Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-04
NICARAGUA CANAL OUTCOME.
Agreement on Investigation of All
Isthmian Routes.

ISfn mlun hotitss
WASHINGTON March 8.-The confer
rees on the river and harbor bill to-day
agreed and signed a report.
Senator Frye made the following state
ment as 90 the result Of the conference:
in the matter Of the Nicaragua canal
the conforrees provided substitute for
the Senate amendment, giving full au-
thority TO the President TO investigate all
Isthmian canal routes. especially the
Nicaragua and Panama routes. He IS 20
have an the engineer and other employees
he may need for this purpose, and is
allowed to appoint the engineers either
from the army or from civil life. lie Is
then to report his conclusions to the next
Congress For this purpose We appro-
pirate 100000.
BIG HARBOR ITEMS.
"The item concerning New York harbor,
Baltimore. Philadelphia. the southwest
Pass. and the Mississippi river the Hud-
son river, and nearly an the important
national projects as distinguished from
those of a purely local character, were
agreed to practically as inserted In the
Senate. In the matter Of the Miami pro
fect. which has attracted considerable
attention. the House conferrees refused 10
agree to the Senate provisions. IN
this matter, the best we could DO was 10
secure a provision for the appointment OF
a board of engineers, which IS instructed
to make an estimate and report.
"The House cOnferrecs also refused %
accept the Senate's action placing the
Improvement of the ST. Johns river
QloridD upon a continuing contract, put
I'm this matter we increased the approprla-
ton over the House figures to the extent
of about 100000 making the appropria-
ton $4,000.
THE continuing-cOnt provision Tor
Sandy Bay Harb0r of Refuge (Massd-
chusetts) was eliminated. but the imme-
date appropriation of 100000 was pro
vided for. and authority was given 10
appoint a board of engineers 30 make a
survey and estimate.
CHANNEL TO HOUSTON.
eve were also compelled TO modify the
Senate provision concerning the proposed
channel 10 Houston Tex. In this matter
we increased the immediate Appropriation
"a the extent of 800 ESQ. making II S5VoovJ,
which is sufficient to insure twelve feet OF
water in the channel TO the sea.
"The House cOnferrees accepted our
provision appropriating 10000 for the I'M
movement of Pearl HarbOr thawau), ana
also to the provision TOT lHr l'IIyf"l WI
rocks I'm the East river (New York;. Ihey
refused TO accept our amendment for the
IMPROVEMENT of the Anacustia river, I'D the
District of Columbia
CANAL RESULT SATISFACTORY CD
Senator Frye expressed the opinion mat
the action of the conferrees on the Mica
raeua canal matter would prove salts
factory 10 the country. The Senate pro
vision was. he said, necessarily CRUDE.
owing 10 the haste which attended is
consideration. and Congress would be
much better prepared TO deal with inc
question after getting the reports provinces
Tor bv the conference agreement.
The agreement upon New YORK harnoi
provides that the Secretary OF War may
enter into a contract for 4J-toot chah-
mel. if the work can be done for Sto0oo"'
# not the government is 20 enter upon
the work and eXpend that amount III Sc
curing the depth of forty feet.
MANY ITEMS COMPROMISED.
Many Of the large items were compro-
missed. The appropriation for the south
west pass Of the Mississippi river Is placed
at $4,000.