The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-13
FAVORABLE REPORT ON CANAL
Appropriation of S14o,O0O,OOO Fol
Ditch Across Nicaragua

Ditch Across Nicaragua
Washington, Jan. 1.-THE house COM
mittee on interstate and foreign COM
merce today ordered a favorable re-
port upon the Hepburn bill for the con-
struction of the Ni2araguan canal The
bill is practically the same one re-
ported by this committee in the last
/ congress.
There was some discussion about the
I advisability Of delaying action on the
bill until the iathmian canal commits
] sion reported. but this was finally re,
garded as unnecessary and all the mem.
. bers except Mr.. Fletcher of Mississippi
voted to report the bill favOrably The
latter said his silence should not be
l construed "a opposition to the measure,
but merely as a reservation of his right
to support or oppose if after further
[ consideration.
The committee made some changes in
the original bill. inserting q new section
8. and making verbal alterations. As
/ finally agreed to the bin is az follows:
ITO provide for the construction Of
/ canal connecting the waters of the At
/ lantic and Pacific oceans.
BE it enacted, etc. that the president
/ of the United States be and is hereby
authorized to acquire from the states
I of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, for and
/ in behalf of the United States. control
of such portion of territory now belong
ing to Costa Rica and Nicaragua as
may be desirable and necessary on
which to excavate, construct and de-
fend a canal of such depth and capac-
ity as viii be sufficient for he move
ments Of ships Of the greatest tonnage
and draft now in use, from a point near
I GTeytOwn on the caribbean sea via lake
/ Nicaragua to BretO on the Pacific
/ ocean: and such sum as may be neces-
sary to secure such control is hereby
appropriated out Of any money in the
t treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Section 2; that when the president
( has secured full control over the terri
/ tory in section ] referred to, ne shall
/ direct the secretary of war to exca-
/ vate and construct a canal and water
| way from point on the shore Of the
I caribbean sea, near GreytOwn, by way
] Of Nicaragua to a point near BTetO, on
/ the Pacific ocean. Such canal shall be
/ of sufficient capacity and depth as that
l it may be used by vessels of the largest
! tonnage and greatest depth now in use
and shall be supplied with all necessary
/ locks ana other appliances to meet the
/ necessities of vessels passing from
/ GreytOwn to BretO, and the secretary
! of war shall also construct such safe
/ and conmodious harbors at the termini
/ of said canal and such fortified tons for
/ defense as viii be required for safety
/ and protection Of said canal and har-
/ bors
Section .; that the president shall
cause such surveys as may be necessary
/ for said canal and harbors and in the
! constructing Of the same.
Section 4; that in the excavation
| and construction of said canal the San
/ Juan river and lake Nicaragua or such
parts Of each as may De made available
shall be used.
Section 5; that in any negotiations
with the states Of Costa Rica and Mic
aragua the president is authorized to
/ guarantee TO 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 s; that the sum Of s14O. 900. =
/ coo or 80 much thereof az may be nee
/ essary. is hereby appropriated out Of
/ any money in the treasury not other
/ wise appropriated. for the completion
! 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
I based on estimates made and verified
/ by the chief engineer in charge of the
/ work and approved by the secretary OF
war"