, which
went TO Nicaragua for the purpose In
July. 1896 He showed that the United
States Engineer Commission was satisfied
that the canal could be built. and that the
only difference of opinion between them
| and the Maritime Company was as TO the
sum necessary TO complete IT.
Speaker Reed explained. at one point
in the proceedings that he had always
been satisfied OF the practicablity OF the
enterprise; that he was partial to any
| legislation that would benefit the Pacific
Slope, in which ne was always Interested.
and that he did not doubt its great benefit
| to the people residing on both the At
| lantic and Pacific slopes. But he desired
more specific information respecting the
atmospheric and physical conditions to be
| encountered. and he inquired particularly
aus to the possibility OF cloudbursts and
earthquakes. To these queries. Mr.. Doo-
little replied. quoting from the report
made by the engineer officers as well as
from the reports of the Maritime COM
pany.
Mr.. Herman, speaking as a citizen OF
the Pacific Slope. pointed out the canals
advantages in developing that region.
| and claimed that its beneficial results
would be apparent Immediately upon It's
completion He explained how greatly
! commerce had been benefited by the OPEN
ing of the Suez canal, and he spoke at
length OF the advantages that resulted
from the Saut Ste Marie canal. which
had opened up a sparsey-settled country.
| giving an enormous impetus TO the IRON
| ore industry and resulted in the upbuild-
| ing of a commerce twice that OF the
Suez canal The country developed by
this canal was an empire in extent, which
could not have reached its present state
of perfection without the cheap rates af-
forded by the canal.
The question of the adyisability OF a
government guarantee of the bonds was
raised by Mr.. McMilln. OF Tennessee.
not I'm any hostile spirit, but for the
purpose Of securing information upon that
point
1t was suggested by members or the
Rules Committee that the bill should be
so amended as to require a further sur
vey. to determine the feasibility OF the
| canal and it's cost before the govern
ment should be committed TO the enter
prise.
II the Rules Committee permit the
| measure 10 come up for discussion. IL
will, 1t is claimed, pass Dy a large ma
jority. as it Is understood TO have the
| support OF all the Republican members.
except a score or so, and about sixty
of the Democrats, in addition.