The times., 1898-08-04
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
It's Necessity Emphasized by the An
nexation of Hawaii


Chicago Aug 3.-Lyman E. Cooley, a
civil engineer. after visit East and con-
ference in New York with representatives
of the Maritime Canal Company, Erie
Company, owners of all the rights and
concessions along the proposed route of
the Nicaragua canal believes that the
Government of the United States will con-
struct the great waterway in preference
to letting the contract to private compan-
les or corporations.
Mr.. Cooley says that on this important
point the complexion of the Nicaragua ca
nal matter had changed perceptibly since
last Winter, when he, with a party of en-
gineers, looked over the ground of the fu-
ture enterprise.
On being shown a dispatch from Wash
ington stating that Admiral Walker, of
the canal commission had received a num-
ber of reports indicating that the cost of
the work will be much less than hitherto
estimated, Mr.. Cooley gave list of the
recent discoveries which, he believes, are
responsible for Admiral Walkers opin-
ions. They are:
Six miles of dredging in the lower end
of Lake Nicaragua.
Non-existence of rock in San Juan river
| TO Toro rapids.
Good foundation for immense dam at
Ocmoa.
Favorable conditions for embankments
| at San Francisco Basin.
New site for a dam at Tanbor Grande.
According to the estimate of the formu-
| lator, a saving of several million dollars
J is represented in these items. The ex-
/ pense incurred by the Government in
war and the rapidly-deyeloping indica-
I tions that the Nicaragua Canal can not
| only be constructed more cheaply than
! at first imagined. but ought 10 be built
/ by the United States, are conspiring, he
/ intimates, 10 assure the waterway con-
nection between the Atlantic and the Pa
cifc within a few years.
President Mckinley" said Mr.. Cooley,
1 ''and many of the leading members OF
J Congress now appreciate more than ever
before the supreme Importance of this
canal to our country. Senator Morgan
said to me net long ago that the annexa-
/ tion of Hawaii practically clears up the
question Of immediate necessity of the
! Nicaragua Canal. 1t is question, how
| ever, whether OF not Congress will be
able TO pass the proper law or take the
proper action at the short session begin
ming in the Fall to enable the work to
| be begun at an early date.
"The construction of the waterway will
not be a tremendous undertaking, though
| il may take seven years TO do ii. The
Maritime Canal Company asks for S11,-
000000 from the Government TO relin-
quish all its rights and concessions. The
company, it is understood, will take 81
000, 900 in the stock of new company that
the Government might form, and $780,
600 from the Government 10 validate its
bonds. The company bought out all the
raTva .s-CfCl of he old Hoo zs-1r1
citation, which is said to have expended
something like s6,O00,0e9. The Maritime
Canal Company was then organized, and
ii has spent 100000 in Nicaragua on the
| canal undertaking, but had to quit the
work. The company is perfectly right
when it says that no private corporation
could be expected 10 take up the canal
project now, since Congress has put its
hand in the matter, and when there is
a strong likelihood of the Government
building the ditch Itself.
These are some of the hindrances in
the way of an early opening of the mar
row strip of land between the two great
oceans. Again, ii is not definitely known
that the commission will be ready with
( its report during the short session of
/ Congress. The report may be submitted
/ and NAV cause a vast difference of views
| as to what course should be pursued
| Senator Morgan and all other canal ad-
| vocates appreciate these things. but the
| manifest broadening of the scope of our
national policy of late has impressed ev-
erybody so strongly that none can see
| any obstacle large enough to prevent the
construction of what will be an invalua-
BILE holding and possession of the United
States in time of peace and in time of
| war