Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-08-11
NlCARACUACANAL
Government May Build
1t on Account of
Necessity.
COST LESS THAN ESTIMATED
Completion Of the Waterway wKhfn q
Few Years II Assured-Ma rhine
Company's Concessions - Engineer
COoley's Statement

Few Years II Assured-M ri me
Company's Concessions - Engineer
Cooiey's Statement
,hicago, Aug. 5.-Lyman E. Cooley,
the well-known civil engineer, after o
visit east and conference in New York
with represen tatives Of the Maritime
Canal Company, owners of the cOnces-
sons along the proposed route of the
Nicaragua canal, believes the govern.
ment will construct the great waterway
in preference TO letting the contract to
separate corporations Mr.. Cooley says
that on this point the complexion OF the
canal matter has been changed percep-
tibly since last winter, when he, with
party Of engineers, looked over the
ground of the enterprise
On being shown dispatch from
Washington stating,that Admiral, Walk.
er, Of the canal commission, had re.
ceived a number Of reports indicating
that the cost would be much less than
heretofore estimated, M. Cooley pre-
sented 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 10 Toro rapids
GOOD foundation for an immense
dam at Ochoa
Favorable conditions for embank-
ments at San Francisco basin.
New site for q dam at Tambol
Grande.
According To the estimate OF the
formulator. change OF several million
dollars is reported In these items. The
expense incurred by the government in
war and the rapidly developing indica.
tions that the Nicaragua canal cannot
only be constructed more cheaply than
at first imagined, but ought 10 be built
b. Uncle Sam himself. are conspiring.
he intimated to assure the waterway
between the Atlantic and Pacific within
a few years.
President Mckinley" said NJ.
Cooley. land many Of the leading
members OF congress, now appreciate
more than ever the supreme import.
ance OF the canal TO our country. Sen.
stor Morgan said to me not long ago
that annexation OF Hawaii practically
clears up the question of immediate
necessity for the Nicaragua canal Il
is question, however, whether on not
congress will be able to paee the pro
posed 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 he a tremendous undertaking,
though it may take seven years 70 com.
plete 1t.
THE Maritime Canal Company asks
for el1, 800, 900 from the government
to relinquish all Of its rights and con.
cessions- The company, it is under.
stood. will take 100000 from the
government to validate its bonds. The
company bought out all the concessions
OF the old Nicaragua Association, which
Is SaIu W nave eAptuueu eOMctuIuB
like SC, 900, 900. The Maritime Canal
Company was then organized. and it
has spent $4,000 10000 in Nicaragua on
the canal. but had to quit work. The
company is perfectly right when It says
that no private corporation could be
expected to take up the canal project
now. since congress has put it's hand in
the matter. and when there is a strong
likelihood OF the government building
the ditch itself.
1T is not definitely known whether
the commission will be ready with its
report during the short session of con-
gress. A report may be submitted and
may cause vast difference Of views as
to what course should be pursued.
Senator Morgan and other advocates
appreciate these things, but the mani
fest broadening Of the scope Of our ma
tional policy Of late has impressed
every one so strongly that none can
see any obstacle large enough to pre-
vent the constru ction Of what will be
an invaluable holding of the United
States in time Of peace or war"