The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1900-01-19
NIcARAGUAN CANAL.
The House Committee on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce orders
Favorable Report on Bill.

Washington, Jan. 13.-The house
committee on naval affairs Friday de
cided 10 favorably report the bill au
thorizing the secretary of the navy 70
change the material of the new dry
docks at League Island. Pa, and Mare
Island, Cal, from timber 10 stone, at
a total additional cost of the two dry
docks of 100000.
The house committee on interstate
ard foreign commerce Friday order
ed a favorable report upon the Hep
burn bill for the construction of the
Nicaragua canal The bill is prac-
tically the same as reported by this
committee in the last congress. There
was some discussion about the advis-
ability of delaying action on the bill
until the Isthmian canal commission
reported, but this was finally regard
ed as unnecessary, and all the mem
bers, except Mr.. Fletcher, of Mime
sofa, voted 60 report the bill favor
ably. The latter said his silence
should not be construed as opposition
to the measure. but merely as a res
ervation of his right 10 support or
oppose IL after further consideration.
The committee made some changes
in the original bill. inserting a new
section 3 and making verbal altera'
tions. AS finally agreed TO, the bill
is as follows:
To provide for the construction OF
a canal connecting the waters of the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
BE il enacted. etc,
That the president of the United
States be, and is hereby authorized
10 acquire from the states of Costa
lsica and Nicaragua. for and in behalf
of the United States control of such
portion of territory now belonging
TO Costa Rica ard Nicaragua as may
be desirable and necessary on which
70 excavate, construct and defend a
canal of such depth and compacity as
will be sufficient for the movements
of ships of the greatest tonnage and
draft now ia use, from a point near
Greytown, on the caribbean sea, via |
Lake Nicaragua 10 Breto, on the Pa
cific ocean; and such sums as may be |
necessary TO secure such control are |
hereby appropriated out of any |
money in the treasury not otherwise |
Section THAT when the president !
has secured control over the territory
in Section l referred 10, he shall di-
rect the secretary of war 10 excavate
and construct a canal waterway from
a point on the shore of the Caribbean
sea, near Greytown. by way of Lake
10 a point near Breto, on
the Pacific ocean. Such canal shall
be of sufficient capacity and depth a.
that IL may be used by vessels of the
largest tonnage and greatest depth
now in use, and shall be supplied
with all necessary locks and other APP
pliances TO meet the necessities OF
vessels passing from Greytown 10
Breto; and the secretary of war shall
also construct such safe and commo-
dious harbOrs at the termini of said
canal and such fortifications for de-
tense as will be required for safety
and protection of said canal and har-
bors.
Section 3-That the president shall
cause such surveys as may be neces-
sary for said canal and harbors, and
in the constructing of the same.
Section 4.-That in the excavation
and construction of the said canal,
the San Juan river and Lake Mica
ragua, or such parts of each as may
be made available, shall be used.
5.-That in any negotia-
tions w1rh-+he states of Costa Rica or
Nicaragua, the PRESIDENT may have,
the president is authorized TO guar
antee 20 said states the use of said
canal and harbors upon such terms
as may be agreed upon, for all vessels
owned by said states or by citizens
thereof.
Section 6.-That the use of S140,-
100000 or so much thereof as may be
necessary is hereby appropriated out
of any money in the treasury not
otherwise appropriated for the COM
pletion of the work herein authorized.
said money TO be drawn from the
treasury from time TO time as the
same shall be needed, upon warrants OF
the president based on estimates
made and verified by the chief en-
gineer in charge of the work and ap,
proved by the secretary Of war.