The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-13
NICARAGUA CANAL.
ROUSE COMHiTTEE HIIRS 4RGU u
MEMS TROu RS IDyOCaTLs.
Representative DoolittIe Says the Only
Difference of Expert Opinion Relates
to the Co-t-Ha- Many Friends.

WASHINGTON, Jan. l2.-The House
Committee on Rules to-day gave an au-
dience % d number Of Representatives
and Senators. principally from the Pacific
slope. who are Interested in the Nicara
qua canal bill.
Anon. those present were Representa-
tlyes Hermann and Eils, Of oregon, Doc
little. OF Washington. Loud, Bowers. Bar
ham and HilDorn, or California, JOY or
AilssO4u, MahOn, of Pennsylvania, anu
senators Mcbride ana Perkins. OF Orc
son And California, respectively. Mi.
D9ol,fIe. who is a member OF the House
Commerce COmGlttee which framed the
measure. read 10 az length, ana explained
lis various sections. tie was Interrupted
from time TO time by the members on the
Rules Committee, who questioned MN
closely respecting the ~prdcucaDhlty OIL l4e
scheme. the engineering oifhcultles 10 pe
encountered, the cost OF the waterway ana
the effect OF the Governments guarantee
oil the bonds.
some doubt was expressed as 10 the
feasibility OF tho canal.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE.
Mr.. Dooittle theieup0n explained To- tae
committee how thoroughly the engineer
officers Of tho Maritime Canal Company
had surveyed the route, and bow Iu.I}
tucir worh WAS supplemented hy thai oi
the special engineer commission Mnith
went to Nicaragua for the purpose in JAY,
1885. Ho showed that The United states
euslnoer commission was satisfied that
tho canal could Dee bullt. but that fhe only
difference of opinion between them ANA
the Maritime Company was ass to tne sum
necessary 10 complete it Speaker Reed
explained M one point Boo the proceedings
thlt he mad Away been satisfied of tine
p~ractcability or Tie enterprise. that Doe
was partial to any legislation that wound
benefit the Pacific slope. iu which he WAS
always Interested. and that Dee dd NOT
doubt its great benefit tO the people re-
sidiug ON both the Atlantic aud PACING
Stones. But he desired more specific in-
formation respecting the atmospheric ana
physical conditions to Doe encountered.
and Doe Inquired particularly af to the
possibility of ~c.OIdbursts and earthquakes.
Ta these queries Mr.. DOoittie replied
quoting from the report made by the
engineer officers. ass well as from the re-
ports OF Che Maritime Company.
THE ADVANTAGES.
Mr.. Herman. speaking ass a. citizen or
tle Pacific Slope. pointed out the canal
advantages i'm developing that region
and claimed that ifs beneficial results
would be apparent Immediately upon us
completion.
TO explained how greatly commerce
been benefited hy the opening of the
sucz Canal. and Doe spoke 40 length OK
the advantages that resulted from the
Stult Ste Marie Canal. which had Open
90 uD FL suarsely settled country. giving
an impetus 10 the iron-ore
industry. and resulted in the uDhuildins
OF a commerce twice that OF the Suez
Canal. The country developed Boy this
canal was as au empire in extent which
could not have reached ifs present state
Of perfection without the cheap rates
afforded hy the canal.
Tho advi-ahiltv of 90 Government guar
autoo OF the bonds WAS raised bv Mf.
McNulin. of Tennessee. hut rot DO amy
hostile spirit. but for the purnose OF See
curing information upon that point.
IL WAS suggested hv the members OF
the Rules Committee that tho bin should
ho $50 amended as 10 require 90 further
survey 10 determine the Feasibility OF
the canal and fits cost. before the Cow
crumont should be committed to the
enterprise.
HAS MANY FRIENDS.
II tho Rules Committee .ermi'7 the
measure Co como mp for discus .on. Do
WIFI. it is claimed. pass by 81 iIrnc ma-
iorltv. as 10 is understood to have Toe
elrport OF al tho Republican members,
oyccpt n score or so. and about sixty
OF the Democrats. IN addition.