The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-01-20
MASS MEETING
HELD LAST NIGHT
Enthusiasm for the Great Nicaragua
Canal Scheme Is Manifested.
A RESOLUTION Is PASSED
Ana Wired Ia senator George W. Nc
Bride What IN" Canal Means to
the Pwcifc Coast
A RESOLUTION is PASSED

That AHtoftunS realize the Importance
Of the passage Of the Nicaragua canal
bill by congress vac evidenced last
night by the Attendance at the mass
meeting nt the courthouse called by
the Chamber ~ Commerce.
SIR O. WingAtc called the meeting
to order and upon organization Bren-
ham Van Duscn was made chairman of
the meeting aud J. T. Dellingcr sccrc-
tnry. After discussion Of the main
question upon which the meeting was
called. Mcssrs Dellinger. winga;e. ],
A. Fulton. sllas B Smith. e. 3. Lee.
were appointed committee to draft n
resolution for presentation TO congress
The resolution ~ drafted and tele-
graphcd last nigh, TO Senator Geo. ".
Mcbride. Washington. d. C. Is as fol-
lows.
Whereas. the early completion Of the
Nicaragua canal by and under the con-
rl-ol Of the United States Ia OF vital
Importance to the commerce Of these
United states, and wiil tend 10 bind
this mighty naIion IN closer bands OF
commercial unity. therefore be II
Resolved. by the citlzsns of Astoria
In mass meeting assembled. that our
senators and representatives in con-
grcss be earnestly requested 10 use all
legitimate means TO further the com-
pletion Of this great national work by
and under the control OF the United
States OF America"
In n, r-ccni issue Of the ManufActur-
crs' Record concerning the Nicaragua
canal. Captain " l. Merry says in
part: In 1896 the Pacific Coast alone
will send eastward by Cape Horn and
Panama about 900 tons Of cereal
products, a careful calculation recent,
ly made proves that had the canal been
opened and Suox rates been charged. a
saving would have resulted Of ST. 900. 600
on Pacific Coast frcights carried via
Cape Horn. Imagine "a short water
way opcnei TO our lumber, wines. bran.
dy, dried and fresh fruits. nuts, as
phaitum. ores. beans. salmon. wool and
other products, steadily increasing In
quantity. and add thereto the cotton
uf thc South 10 japan and China, the
coal and iron Of Alabama to Central
and South America. the manufactured
goods OF Europe and from our Eastern
states. the European Immigrants 10
the Pacific coast, the teas and silks OF
Eastern Asia 20 Atlantic ports. the
wool and meat products OF Austiyll-
asia. the coffee OF Central America, the
nitrates and ores from the South Amer
lean west coast. and the products OF
oceanica steadily increasing In vol
ume The Pacific coast OF the United
States Is competent To sustain COM
fortably, $4,000 600 people. II has now
less than i.7j0,OOO II has. as stated by
an eminent authority. everything 20 Of
Ter the emigran, except cheap trans
portatiun. The railway systems reach
ing II need the canal TO complement
their usefulness, by the carriage OF the
cheap and bulky products which they
do not and cannot carry at a profit
and which will leave profit TO the
producer, thus inducing immigration
and creating railway traffic, Consider
the immense coastwise commerce which
viii use the canal, with even 5000. 900
inhabitants, and 1t opens the question
whether the limit Of 2OOOO.OO0 Of tons
annually, with one lockage system, will
be competent 10 move II. have no
doubt that ultimately a duplicate lock
system would be necessary. There Is
at this time much interest manifested
In the resuscitation of the American
mercantile marine, So far as coast
wise shipping is concerned, nothing will
NJ rapidly increase it as the Nicaragua
canal. which will pass a procession Of
American steamers. with full cargoes
both ways. aside from vessels In the
foreign trade"