The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-12-25
INVESTIGATE ON
THEIR own HOOK
Party Of Engineers and Contractors
Leave for Nicaragua.
THEY ARE PRACTICAL MEN
Aad Nill See for themselves hhat the Sit
ua,ioH i,--ruilsd States Must
Protect It's Rights.
THEY ARE PRACTICAL MEN

Chicago. Dec. "A -pcral 70 the Rec
ord from Washington sayH.
The steamer Finance which sails from .
New York next Thursday carries an I'm .
por,an, delegation Of engineers and con-
tractors who pr3pon" 20 look over the /
route of the Nicaragua canal on their .
own hook without waiting fpr the report /
OF the commission which M government .
recently z-ut 10 rvvssr ~. surveys arl .
estimates heretofore Submitted 20 con-
gtoss. A. far as ean be learned this .
party has no connection with nor hns
rrkci no assistance from the government
although Senator Morgan vho has al /
ways taken the LEADING part IN lcgsla- .
ton relating 20 he canal hos encouraged 1
the tourney ard thinks that me interest
which inspired tho enterprise IS the most
favorable sign ha, has lately Rppeorci |
Tho senator understands thar .ho n,rty .
will be composed of some Of Tho heaviest .
contractors now engaged IN tho conYtruc- 3
ton OF thc Chicago drainage canal. and 4
that they viii be accompanied by con- /
sultiug engineers ~ thei- own rhoIte I
who WIN nasats ihcn N making prtc. /
teal examination of ne ssvs-al rou,.,,
inat have b"~n rccommc1ieI 5nl pre-
pairing estimates Of ne cor of cons,rue- /.
ton
II IS understood ;hai Lyman Z. Cooley 1
IN" well known cngin,er. who was a..
ferci place upon the Nicaragua com
mis"ion. and who e. member o. the
international deep waterways commis.
sion. has been Invited 20 accompany the
commission, and r. W Crarir. ~ chi.
cago. who was aq-ociayei with the Me.
ungua Maritime Co. FOR some month";
viii hso 20. Il Is said ,ha, Mr.. Crarin
has bcea furnished with no names OF
the other gentlemen.
II IL understood here thai ;he crittrnc-
tors Oh the drainage canal are taking
thi" step with tho Wow of utsllEing their
machinery and force oC employees when
their present contracts are completed
and II they hnd things TO their satistac.
ton, they propose either 20 purchase the
concession Of the Maritime Company or
10 enter into contract 10 comp, ,te the
canal, taking certain amolnt OF stocks
and bonds in the corporation as their
compensation. They propose. II Is said.
70 accept as basis of their exam,na-
! lions the survey made IN 1886 which has
been indorsed by committee Of the most
asst.- IL.
ed by the American Institute OF ELgin-
eers The original estimate OF the out
side cost Of construction was SIS. .ooo. .OOO.
including interest and Contingencies OF
every sort, although Mr.. Menocal. the
engineer in charge always insisted that
the canal could be dug on that route
according 10 his mans for SCI. .n0o 900. and
after examining the improved machinery
and economical methods which the con-
struetion OF the drainage canal IN IL
linois has developed ne claims that the
work can be done now for $1,000. .OOO Not
trng ago Senator Morgan invited the
contractors on tho drainage canal to visit
Washington and give their views TO the
| 'NAih'AA'N WI lNiflgh tllulFE NHl1le
none Of them had ever made an examina-
tion Of the route they all agreed that Mr..
Mcnocars estimates and computations
were reasonable and that the cost OF such
excavation as would be tequlrcd along
the line selected by him in Nicaragua
can he reduced at least so per cent by
the Use Of improved machinery ana the
processes they have used upon the drain
age canal.
Tho present situation in Nicaragua re-
quiree that some action shall be taken
by the United States Immediately to pre-
serve our rights under the existing
treaty and concessions.
The Menocal concession. upon which
the present company Is working. and
upon which legislation now pending in
congress Is based, expires in 1899
Senator Morgan does not think Great
Britain will ever attempt 10 maintain the
pctty donchssion hhat interreres with
the right Of the canal company, though
such Interference would be the cause OF
irritation and delay.
81 rejoice 10 see men taking an interest
"They are the best men IN the world tC
assist In the promotion. They are prac
tical men Of affairs. They have eyrer
ience and knowledge and reputation thai
will make their testimony of the hishes
value and am glad ;hey are going"