The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-18
TIE ISLHNLAN CANAL.


Testimony of Admiral Walker, chief
of the Nicaragua canal commission,
gives an idea of the reasons which con-
tributed toward excluding a canal ap-
preparation from the river and harbor
bill during the late session Of congress.
A new conception Of the Importance in
which this project is held may also be
derived from the fact that all the force
and influence of Speaker Reed and Rep
resentative Cannon were required TO
shut out the appropriation despite the
indefinite and unsatisfactory state in
which the whole question was repre-
sented by the head Of the commission
which President Mckinley had sent TO
investigate the Nicaragua route.
Admiral Walker told the river and
harbor committee that the property OF
the Maritime Canal Company was not
worth more than $500 900. He inven-
toried it as follows: A few sheds and
houses that might be Of service, d rail
road ten or eleven miles long that could
be used by hand cars. and a set Of
dredges and other machinery that had
gone to pieces and was utterly worth
less. The work accomplished included
the dredging Of the harbor, which had
since been filled up so that the work
would have to be done over again, and
an excavation for about half a mile
inland that remains substantially as
the laborers left it. Outside of this,
Admiral Walker estimated that rather
more than 100000 had been expended
on surveys and plans.
This is the condition Of the property
for which Senator Morgan and others
were willing to give 100000 of gov
eminent money. Senator Frye says it
would not have been paid except upon
a subsequent and impartial valuation of
the plant, but other canal promoters
did not so understand the proposition,
They asserted that the property was
cheap at the price. But these We're not
the only defects in the scheme. Admiral
Walker explained that though three
members of the commission were Sub
stantially'' agreed that the cost of the
canal would be about $l25 OoO, 600
roughly estimated they had not
progressed far enough to make an es-
innate they would be willing to stand
by, and even the route had not been
definitely outlined. There was still a
choice between alternates, and the
number of dams and locks remained to
be determined and these things would
affect the cost. Moreover. the diDlo-
matte situation had not been consI-
dered at all. Nobody apprehends the
slightest difficulty with England. She
is at least a responsible power and can
be trusted to know what she wants
and doesn't want. At present she is
very friendly to us. The situation is
wholly different; however, in regard to
Costa Rica, and insignificant as that
government may be deemed, her claim
VIII have to be settled, and it is de-
scribed as delicate one to handle, be-
cause Costa Rica does business on the
Oriental plan. That is to say. Presf-
dent Iglesas, or whoever may be at the
head Of affairs, viii expect a bride.
Washington gossip 50 interpreted his
presence at the national capital, and
friends Of the Maritime Canal Company
are represented as laughing in their
sleeves at his disappointment because
the money was not forthcoming. then
and there.
Obviously, in an undertaking of the
dimensions Of the isthmian canal, it is
extremely desirable that our govern
ment should be we'll informed as to the
fundamental facts. 1t should look be-
fore 1t leaps. 1t was to ensure this
caution that Speaker Reed and others
held up the canal appropriation, rather
than from motives of hostility to the
abstract project. The compromise
measure finally adopted provides for
another commission that will compare
the merits Of the Panama and Nicara-
qua routes and supplement the work of
the Walker commission. Whether the
latter board viii now submit a full and
complete report seems to be a matter
OF conjecture