New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-26

from that day until ms 0eatn, last year. he
ave his best thought TO the canal. General
r-ant on leaving Office to take up the cues
.ion actively; the reasons which prevented are
,o,,n 10 all Ammen associated with him tho
of7cers who had been on the isthmus, as well as
others who had studied the subject in all its
hearings The names Of many of these men
have since become famous; among them were
Cantains Taylor Evans and Crowninshield Adj
ynirals Walker Selfridge and Casey, Lieutenants
u H Brownson. Z. II. c. Leutze and MANY
others; prominent civilians also interested them
selves in the enterprise while Secretaries Of
state and Of the Navy became fascinated with
the project Of joining the two oceans Each and
all believed that every element of doubt had
been eliminated from the Nicaragua problem.
hut as minor objections were advanced further
surveys were made which reduced the original
estimate of cost Unfortunately the failure at
Panama although distinctly foretoId. cast a
shadow on all canal projects.
The Government was not ready TO act. the
period was Of stagnation in all seafaring mat
ters; money and public attention were drawn
10 internal improvements: England had become
the sea carrier Of the world, and in 1879 OBJ
tanned control Of the Suez Canal after decryng
its necessity. Ammen and his co-workers en-
deavored for ten years, through the press to
awaken public interest Literature on the sub
ject sbounded. In 1855 the active cooperation
Of certain gentlemen distinguished in various
walks Of life enlisted After a thorough in
vestigation Of the commercial value of the en-
terprise a concession obtained from Nicara-
qua, in April, 1887 and subsequently one from
Costa Rica. The concessions were transferred
10 a corporation known as the Maritime Canal
Company of Nicaragua 1t first obtained a Yer
mont charter, and subsequently, in 1889. one
from Congress. On May t. 1889 Hiram Hitch
cock was elected president and has held the
position since. The Congressional incorpo-
rators were Frederick Billings, Charles P Daily
Daniel Ammen, Francis A. Stout Horace L.
Hotchkiss. Edward F. Beale, Hiram Hitchcock
{. Rdgley Goodwin a. c. Cheney. ]. F.
O'Shaughnessy. H. c. Taylor, ]. w Miller, A. S
Crowninshield: A. G. Menocal Charles H. Steb-
bins, I. Harrison Garrett, Jules Aldge, r. A
Lancaster, Alfred E. Mills, Gustav z. Kissell
Horace Fairbanks. George H. Robinson. Alfred
B. Darling, Joseph T. Mcdonald James Roose-
welt, Christian Devries, Frederick F. Thomson
Henry A. Parr, Henry r. Hoyt. Robert Sturgis
seph Bryan and Seniors H Guznan representing
Nicaragua, and p. p. Zeedon representing
Costa Rica.
OBSTACLES AND sETBACKs.
During the negotiations with Nicaragua and
Costa Rica many diplomatic and legal questions
arose, which required the services of eminent
lawyers The relations between Central A1neri-
can republics were strained; the boundary lines
were indefinite. Nicaragua objected to Costa
Rica granting concession Both republics ap-
pealed to President Cleveland to settle the ques-
ton of the boundary line The Maritime Com
pany, through its counsel, Judge Daily and his
legal associates furnished much valuable data
concerning the Spanish laws. Revolutions oc-
CURED on the isthmus which caused delays and
expense. How many delays and how much ex-
pense the world may never know. The old fran
chses remaining since the Vanderbilt transit
days had TO be brought into the fold. Foreign
adventurers seeking a footing in Nicaragua and
Costa Rica were forever attempting to over
throw the prestige of the United States in those
republics. 1t was beginning to dawn upon
tain Frenchrnen that few francs had been
wasted at Panama, and that it would be we'll to
combine the two interests. The bait was adroit-
ly presented to the company, but refused,
as were many others which might cause the en-
terprise TO drift out Of American hands. War
ner Miller travelled through the South and
West enlisting public support. while others ad-
dressed scientific bodies and chambers of COM
throughout the United States Resolu-
tons in favor Of the canal and memorials to
Congress followed, and eight hundred per-
sons in different sections subscribed TO the Sc
curities.
Through the medium Of a construction COM
pany large force was employed between the
years 1887 and 1892 in Nicaragua to resurvey
the Lull route and TO examine all territory
tributary the lake and the San Juan. It's
duty was TO locate the canal definitely and TO
silence forever the and absurd criticisms
which from time TO time had sprung up Tela-
graph lines were built the harbor of Greytown
opened, shops and hospitals constructed, the
river steamers were bought, dredging
started IN the canal back of Greytown a rail-
road was begun, and perfected maps many
level and transit lines finished. These maps
have never been equaled work of similar
magnitude. They showed every possible route
from the San Carlos River to the Caribbean as
well axial lines the Tow level" and high
level" routes, extending through the thirty miles
back Of Greytown, and the cost Of dams and
locks was computed Never has such thorough
preliminary work been done. The Maritime
Company submitted its plans to board of
pertS, which pronounced them conservative.
The estimate of 100000 has not been ques
toned by any competent authority. Walker has
ures, having made the canal deeper and the
curves less. Competent contractors were ready
six years ago to complete the canal on the COM
pany's figures. During all this time the officers
and Board Of Directors received the confidence
Of the stockholders. and the financial credit of
the Maritime Company has always been main
tanned.
PATRIOTISM AND ECONOMY.
AS soon as the corporation became the child
Of the Government its Board of Directors recog-
nized the fact that it was more than ever
responsible to the country for it's actions
Since Mr.. Blaine was Secretary of State
each succeeding Administration has requested
that no foreign influence should tempt the
Maritime Company TO take any step which
might prevent America from controlling the
canal That request has been scrupulously
complied with. a contract, however, was made
with a construction company, headed by War
uer Miller 10 build a canal, the Government
interest being most carefully protected rms
latter corporation had nearly competed an
its arrangements when the panic of 1888 oc-
Cured 1t then went into the hands or a
receiver. A new construction company, caleu
The Nicaragua was formed and obtained what
ever assets the former held. 1t has been man
aged with the utmost economy no salaries .iar