The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-06
The Nicaragua Canal.


The Nicaragua Canal Commission,
under the Craftsmanship of Rear Adj
miral John G. Walker, appointed July
oath, 1897, under the authority of pro
vision in the sundry civil act Of June
4th of that year has nearly completed its
labos, and the results of its exhaustive
inquiry into the proper route, the feast
bility and the cost of construction of
an inter-oceanic canal by Nicaraguan
route will be laid before you. In the
performance of its task the commission
received all possible courtesy and as
sistance from the Governments of
Nicaragua and Costa RIGA, which thus
testified their appreciation of the import
ance of giving II speedy and practical
outcome to the great project that has
for so many years engroSsed the atten-
ton of the respective countries.
AS the scope of the recent inquiry en-
braced the whole subject with the aim
of making plans and surveys for cam
nj by the most convenient route, it neces-
sarily included review of the results
Of previous surveys and plans and in
particular those adopted by the mari
time Canal Company under its existing
concessions from Nicaragua and Costa
Rca, so that to this extent those grants
necessarily hold as essential part III
the deliberations and conclusions of the
canal commission rs they have held, and
must needs hold in the discussion of
the matter by the Congress. Under
these circumstances and in view of
ovcrturcs made to the Government of
Nicaragua and Costa Rica by other
parties for a new canal concession pre-
Dictated on the assumed approaching
Lapse of the contracts of the Maritime
Canal Company with those States,
have not hesitated to express my con-
viction that considerations of eXpediency
and international policy as between the
several Governments interested in the
construction and control of an inter
oceanic canal by this route, require the
maintenance of the status quo until the
canal commission shall have reported,
and the United States Congress shall
have had the opportunity to pass finally
upon the whole matter during the pres
ent session, without prejudice by reason
OF any change from the existing condi-
tions.
IMMEDIATE ACTION ADVISED
Nevertheless, it appears that the Gov
eminent of Nicaragua, as one of its
last sovereign acts before merging its
powers in those of the newly formed
United States of Central America has
granted an optional concession to anoth-
or association, to become effective on
the expiration of the present grant. 1t
does not appear what surveys have been
made or what route is proposed under
this contingent grant, so that an eX-
animation of the feasibility of its plans
is necessarily not embraced in the re-
port of the canal commission. All
these circumstances suggest the urgency
of some definite action by the Congress
at this session if the labors of the past
are to he utilized and the linking of the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans by Il practi-
cal waterway is to be realized. That
the construction of such Il maritime
highway is now more than ever indis-
pensable to that intimate and ready inter
communication between our Eastern and
Western seaboards demanded by the
annexation of the Hawaiian Islands and
the prospective expansion of our in
iuence and commerce in the Pacific.
and that our national policy now more
imperatively than ever calls for it's con-
troll by this Government, are propositions
which l doubt not the Congress will duly
appreciate and wisely act upon.
RELATIONS WITH CHILE.
A convention providing for the revival
of the late United States and Chilean
claims commission, and the considera-
ton of claims which were duly pre-
sented to the late commission, but not
considered because of the expiration of
the time limited for the duration of
the commission, was signed May 24th,
1897, and has remained Enacted upon by
the Senate. The term therein fixed for
effecting the exchange of notifications
having elapsed. the convention falls UNI
less the time be extended by amend
ment, which ] am endeavoring to bring