The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-10
MIC tRNGuiN CANAL.
Captain Cobb Take. senator Wins to
TMsk for Ills OpNnNition,

Dallas. Texas. February C.-Captain s.
c. Cobb Of Pensacola, Fla, owner of
largo gulf fishing fleet, who is in Dallas
Is an enthusiastic worker for the passage
of the Nicaraguan canal bill. He has sent
the following letter to Senator W. +. Villas
of Wisconsin.
Hon. w. f. Villas, Wisconsin:
Dear Ser tor: ! am so much amazed at
our course. that | must discharge my du-
ties as citizen and seek to know why you
ppose the Nicaragua canal bill. What has
o'en reported in the daily papers is only
rehaSh OF Senator pasco's efforts two
Years since and / had it in better form
Irom members of the English commission
winch made report of surveys ON both the
Panama and Nicaragua canal routes
months before cur little 2Xi commission:
although they met at both Colon and Grey
town.
Three years ago last May a body of 500
o. the solid business men of the United
States, mostly from the valley of the Mis-
SlSs!npi. met in New Orleans and took
part in discussing the needs and feasibility
| ol canal and had ample information not
only from the United States commission
which had reported to congress. but also
| SURVEYS made by half score OF other prac-
,lcal ara experience men. We unanimous
~ recommended the passage OF a bill TO
ac, ohpilsh That purpose, and hoped our
ueieSat'l servants would execute our
wishes. Vain the thought.
DO you remember, senator in Cle,o-
lands former administration that dele
CATION from New Orleans, Mobile, Calves
Ton ana Pensacola called on YOU as post =
master general and asked your aid in So
curing the passage cf the scnate's amend
ineht to the postofiico appropriation bill
IN order to establish mail steamship line
| from New Orleans to Rio and the river
lIaltc' DO You remember You said il ought
TO be, hut you would not permit il that
So Sslon because you had personal quarrel
WIN the attorney Of the Pacific Mail and
meant to "evcn him up" (whatoyer that
might mean You did not explain)? You did
neat us in the house by thirteen votes. and
the line was never established and the
loss to the United States In business do
yelonment was not less than 500. 900 0Oo
Iheu YOU aclped pass the Wilson bill and
| thAl cut Pensacola's trade with Cuba from
| Slt'oO0 per month 10 less than Sl0a. 600 FOR
| the next year. We are now loading 3O0D
tons pig iron and 500 tons Of coke-onc
| earEc-fo Tor Toxic, Japan. You surely know
| enough to know that such business can moi,
| he developed overland by rail or nv Pan
anna but can be developed In the gulf
| ports ana via tho Nicaragua canal TO an
| amount sufficient to pay interest on tho
cost OF the canal.
meinber Of your congressional commit +.
tees tod mo in hearing that "iettins"
were failure everywhere. and when 7
! teNle"ed the work at every point. showing
,ner unnuantled success ard asked him
ms source OF information. he naiyclv rn
pied: Il read II IN a newspaper. =" Shou,d
Ncu succeed In defeating the Nicaragua
| canal hill YOU can chuckle over The far,
thei yon have retarded this country's
/ s,o"'n hNe years at n loss Of not loss
snah slvu,upo,ooo-a feat unequaled by that
famous politician De Lessons moi In prt,
] llln. MnFrC No said ~