Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-11
Congressman W. I. Hepburn Gives
His Views Of the Nicaraguan
Canal Project.
Reviews the Engineering Difficult
ties to Be Met With In
Various Routes.
Many Serious Obstacles to- Over
come, But Thinks the Plan is
Feasible.

uiStIlcl, dSCoiupdlleo US MIS-. AASP
burn, arrived in the city Thursday
night. Mrs. Hepburn will go to Iowa
City today to visit sister, and Col.
Hepburn will remain here today, going
from here to Chicago and thence. in
about week, to Washington for the
opening of the congressional session on
Dec. A. Col. Hepburn is chairman of
the house committee on Interstate COM
nerce, to which all bills relating to the
Nicaragua canal go.
"As nearly as can state from some
what incomplete reports / have heard
from the Eighth district" said Col
Hepburn, 1.-The republicans have about
1000 majority there this year. There
We're gains in almost every county; in
fact in every one from which have
heard, and l presume the same rule
will run throughout the entire district.
The Eighth is a reliably republican
district"
Asked about national issues of next
year, Col. Hepburn said he anticipated
the national democratic convention
its convictions on the money question,
without mentioning the 16 to 1 ratio. Il
wouldn't be surprised to see them put
in gold standard plank he added
Nothing they might do would be a
surprise OF me. anticipate that con-
gress will this winter pass legislation
declaring it the policy TO pay all gov
eminent obligations In gold or its
equivalent, which would settle the
question of a gold standard. and take it
out of the reach of any administrative
power to change from this basis.
..As TO matters of new national legis-
lation. | see very little prospect for
anything of Importance. The Nicara-
qua canal will have to wait till the new
commission has investigated and re-
ported They tell us that will take an
other year The situation is getting
decidedly complicated. First, there is
the old Maritime Canal Company, of
which Warner Miller was the head.
The Nicaraguan government main
| tains that its concession expired on Oct.
10 of this year, and / am disposed TO
| think it is right. The concession pro-
vided that 1t should expire at that time
unless the canal were built: but, in the
| pended a large sum of money IN the
work then the Nicaraguan government
/ would favorabiy consider proposition
flor a reasonable extension. AS the
! company has expended Only about ST.
4 400 900 OF the SIPS 900 900 contemplate ted,
/ / don't believe it could claim to have
earned the right 10 an extension OF
! time.
] Then comes in tho new Panama Ca
/ nal Company, which claims to have
4 succeeded to all the rights of the old De
Lesseps company in the original Pana-
i ma route. They show that they have
taceuired all the property improvements
4 and rights of the De Lcsseps company
! representing altogether an actual in
4 vest roenr of s1lS coo 600. This includes
4 SIS 600 600 in work and improvements
j and 100000 600 more In the railroad
docks. wharves and equipment for car
4 wing on the work In this last $50, OOO,-
moo is also included sl1 100000 of cash
81 which they have raised. The company
Iii appears was composed first of som'
4 French engineers who were connected
4 with the De Lesseps project. They saw
ltbis great investment, which would b.
absolutely lost f we should build
canal on the Nicaragua route. The.
have Interested with them some cap
slitalists. and want to complete the cana
and hold ii open to all nations, with TN
United states guaranteeing its neutral
l.ity The company will make hari
fght and maintain a big lobby to pre-
;. vent us from doing anything with tn
i / Nicaragua route. They have oi
!, stake in it. and viii fight to the enc
Their financial status has been inNestl
gated by the new commission. it re
i ports that the reorganized company
q granted all the properties and right
Il of the old De Lesseps concern, and tina
If is authorized to place mortgage o
. the entire plant for enough to compiet
! Tho construction. The revenues shall
used to pay operating expenses, inter
ast on the bonds, and then per Ger
+ annually on about s2o0,0000OO OF stoe
Of the old De Lesseps company. Afte
that the stock of the new compan,
4 and this $500. 100000 of what may .
: considered preferred stock, shaii snai
equally all further profits
n THE engineering features OF IN
a lnroiect will be carefully examined o
the commission There is first the ques
n ton of cutting through the eight mile
n of solid rock which forms the backbor
lof the isthmus: it is an immense tasl
but is probably not impossible. Ihe
comes the problem of taking care OF u
lchagres river These engineers al
nounce new plan, which is to bul
the canal. not at sea level, but on thr'
!, levels. thirty, sixty and ninety fe
. above the sea. The question lis wheth'
, they can get supply of water for II
:, ninety-foo level. Their plan is 10 in
pound the waters of the Chagres rive
q and turn 1t into big lake some thirl
4 miles distant. Here the water VIII
"a held as in reservoir, to be drawn In
r. the canal. The plan, it Is elaine
. would provide security against Il
= danger from this river. tropic
!, stream which is said to rise at tim
# Eseventy-five feet in one day. The who
? plan will be Investigated and the cor
q mission will report its conclusions.
a ITO go back to the Nicaragua pla
* the Maritime Canal Company, with
n rights alleged to have expired, has
II new competitor in company of Amer
= cans composed of some of the disgru
IN tied members of the Maritime and i
,e Guiding Warner Miller. who was d
posed from the presidency Of the Q
company. There was row in t
e. Maritime, Miller was succeeded
~ president by Hitchcock and the Mill
II, Faction went olIt and formed ne