The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1900-04-14
THE CANAL RIGHT Of NAY
NEGOTIATE MS ARE CONCLUDED
re Lease . sEiO 81 LAAa Tea miles
Wids-ceastisusisa % ths nepis-
Hes FreAihis the ssalias % Fsnxs-
tory wantsa-TAs AAmsnastrassea
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tory wantsA-Ths AAminassrassen
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WAshingtSn. April Io.-An official Il
the administration IL Authority for thu
statement that arrangements have been
practically concluded with the govern
ments Of Costa RieA and NIcaraguA Cor the
aequiaition by the United States Of strip
Of territory 10 miles wide between Grey
town and Brito, through which the Vicar.
agoa canal viii be constructed. There ara
certain diplomatic phases Of the neROtia.
tons yet TO be perfected, bat IL 10 under.
stood that these are rather matters Of do
tail than Of principle. Rear Admiral ,. q.
Walker, president Of the isthmiAa canal
eommis1iOn, sounded the Central Anna.
lean governments a. to the action they
would take in the event Of formal prOpo-
sition from this government looking TO the
acquisition of the necessary territory, and
the answers he received were generAiy Of
a very satisfactory character.
The action taken looking to the acuuis;.
t'on OF the necessary territory was inftia-
ted Immediately after thu submisu;cn Of
the Hay-Pauneefote treaty to the senate
and when it looked as though there would
be no delay in accomplishing ratification.
The administration IL now disposed not
to move 80 hastily, 20 that 1t Is difficult
70 say when agreements win be hnallx
signed looking TO the transfer 10 Amer
can control Of the necessary territorv
across the isthmua.
The determination Of the president to
secure control Of Costa Riean and NIcsra.
guan territory indicates that sitter eoasuI.
tAtion with members Of the isthmian com.
mission he came TO the conelunion that
that body would undoubtedly recommend
the construction Of the NicarAguan rather
than the Panama canal
1t Il stated that the commission win In
ali probability recommend to eonRr..,
that it adopt the Walker route. favorahlv
reported by the Walker Nieara9uan cansI
commission modified slightly to take I'd.
vantage Of new discoveries made by the
surveying party now there.
Rear Admiral Walker visited ManaRua
and San jose, and had very aatisfAetory
interviews with President Zelaya ana
President TgiesiaA In view Of the fact
that to construct the canal it win be nee
essary to build railroads and other apuli.
Ances, Rear Admiral Walker considered n
desirable 70 obtain i've miles on each side
Of the route Of the proposed canal and at
least three miles on the southern shore Of
Lake NicaraguA-
The Nicaragua and Costa Rican govern.
ments seemed to think that three miles ea
each side of the line was sufficient, but The
rear admiral finally prevailed upon them
to accept his view. 1t vas pointed out To
him, however, that there vas one insupera-
Die obstacle in the way Of the eeaaion Of
territory. The constitutions Of Costa Rica
aud Nicaragua prohibit them from alienat.
ing any Of their territory.
No difficulty will be experienced how.
ever, Is shown by the information com.
municated BY Rear Admiral Walker to
the authorities, in obtaining control Of thu
necessary strip of territory. While the
two governments are prohibited from dis
posing of their territory, il il Understood
they have indicated that an indefinite
lease can be granted to the United STATE.
Costa Rica has nobly come to the front
IN this matter. She has entered into M
conventions or contracts which will affect
IN any way any concession abe may make
to the United StateS The Maritime Canal
eompany's concession is now said to b
terminable at any time at the pleasure Of
the Costa Re1n government Nicaragua
Is said TO have certain concessions which
are terminable upon request, but they
will not stand in the way Of the eonstrucA
ton Of the canal by this government.
There is some talk OF the MAnaRuan row
eminent demanding in consideration for
the REIMBURSEMENT Of the control Of q
strip Of territory to the United States co.,
tain concessions.
Costa Rica has. however, according b
information which has reached here from
San jose, given her hearty consent to the
proposition TO transfer the necessary TER.
ritoFy to the control Of the United States.
though she will not relinquiAh sovereignty
over it, and she has promised her coop
Grafton in the mAintenaDce Of the canal.
There i reason TO believe that Rear
Admiral Walker prOpounded certain ques.
tons to the Colombian government, but
what their character il the anthorities de-
cline 10 state. II is understood they cover
contingencies growing out Of the posnibls
purchase of the Panama canal By the
United Statea. but the information OBJ
tanned from the Bogota authorities IL not
considered as important a. that which Ad.
miral Walker got from Costa Rica and
Nicaragua
There are 1900 men at work on the Pan
anna canal and progress IL bsing made,
though slowly, in constructing the water
way, The isthmiAn canal Commission has
surveying party on the Panama water
way checking up the work done By the
company and making borings 10 ascertain
the difficulties remaining 10 be overcome.
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