Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-18

Ricn will give their consent for the
construction of this great work"
After reviewing the several surveys,
the report Continues:
These reports above referred to- the
opinions of the engineers and scientists
believed to be entirely competent for
their work. justify your committee in
recommending that undertaking of the
enterprise as one that is entirely prac-
ticable, and that can be completed for
sum of money the expenditure of
which will be WISE
ESTIMATES OF COST.
at is true that the estimates OF cost
are variable. ranging as they do from
less than forty million dollars to a nos
sible one hundred and forty-tiye mill
lion dollars. 1t is however, proper to
say that the size and character OF the
canal estimated for is as variable as is
the cost. Fifteen feet depth and fifty
feet width was the size OF the earlier
project. Thirty, feet depth ana one bun
dred feet width are the dimensions or
the later proposed canal.
our committee suggests in discuss
ing the cash enumeration that will
come to the United States from the
ownership OF this canal estimates only
can be made"
ANNUAL TONNAGE.
Gentlemen conhectcd with the Mari
time Canal COMPANY gave it as their
opinion that tive. pr six millions of tom
mage would be the amount that would
pass through the danal annually.
AT present $l.55 per ton is the toll
charged for the use Of the Suez Canal.
II that rate was the rate charged ut
the Nicaragua Canal and four millions
be the tonnage passing through it. AN
aggregate sum of more than six mill
Nn
is estimated that the cost OF maintain
ing and operating the canal would be
one million dollars annually.
QUESTION OF CLAIMS.
Your committee are aware that
there are number or persons who
claim to have concessions from the
government OF Nicaragua ana Costa
Rica investing them with rights TO
navigate the San Juan river and Lake
Nicaragua. Other claims TO be author
ized, 10 construct this great water
way connecting the two oceans. But
1t Is believed by your committee that
these rights have either lapsed or are
OF inconsderable value, or have been
obtained for speculative purposes.
However this may be. IT should be the
purpose OF the government to deal di-
rectly with the government OF Mica
rngua and Costa Rica. Those govern
ments can adjust all questions growing
out OF these concessions much more
easily than the United States
THE WORLDS NyERCE.
We want our share le worlds
commerce and to secur<NSs 1--WE must
have all the utilities thaN y possible.
Nor can we expect to nr share
the most f intense sl1 ri1ary thla i co%
merce on the part OF the commercial
nations. And our rivals wili,use all
political. commercial Influences and
diplomacy, with all of It's arts; men
acing, perhaps, to drive as out of the
field.
NOT BOUND BY Treaty.
There are persons whf say that we
are bound by treaty stJulations with
the government OF GreatlBritaiu to re-
train from carrying out Ehis great en-
terprise. This statementiwc do not be-
lieve. We recognize the ifact that fifty
years ago the United St}tcs and Great
Britain entered into an alliance to Sc
cure the building of the Nicaragua ca
nal. Any person who jlispassonately
studies carefully that tr4aty must come
to the conclusion that the primary
stipulations i'll the Clay H}n- Bulver CON
vcntion looked to the inlnediatc build
ms OF canal under thf iniluence that
might be eNerted by TIE two govern
ments, rather than 10 d prohibition of
either to build it."
After quoting the treaty the report
goes on:
No one can read that article without
concluding that titr ,tiJ.-. mt G.tr,.ri
contemplated was an undertaking early
10 be completed through the kindly aid
OF the two governments. Great Britain
has allowed fifty years TO clapse with
out any movement on her part to carry
out the provisions OF that article 1t
has been a dead letter from the day
the treaty was signed 10 the present
time.
OUR CoAsTwIsE TRADE.
THE last fifty years has wrought q
remarkable change in our relation 10 n
waterway crossing the Isthmus. Eigh-
teen hundred and fifty was only four
years removed from our first occupa-
ton OF California. Nbt more than 10. :
600 Inhabitants wer4 on the Pacific
coast. Our coastwlsf trade with that
coast was insignificant in value and
amount Now We linke millions OF citi-
Zens living on that coast. we have
hundreds of millions OF commerce.: we
have thousands of millions OF wealth.
We have acquired Alaska. Hawaii. the
Philippine Islands There is no com
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