The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-11-10
Senator Now Taking Up NiGaFa-
qua Canal.
HIS MEASURE IS FAVORED
Huntington is Fighting i,-Hill Is
Mentioned-A Second Conces-
sion Secured.

WASHINGTON.-It can be authori-
tatively stated that the Nicaraguan
canal bill reported by Senator Nor
gan and now on the Senate calendar
substantially represents the views OF
the Maritime Canal Company upon all
important points. The Maritime Com
pany will have no new propositions to
make to Congress at the coming ses-
sion, but will direct all its efforts to-
ward the passage of the Morgan bill.
While the sentiment in favor OF
building the canal has been largely
augmented by events of the war the
representatives of Mr.. Huntington, OF
the Southern Pacific, are confidently
predicting that the Morgan bill will
never get through Congress. During
the past week it has been alleged here
that ]. ]. Hill, of the Great Northern
railway, was cooperating with AIR.
Huntington in his opposition TO the
bill. The Maritime Company's agents
do not believe Hill will become an ally
OF the Huntington interests.
The information from Nicaragua
that Edwin r. Cragin, Edward Eyre
and Frank 5. Washburne will receive
from the Nicaraguan Government a
concession for canal across that
country was no surprise to- those in
Washington who are familiar with the
affairs OF the Nicaraguan Canal Com
panv. MIR. Cragin is a Chicago pro-
moter. not an engineer; Mr.. Eyre i
from New York and represents constd-
I cradle capital and Mr.. Washburne.
who also is from New York. Is an en-
/ gineer and contractor. While nothing
definite is known about the amount of
/ capital represented by these men IL Is
/ believed they are prepared to put up
/ stin fight for the concession and AZ
necessary could secure enough backing
| TO float bonds, and, perhaps, TO con
! struct the canal. IL Is, however,
+ thought that they intend rather 10
. dispose of the concession when il Is
/ obtained. either 10 the Maritime Canal
/ Company. which holds the present
/ concession. or to other parties desir-
Gus of constructing the canal, rather
J than undertake the task themselves.
( The fact that under the terms OF the
I concession they are authorized 20 ne
gJtiate with the Maritime Canal Com
{ pany leads many 10 believe 10 rather a
/ speculation than a bona liie business
proposition. As affairs stand now the
. concession held by the Maritime Canal
. Company holds good until next OctO-
Der and this company has done a great
deal OF work in the way OF surveying
. and even in actual construction OF the
canal.
The Maritime Canal Company il no,
. concerning itself about the COnces-
siOns made to the Atlas Company. Its
/ Representatives hold that concessions
made TO this company in no way con
fiict with the canal concession. As
this is the ground taken by the Nicara-
. guam Government the company thinks
that ought TO be sufficient.
The bill introduced in Congress by
Senator Morgan provides that the
United States Government shall be-
come the actual though not the visible
owner of the canal. II is proposed tina,
the Government shall put M the
money for the construction and retain
a majority OF the stock and control the
affairs of the corporation. II IS be-
lieved that by this method information.
al complications could be avoided.
The Nicaraguan Canal Commission
has made "a thorough survey of the
ground II is now enga Eei on its re
port, which Will be submitted IN about
q month. There is no doubt this com,
mission will represent that the build,
ing OF the canal IS perfectly feasible
and there IS no difficulty I'm the way
which cannot be surmounteG
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