The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-16
VARIOUS CANAL PROJECTS.

Expected Action of the President
Under the New Law-Three Scpar-
ate Topics to be Dealt With Pro.
posals OF the Panama Promoters.
New York Journal OF Commerce:
Congress appears to have cut out all the
work which can be performed before its
meeting in December in connection with
the investigation OF the several canal
routes. The section OF the river and
harbor bill bearing on the subject pro-
poses three separate classes OF Inquiry.
the engineering problem OF "the most
practicable and feasible route for such
canal together with Approximate and
and probable cost OF constructing 4
canal" the historical and legal pro-
blem. what rights, privileges and fran
chlses. II any. may be held and owned
by any corporations, associations or In
dlviduals." and the diplomatic problem
Of the cost and practlcabllity ''of pur-
chasing all the rights. privileges and
franchises held and owned by any such
corporations, associations and individ-
uals." The language OF the river and
barber b.lluader the latter head does
not seem to relate directly to negotia-
lions with the governments OF Nicara-
gun and Costa Rlca, but the State De-
pirtmeat Will undoubtedly give atten-
ton to this phase of the problem.
There Is some uncertainty whether the
President Will undertake to designate
commission which will deal with all
OF these problems or whether he will
~, Q q en- trAa rl,
questions. as has been done with the
existing Nlcaraguan Canal Commission,
There might be some advantage IN ap-
pointing one or two citizens OF high
legal and diplomatic standing to consid-
er all phases OF the question OF an in
teroceanic canal. but 1t Is believed by
some of those interested that the COM
mission will deal only with the first set
OF problems named above. and that the
legal and diplomatic questions will be
considered By the Department OF Jus
tlce and the Department OF State.
This legal and diplomatic business alone
is likely to consume all the time avail
able before the meeting OF Congress IL
negotiations are. undertaken with the
Latin American governments, TO say
nothing OF negotiations with Great Brit
ain regarding the modification OF the
Clayton-Bu Treaty. !
The Nicaraguan Canal Commission Is
rapidly completing It's work. and its re-
port on the feasibility OF the Nicaraguan
route will probably be laid before the
President within a month or two. The
engineering experts have substantially
completed their inquiries and submitted
the!r data to the Commission headed
by Admiral Walker Substantially
what remains to be done Is the analysis
ard consolidation OF the material and
working 1t into an Intelligent and COM
Nrehensive report Tie nvestigations
OF the commission have been very thor
ou=h. particularly in respect TO ascer-
talaS the character oftthe soil to be
dealt With the different points along the
route. This has been done in order to
determine the exact cost of excavation
under different conditions. So far as the
thoroushness OF the engineering work
Is concerned there is little LEFT to be
done by the commission. II the same
officers are designated to examine the
Panama route there will be work
enough under that head. There has
been little skepticlsm here regarding
the extent Of the work done on the
Panama canal. Its promoters repres-
ented 10 the House Committee on In
ter-State Commerce thatatwo-nf.hs OF
the excavations had beesi. completed. II
this is the case. and the route is prac-
t'cabie. the offers OF the Panama pep
pie would seem to require serious con-
Scera;.ol. Somehow or other. how
ever, in spite OF the high standing Of the
gentlemen interested, they hardly sue
ceeded In dIverting the minds of the
committee from the grooves In which
g they were running in favor of the Mic
araculn route. The fact that the sum
OF sl5o. 100000 is admitted TO have been
leslimatelE. expended in construction
at Panama. In addition to the millions
swallowed Up by the jobbery in the
original de Besseps company, Is consid-
cred somewhat Inconsistent with the
offer to complete the canal for an adj
dltional sun, Of slC0. 900, 600. Actual ex-
animation OF what has bee done by dis
interested American officers might give
more serious character to the repre-
sensations Of the Panama people II such
examination verified the, statements
made before the house clnm!ttee.
The Representatives ot-the Panama
company assumed an independent uttl-
tude before the house committee. main
tanning that they were entirely capa-
BILE Of completing the canal By means
o. private capital; and were not seekers
for the aid's.of any government.
Whether this attitude was entirely SIN
cere. or was assumed in order to give
them better standing. It Is probable tina,
President Mckinley would be disposed
10 follow the policy OF the Hepburn bill
in regard 10 any route adopted. OF plac-
Ing It under the direct ,control of the
United States. There wns an int!Tation
during the last days OF the session OF
Congress that the Panama company
was willing to complete the canal I'M
der contract with the government OF
the United States and surrender It to
the government. when completed, for
the sum Of Sl00.000.O00 Diplomatic ne
go;!at!ons would be required In order
to permit the government OF the United
states TO carry out such contract: but
Il the proposition Is seriously submitted
It might add to the Importance OF the
engineering inquiry as 20 the actual
progress ard feasibility % the Panama
route. The whole subject was consId-
cred so broad when II was before the
Rouse committee and In conference dur
ing the closing days OF Congress that It
vas FELT to require further Investigation
before definite action was taken. The
PRESIDENT may be able to make such
Investigations rs will enable him TO
submit n definite Administration pro-
EFamme for a canal end the method OF
Us construction upon the meeting OF
Congress In December.
.-------S-----
Col. Chinn'S Boast.