Arizona republican., 1900-12-26

fuse an extensive influence on the af-
 fairs of mankind
 Following this, T. H. Williams,
 charge daffairs of the United States to
 the republic of Central America, was
 instructed to investigate and report ! upon the matter which he did at once,
 and in lS26 a contral=t was entered into
 between the republic of Central Amer
 lea and A. H. Palmer, of New York. | for the construction of Nicaragua
 canal. With A. H. Palmer were asso-
 c.alted De Witt Clinton governor of
 New York and builder of the Eaie ca
 nal; Stephen Van Renslllaier, also of | New York, and many other of the most prominent citizens of this country. The estimates, however, only called for
 a capital of five millions and the enter l prise was a failure.
 NETHERLANDS INTERESTED. So evident, however. were the merits
 of the project. that upon the failure of
 the American enterprise in 1928 the King of the Netherlands at once took it
 uo and sent Gen. Von Veer to Nicara
 qua as envoy plen.potentiary ito treai: for concessions with the republic of Central America. A decree was passed by the congress of the latter republic authorizing the construction of a canal
 by an association formed meanwhile in the Netherlands. The Unite1 States was watching the project, however.
 and instructed its charge d'afflaires in
 1881 to press the claims of this country
 for all privileges under its treaty
 rights.
 President Jackson in May, 1892, ap-
 pointed Chas H. Riddle, of Philadel-
 phia, d special agent to investigate and
 procure all possible data on the Nica- ragua canal. Riddle, however, went to Panama and opened negotiations for a canal there. in which he was to secure large interest. He then returned to the United States and died shortly af- terwar1 His report unintentionally showed that the Panama route was not practicable or feasible.
 One year later the principal mer- chants of New York an1 Philadelphia memoriahzed congress on tha canal project. which resulted in a resolution to have the president open negotiations . With Nicaragua for the inter-oceanlc canal, but nothing was done.
 The question rema;ned in abeyance for six years, or until 1S40, when Pres ident Van Buren sent John L. Stephens to Central America to investigate and report. The report was confidential and was n'ci. given to congress until ten years later, in 1850, when Chairman Rockwell, of the house committee on in,tr-oceania communication, quoted it at length. But als Central America was undergoing a series of revolutions. capitalists would not invest in such a gigantic enterprise.
 THE CLAYTON-BULWE TREATY.
 About ti:ts 'time Great BriEal.n took possession of San Juan de Nicaragua, which is now Greytown, and s.t up a prJ'a=ctora-e over the Mosquito Indian reservation. Later she was forced to get out, but this country, perceiving the danger of delay, made treaty to secure control of the Nicaragua inter oceanic canal and to protect Nicara- qua. This treaty was never ratified, | and the diseussion finally resulted in 1854 ir, the famous Clayton Bulwer | treaty between the United States and 1 Grcat Britain
 In the meantime Cclne1us Wander ttlt and some associates had secured conlceEEfon fer tIae American Atlantic | and Pacific Ship Canal company, which | surveyed the route, and. although it | cid no work upon the canal, established | a line of ships on the San Juan river and lake Nicaragua. This line is still | in operation Next to take up the great project was General U. s. Grant He was interested in 1866 by Capt. Aunnon, of the United States navy (afterward admiraD, and, in reference to the sub ject, General Grant wrote a letter to Rear Admiral Davis, in which the fol- lowing expressions occurred:,
 "Alluding to the interest which | have heretofore expressed in favor of canal to connect the Atlantic and Pa cific oceans I fully believe the scheme practical, and if it is, there is no doubt but that in this age the work will be done. l regard it as of vast import ance to this country that no European country should hold such work
 General Grant succeeded in securing an appropriation in 1869 for surveys, and the several routes sugge sted at va rious times were carefully examined. The commission reported in 1876, its route was the most practical and eco n0mical. Congress adjourned before the report was considered and it was not taken up beforc 1879.
 FRANCE AND PANAMA.
 In tine meantime, France had ob- tained a c0nc5 ssior for the Panama ca nal, and a congress was held in Paris to discuss the best route. Upon the report of the United States delegates a committee of eleven was appointed to select the best route, and discussed the matter from 1880 to 1881. During this time the Intcroceanic Canal soci- ety was organized with such men as General U. s. Grant, Captain s. l.. Phelps, Admiral Aunnoir, General E. r. Beale, Levi P. Morton and others. En- gineer Menocal. for the society, went to Nicaragua, and secured most favor able concessions from President Car denas, which the Nica.agua congress ratified.
 The United States congrc ss then took a hand and passed resolution after re- olution on the canaA matter. Bills We're introduced which were referred