The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-09
Senator Harris Enthusiastic on
Nicaraguan Canal Question.
Says the Government Should
Build 1t at Once.
HIS STUDY FOR YEARS
Would Have the Government
Own the Canal.
Panama Route Is, In His Opin-
ion, a Failure.

Kansas City, Aug Ex-senator W. A
Harris of Kansas was in the city yes
terday.
The apparent unanimfty Of public
sentiment in favor of building the Mic
araguan canal is more than satisfactory
to the Kansas senator. He has for
years been an enthusiast on the subject
and since his congressional career be
gan has never lost an opportunity to
do all that was in his power to advance
the interests Of his pet project.
1T is now 80 years. said Senator
Harris, ''since my attention was first
attracted to an interoceanic ship canal
across the Isthmus of Darien. In 1853
50 my father became connected with
the Atlantic and Pacific Canal com
pany, and also in explorations for a
shorter route, and if possible, a tide
level route across the isthmus. In 1859
l was sent down with another eXpedi-
ton which was fitted out for the pur-
pose of making a survey across the
1sthmus at various points below Pan
anna, and also in connection with the
work of the Atlantic and Pacific Canal
company, which was then transporting
passengers and freight up the San Juan
river across Lake Nicara qua to BritO
on the Pacific
From that time on have felt the
most profound interest in this great
work have watched carefully every
survey which has been made from the
Atrato river on the south to Tehuante-
pee on the north. 1t was, therefore,
natural that when I went to Washing
ton in March, 1897, as a senator from
Kansas, that I at once endeavored to
secure place on the Nicaragua canal
committee. 1 was very much pleased
when I received an assignment to that
committee. During the 6fty-third con-
gress, as a member of congress, I had
taken great interest in the proposed
plans which were being advocated and
a n
indOrsing bonds for the construction of
the canal by the private company
which was then at work.
My knowledge of the situation, as
we'll as of the character of the people,
had long led me to believe that this
work could never be successfully accom-
plished by a private corporation. The
character of the governments of Nicar-
aqua and COsto Rfca, was such that D.
private company would be continually
harassed and more or less blackmailed
by the various parties which came in
power, and all their concessions and
work were liable at any time to go for
naught, with the political changes that
were so constantly taking place in that
region l had been an ardent advocate
of what is called the Freylinghuysen
Zavalla treaty. 1t seemed to me that
any acquisition by this government of
the right to enter upon the construction
of such work could not be interfered
with by any future government which
might likely be in power, and that all
questions as to its international char
acter would be definitely settled in that
way.
1T was deemed. however, at the time
that the treaty negotiated was more or
less an Infringement on the Clayton
BulWer treaty, and the reluctance of
Mr.. Cleveland to enter into what he
thought would be an entangling alli-
ance with Nicaragua led to its with
drawal without being formally acted
upon. The failure of this treaty was
followed by the concessions which were
obtained by the Maritime Canal COM
pany of New York, an American cor
pOTat1On which secured from Nicara qua
first, and afterward from Costa Rica.
the right to construct this canal. using
the San Juan river and Lake Nicaragua
as the most important portions of the
route. This company negotiated with
q constructing company to do the work
which, after eXpending a large amount
of money in surveys and preliminary
work by the panic of '93 was practf-
eally forced into bankruptcy Enough
of the work had been done to satisfy
the requirements Of the concession
having expended more than 81 600. 900 in
the first two years as required by the
concession to enable the cOnpanv to
retain all its rights
w nile have heretofore been op-
posed TO all bills which have been intro
0uced INTO the 6fty-third and fiftv-
IOurth congresses. iudOrSina bonds and
leaving the ownership and Construction
In the hands of the company. I am now
HlSu a. the result which has been
obtained by the work of the committee
IN the past few months. 1 have Ia bored
strenuously to bring about this result
and the bill as now on the calendar Of
the senate eliminates all private own
ership, pays the Maritime Canal com
pany literally for what it has done.
takes up all its concessions and the
government of the United States be
comes the principal stakeholder, while
Nicaragua and Costa RIGA each retain
small interest in the company. Con
Versauons with Secretary of state Dav
ana with President Mckinley con-
Nlnced me that it would be inexpedient
ana impOlitic for US to attempt to ne
BoLlate a treaty while our own citizens
stlll mad concession alive It would
not seem fair to them for the govern
Hnent 10 enter upon negotiations which
would lead to the forfeiture and loss Of
All OF the work which they had in good
1alth performed At the same time it
seemed absolutely impossible to await