The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-20
NcAR4euA cANAl AkakINs.
President Hitchcock Gives -Four Reasons;
why the Nicaragua Is the BETTER Route.

Why the Nicaragua is the Better Route
WASHINGTON. Jan. a.-The representatives.
Of TIE Maritime Canal Company were heard this
morning before the House Committee on Inter
state and Foreign Commerce. Hiram Hitch
cock or New York. President Of the company.
occupied the morning session in explaining the
present condition 0! the Maritime Company.
Mr.. Hitchcock quoted volurninously from
documents which had been presented 10 the
Senate and subsequently printed. giving a his
tory 81 the Maritime Canal Company from its
Inception 10 the present time. He said that the
ton pany had been prevented from fulfilling its
contracts TO build the canal by the discussions
over its concessions between Nicaragua and
Costa Rica. and then the action Of the Senate
in arguing for the construction Of the canal by
tie United States. No sooner had the company
secured a concession from Nicaragua and be-
Cun work than Costa Rich claimed that il must
also Obtain a concession from that coun-
tT. This 1t did. which anEered Nicaragua.
because the latter country did not want
Costa Eica recognized az having any rights
in the canal at all Then the Senate. took
W the matter. and Senator Edmunds intro
duced a hin providing that the canal should he
constructed by the GoNernment. As a result OF
al ms work was stopped and the compsny,s
p~0rtunIty to again sell the charter. and suhse-
qUently did what IL could TO compel the Mari
time Canal CompGny TO violate its obligations
in order TO invalidate the concession. BE said
the concession was good and a renewal for ten
ana bonds had beer issued. OF which s.. 014.50O
had heau sold. S3.laA.OUq paid for work. Sl2.-
100000 issued 70 the construction company.
100000 TO Nicaragua and S1.5OD.0OO tn
CostE hicR. In net amount pald for work was
E24O7 900. and S2.50N.UOO was now in the
hands Of outside parties. Al obligations would
be redeemed by the company il Congress would
purchase their rights. concessions. &c. for
100000. BE presented four reasons why the
Nicaragua route was better than the Panama
route. Ii is through q healthier country. is
more direct. has & great lake for a feeder. and
the abundant rainfall guarantees q steady sup
ply Of water.
Mr, l. Wilson Of New York. counsel for the
Comra ~. spoke this afternoon. de e1 plalned
th- different concessions given the company.
with q view Of proving that the company had Il
clear title to 81 extension Of the concession
from Nicaragua. The concession from Costa
kica had about six years to run
Several member Of the committee oues-
toned him closely regarding the concession 10
Government had no special love for this syudi-
cate. but had merely seized the opportunity TO
again sell the concession. He was asked II II
were not true that the mem bers o! the Supreme
Cpurt Of Nicaragua had been approached on the
matter OF the Grace concession and had BlEnl-
fed their opinion that the concession would be
rElnB ble. even before the concession was
granted. He said they might have done so as
individuals. but the court had never passed
uuon the concession.
The point was then made that il the United
EtBtes should purchase the Maritime Com
pauys claims. assets. &c. IL would have to sub
nit To arbitration To find IL the concession
should be extended. and IL would have arrayed
against ii and in favor OF the Grace syndieaJe's
claim tbs executive. legislative and judicial
authority Of Nicaragua. Nh. Wilson was COM
PEELED 70 indirectly admit this 10 be true.