The record-union., 1898-08-04
Saws the War Has Demonstrated the Me-
cessIiy Of Its Construction.
The Cost Will Be Much Less Than
Heretofore Estimated-1ts Con-
strucSion Will Not Be Such
Great Undertaking.. Though It
May Take Many Years to Com
plete It.

CHICAGO, Aug. 3.-Lyman E. Cooley.
the well-known civil engineer. after
visit East and a conference in New
York with representatives of the Mari
time Canal Company, owners of all the
rights and concessions along the pro-
posed route of the Nicaraguan Canal,
believes the Government of the United
States will construct the great water
way in preference to letting the con-
tract to separate companies or corpor-
ations Mr.. Cooley says that on this
point the complexion of the Nicaragua
Canal matter has been changed per-
ceptibly since last winter, when he,
with a party of engineers, looked over
the ground of the enterprise.
On being shown a dispatch from
Washington stating that Admiral
Walker of the Canal Commission had
received a number of reports indicating
that the cost would be much less than
heretofore estimated, Mr.. Cooley pre-
sented a list of recent discoveries
which he believes are responsible for
Admiral Walkers opinions. The gist
of these are: Six miles Of dredging in
the lower end of Lake Nicaragua.
Non-existence of rock in San Juan
River to Trio Rapids.
Good foundation for immense dam at
Ochoa.
Favorable conditions for embank
ments at San Francisco Basin.
New site for dam at Tanbor Grande.
According to the estimate of the
formulator, a saving of several million
dollars is represented in these stems.
The expense incurred by .he Govern
ment in war and the rapidly develop
ing indications that the Nicaraguan
Canal cannot only be constructed more
cheaply than at first imagined, but
ought to he built by Uncle Sam him
self. are conspiring. he intimated, to
assure the waterway between the At
lantic and Pacific within few years.
President Mckinley said Mr. Coo
ley, and many of the leading members
OF Congress now appreciate more than
ever before the supreme Importance of
the canal to our country. Senator Nor
gan said to me not long ago that the
annexation of Hawaii practically clears
up the question of immediate necessity
of the Nicaragua Canal. 1t is a ques-
tion. however, whether or not Congress
will be able to pass the proposed laws
or take the proper action at the short
session 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 several years to
complete it. The Maritime Canal Com
pany asks for S11, 100000 from the
Government to relinquish all of its
rights and concessions.
The company, it is understood. will
take SI,U00000 in the stock of new
company that the Government might
form, and S4JG0,OO0 from the Govern
ment TO validate its bonds. The COM
pany bought out all the concessions of
the old Nicaragua Association which Is
said to have expended something like
$4,000. 900 The Maritime Canal Com
pany was then organized, and ii has
spent S2000.0O0 in Nicaragua on the
canal undertaking, but had to quit
work The company is perfectly right
when it says that no private corpora
tion could be expected to take up the
canal project now, since Congress has
put its hand in the matter and when
there is a strong likelihood of the Gov
ernment building the ditch itself
1T is not definitely known that the
commission will be ready with its re-
port during the short session of Con-
sress. A report may be submitted and
may cause a vast difference of views as
to what course should be pursued. Sen