The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-18
VIII Which England Would
brighten Our People.
REPORT ON HtPBU 9N B IL
FATORING CONSTRUCTION OF
NICARAGUA CANAL.
CLAYroN-BULwER TREATY NO OBSTACLE
And i it Were the DEMANDS Made by Changed
Conditions Are Now UGH That Il
Should be Repealed by
the People.

the People.
Washington, Feb. 17.-Chairman Hep
burn Of the House Committee on Inter
State and Foreign Commerce, today sub
mittcd the report of the committee in
favor of the Hepburn Bill for construct
ing the Nicaragua Canal, Til, report
says in part:
If theprovis;onS Of the bill can be
carried out the United States Will, with
in a few years (from six to eight be in
full ownership and control of a waterway
connecting the oceans that it can defend
and use in the interests OF its navy and
its merchant marine as wisdom may die
tate.
There seems to be but little doubt that
the States of Nicaragua and Costa Rca
will give their consent for the conStruc-
ton Of this great work"
After reviewing the several surveys,
the report continues:
The reports above referred to, the
opinions of the engineers and scientists
believed TO be entirely competent for
their work, justify your committee in re-
commencing the Undertaking of the en-
Ieiprise as one that .Sis entirely practical
BILE md thar can be completed for n
sum OF money, the expenditure Of which
Will be wise.
1T is true that the estimates Of cost
are variable, ranging as they do from
less than 40,00O,0O0 dollars to a possible
145.0U0,000 dollars. 1t is, however. prep
er 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 pro-
ject. Thirty feet depth and one hundred
feet width are the Dimensions of the later
proposed canal.
Your committee suggests that in dis
cussing the cash remuneration that will
come to the United States from the own
erShip Of this canal estimates only can be
made.
TIE CANAL WILL PAY.
Gentlemen connected with the Mari
time Canal Company gave it as their
opinion that five or six millions of ton
mage would be the amount that would
pass through the canal annually. AT
present 81 80 per ton is the toll charged
for the use of the Suez Canal. If that
qua Canal and four millions should be
the tonnage passing through it, an agGre-
gate sum of more than six million dollars
would be the receipts. 1t is estimated
that the cost of maintaining and operat-
ing the canal would be one million dol
lars annually.
Your committee are aware that there
are q number of persons who claim to
have concessions from the Governments
Of Nicaragua and Costa Rica investing
them with rights to navigate the San
Juan River and Lake Nicaragua. Others
claim TO be authorized to construct this
great waterway connecting the two
oceans. But it is believed by your com.
mittee thai these rights have either laps
ed or are of inconsiderable value, or hay
been obtained for speculative purposes.
However this may be, it should be the
purpose Of the Government TO deal direct
" with the Government Of Nicara qua and
Costa Rica. Those Governments can
adjust all question growing out of these
concessions more easily than the United
States.
I'VE want our share of the world 9
commerce and to secure it we must have
all the utilities that are possible. Nor
can we expect TO get our share without
fierce struggles. There is now thu
most intense rivalry for this commerce
on the part of commercial nations. And
our rivals will use all political, com
mercial influences and diplomacy with
all of its arts, menacing us, perhaps, To
drive US out Of the field.
NOT BOUND BY TREATY.
There are persons who say that We
are bound, by treaty stipulations with
the Government of Great Britain to re-
frain from carrying out this great en-
terprise. This statement we do not be-
lieve. We recognize the fact that 80
years ago the United States and Great
Britain entered into an alliance to se-
cure the building of tho Nicaragua
Canal Amy person who dispassionately
studies carefully that treaty must come
to the conclusion that the primary stip-
ulations in the Cayton-Butwer conven-
ton looked TO the immediate building
of canal under the influence that
might be exerted by the two Govern
ments, rather than to prohibition Of
either to build it.
After quoting the treaty the report
goes on:
NO one can read that article without
concluding that the Nicaragua Canal con-
templated was an undertaking early TO
be completed through the kindly aid of
the two Governments. Great Britain
has allowed 80 years to- elapse without
tsrv rooxo,eo,,t. IN hnr mart to sar,-y OyIt