The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-18
PANAMA CANAL SCHEME
Advscstcs n the lsthmlaa Route Appear
Before the Committee.
NO GOVERNMENT AID WILL Be REQUIRED
THE Panama Company shy they are
Mt BpcSc,l bs France mil arr
Able 10 Complete the Work.

Washington, January 1.-THE new ran
anna Canal company was given nearing
today before the house committee on COM
merce In reference to its project for an
inter oceanic canal. The hearing was III
accordance with a recent determination OF
the committee to hear all persons con
eerned in any isthnian canal Including
the Panama rs we'll as the Nicaragua pro-
jects.
The Panama delegation included General
Henry L. Abbott, United States corps o.
engineers, retired; Louis Choron. cn'e'
engineer OF the company; Mr.. Bayaro
commercial representative, and Messrs
Cromwell, Curtis aud Brown, as WE'LL a.
number OF technical expertstof the com
pany. In the opening statement, MT
Cromwell summed up the Panama project
as follows:
As nearly one-half of the work OF ex-
cayations is actually completed, the mar
bors at the termini are natural, open any
free 10 entry by vessels OF the iargys,
draft, there is all existing railroad para.ie
70 the canal and besides expecting the
work of construction, the concession, tne
titles and the soivency are unquestionapie'
over 5000 men, with force OF lou en-
aineers. are now actually engaged on the
work. The United States had by treaty
with Colombia entered into special guar
antees respecting a canal across tue is.h
mus of Panama and as all this work mas
been done and will be completed without
the cost OF a penny to the people OF the
United States we have right to assume
that the Panama canal Is necessity. II
not the controlling factor in the solution
of the jsthmian canal problem.
The Panama canal treaty assured neu-
trail canal for the warships and commerce
OF the world with special considerations
for the interests OF the United States. He
denied that the new company was under
tho control of the French government or
was Influenced by any American railway
interests. The company was not applying
to any government for money and In
particular was not seeking any financial
assistance from the United States, although
being conducted under an American treaty
the company placed Its work subject to the
full inspection of the United States au-
thorities.
MIR. Hepburn and Mr.. Mann pressed for
a showing Of how the finances would be
raised to carry out the project. Mr.. Mann
suggested that the only purpose seemed to
be TO head off the Nicaragua canal.
In reply to Mr.. Stewart, Mr.. Cromwell
said the Panama enterprise would be car
ried out without reference to the Nicaragua
route. Mr.. Mann sought to show by series
Of questions that the companys 100000
600 assets had cost it but $13.0o0,000 and
an agreement relating to contingent
profits.
Many~ttquiries were made as to the pur-
pose OF 4ne company in appearing before
congress-; whether 1t was to head off a
rival" This was disavowed by the com
pany's representatives, who said they were
making no campaign against the Nicar-
aqua canal, but were combining, THAR ef-
forts to showing that the Panama route
was the best one and that it would. be
built through the new Panama company
without recourse to government aid