The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-06
NICARAGUA CANAL.

President Euvora Action by Congretis
Mast be Controlled BY thls Country.
The Nicaragua canal commission, I'M
der the Craftsmanship of Rear Admiral
John G. walker, appointed July "a, 1891,
under the authority OF a provision in the
sundry Civil act of June OF that year,
has nearly completed its labors. and the
results OF its exhaustive Inquiry Into the
proper route. the feasibility, and the
cost OF construction Of an inter oceanic
canal by a &gcaFaugan route Will be lald
before you. In the performance OF iLs
task the cOmmlmssion received all possi-
BILE courtesy and assistance from thegov-
eminent OF Nicaragua and Costa Rica,
which thus testified their appreciation OF
the Importance OF giving q speedy and
practical outcome 20 che great project
that has for so many years engrossed
the attention OF the respective Countries
Az the scope OF the recent inquiry en-
braced the whole subject with the aim
OF making plans and surveys for canal
by the most convenient route, 1t neces-
sari1y Includes 4 review OF the results OF
previous surveys and plans, and In par
tIcuIar those adopted by The Maritime
Canal Company, under Its existing con-
cesslons from Nicaragua and Costa
Rica, so that to this extent those grants
necessarily hold as essential a part IN
the deliberations and conclusions OF inc
canal commission as they have held and
must needs hold in the discussion Of the
matter by the Congress. Under these
circumstances and In view OF overtures
made to the governments OF NICARAGUA
and Costa Rlca, by other parties ior
new canal concession predicted on the
assumed approaching lapse OF the con-
tracts OF the maritime canal eompan!
with those states. I have not hesitated
to express my conviction that considers.
lions OF expedlency and international
poiicy as between the several govern.
ments interested IN the construction ana
contro! OF an inter oceanic canal By this
route. require the maintenance OF ine
statue quo, until the canal commission
shall have reported and the United
States Congress shall have had the op-
portunity to pass finally upon the whole
matter during the present session. VIVA
out prejudice by reason OF any change
in the existing conditions.
Nevertheless, II appears that the gov.
eminent Of Nicaragua, as one OF us lss9
sovereign acts before merging US pow,
ers IN those OF the newly formed uhlvI
States OF Central America, has Brante1
an optional concession TO another aSs9-
citation, 10 become efcctive on the eApt
ration OF the present grant. y docs tlus
appear what the surveys nave Deen
made or what route Is proposed uIiaI4
this contingent grant, 80 that an eAao' !.
nation OF the feasibility OF is plaa
necessarily not embraced IN the report "a
the canal commission. ~,
A gt1EEeNL LUu
urgency or some definite action oy lilS
Congress at this eession II the labors OF
the mast are to beutillzed and the INK
ing OF the Atlantic and Pacific oceans "
a practical waterway is to BE- reallIe1'
That the construction OF such a mart
time highway Il now more than ever l ~.
dlspensable to that intimaie ana teAu!
ntercommunlcatIon between our eastern
and western seaboards demanded ny ths
annexation OF the Hawaiian ISLANDS aiN
the prospective expansion of our lhuu
cnce and commerce in the Paeihe' anu
that our national policy now more M
pera lively than ever, calls for iis c2ntrUI
by this government. are propo1,,,'y51 .,,..
which doubt not the Congress WI uu''
appreciate and wisely act upon. -.
Upon a convention providing ior w
revival Of the late United Ssat u5 S
ChIllau claims commission anu ~ All All.
slderatlon Of claims which Weir "u
presented 20 the late commission w., ~
considered because Of the cNpira'iy,", n,
the time limited for the duration Oh ,s ~
commission. was signed May y ut ~
and was remained Enacted upon W ~.
senate. The term therein fixed lo5 ~, ~
fecting thn exchange OF ratification, a .iS
ing olapsed The convention fats nnS1
tho dino be extended by ameHu .h,",
which I am endeavorlng TO BRING rs. ap 80,
with the friendly concurrence OIL tne W.
1enn rlNhrnmnt.