Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-02-18

WASHINGTON, February IL
Chairman Hepburn, of the House COM
mittee on Interstate and foreign
commerce, to-day submitted the report
of the committee in favor of the Hep
burn bill for constructing the Nicara-
qua canal. The report says in part:
'If the provisions OF the bill can
be carried out the United States will
within few years from six to eight
be in full ownership and control OF
that it can defend and that it can use
In the interest Of its navy and Its mer-
chant marine as wisdom may dictate.
There seems to be but little doubt
that the States Of Nicaragua and Costa
RIGA will give their consent for the
construction of this great work. Those
States are friendly disposed toward
our government and our people and
have interests connected with 1t that
are in proportion to wealth and pop
ulation even greater than ours. 1t
will traverse either the border or the
interior OF Nicaragua for a distance
of about 1910 miles. It will give to
that State waterway from It's capital
and It's most productive region to the
sea. 1t will place that country on one
OF the great waterways OF the world,
bringing 1t into immediate contact
with a large foreign commerce. and
those who conduct 1t. The splendid
soil and climate OF their agricultural
regions will be seen and known in
such a way as to compel immigration,
settlement and largely increased pro-
duction. In very many ways the State
will have advantages not now pos
sessed, aud that will be for o long
time lost IL another route by which
the oceans are connected should lie
adopted. All of these considerations
induce the belief that these two en-
lightened States will be glad to aid
our government cordially and efficient
ly in carrying out this great design"
After reviewing the several surveys
the report continues:
These reports above referred to. the
opinions of the engineer and scientists
Believed to be Entirely Competent
for their work, justify your committee
In recommending the undertaking OF
the enterprise as one that is entirely
practicable and that can be completed
for a sum of money, the expenditure
OF which will be wise.
1T is true that the estimates Of cost
are variable, ranging as they do from
less than $4,000, 900 to possible $145,-
100000. 1t is, however, proper TO say
that the size and character of the canal
estimated for Is as variable as Is the
cost. The earliest estimates were for
a canal suited to the ships Of the time.
The later estimates are for ships OF
this time. Fifteen feet depth and fifty
feet width was the size of the earlier
project Thirty feet depth and one
hundred and fifty feet wide are the
dimensions of the later proposed canal.
Your committee suggests in discus
sing the cash remuneration that will
come to the United States from the
ownership of this canal, estimates only
can be made, and there has been great
difference of opinion expressed by per-
sons who have come before the COM
this subject as to the extent of the use
that would be made Of the canal by the
shipping of the world One gentleman
has said that in his judgment not more
than three hundred thousand tons
would pass through the canal annually
Another has said that eleven million
tons would pass through the canal
Gentlemen connected with the mari
time canal company give 1t as their
opinion that FIVE or six millions of tom
mage would be the amount that would
pass through the canal annually. OF
course we have the right 70 assume
that whatever the amount be ii
Would BE an Increasing Amount
from year 70 year. At present s155
per ton is charged for the use OF the
Suez canal II that was the rate
charged at the Nicaragua canal and
four millions be the tonnage passing
through it, an aggregate sum of more
than six million dollars would be the
receipts. It's estimated cost OF main
tanning and operating the canal would
be one million dollars annually. II
the United tSates borrowed the money
TO invest in the enterprise, this sum
would pay the annual interest, the
cost of maintaining and operating, and
leave a surplus of more than a mil
lion dollars. And, with the increasing
tonnage we might reasonably hope for
such accumulations OF surplus as
would in a few years fully reimburse
the government for It's outlay. Or IL
it should be the merchant marine, II
could be made a most powerful factor
A British vessel trading from any port
in Great Britain TO Hong Kong, chart
ering a six thousand ton vessel and
using the Suez canal must pay as tolls
q sum in excess Of eighteen thousand
dollars for the round voyage His
American rival trading from New York
to Hong Kong. using the Nicaragua
canal free OF toll because he used a
vessel made in an American shipyard
out Of American material and by Amer
lean labor, and loaded with American
merchandise, would possess marked
advanta advantages so marked as
to make his interest to stimulate
American shipbuilding.