The age-herald., 1900-01-18
MORGAN 'SREPORT
 ON CANAL BILL Indispensable For Naval and
 Military Defense, VERY CONVINCING ARGUMENT Incoq 1in Reimburse Nation sln Thirty Years. NFS ,ITY IS NO LONGER DEBATED
 Alabama Senator Will Make tho l Report For the Committee Tos day-Great Britain Will Offer l No Objection
E s,ITY IS NO LONGER DEBATED

Washington, January 17-(special.)-sen4 ator Morgans report on the Nicaraguah canal will be presented tomorrow The re- port Is voluminous, and says in part:
 ''The necessity of a ship canal through the Isthmus of Darien is no longer debated by congress or among the people. The opening of the Suez canal made a corre- spending gateway through the Darien isth- mus necessary to complete the worlds commercial geography. It establishes the most direct navigation line between the seaports of every nation from ocean to ocean.
 "The canal is indispensable for the naval and military defense of our country, whether insular or continental. The closer its location to the Gulf states nhe more ef- ficient is Its protection to our coasts.
 Pearl Harbor and San Juan are true military defenses of the canal against tho attack of European or Asiatic powers, af- fording a more secure protection of tho eastern and western outlets than fertresses being located near connection ito the sea. The canal will be the bond of peace secu- rity for the world.
 Beyond all resources, it Is certain that the canals income will reimburse the cost within thirty years. Measured by the Suez canal income alt corresponding cost the Nicaraguan canal should yield. with equiv- aient tolls at least 12 per cent. on s1400O0,5 GOO. The opportunity of reducing tolls Oh ships plying back and forth between the oceans would give our vessels in coastwise trade a saving of such voyage say from New York to San Francisco, 10000 miles, CT more than three times the distance across the Atlantic.
 Ut is not necessary to make further ex- animation of the canal route from Breto Greytown to determine the feasibility, safe- ty or cost of the canal for largest vessels. The upper limit cost of the canal Is $140+ GOO. ,O00; the lowest SEQ, OOO000. Between these margins the security is as absolute as forecast or skilled engineering can pros vide in advance.
 'i.rr1he canals capacity will be greater than that of any canal in the world. The Darien isthmus was carefully explored by many able engineers and geographers, and the Nicaraguan route and Panama route excluded all others.
 Examined With Great Care
 "No great work of this character was ever examined with greater care or surveys ed with greater accuracy in advance of acA tual construction. There is no element of uncertainty to justify further delay. Even if the Panama route was found prefera- ble because of cost there are other nsur- mountable difficulties. Panama's water system Is precarious, its use under the Panama plan is a hazardous experi- ment. The winds of Panama are unfavora- ble for sailing vessels which carry most of our coastwse traffic.
 "The distance between the Pacific ter- mnal of the Nicaraguan and Panama ca- nals is six hundred and fifty miles, or thir- teen hundred in both directions. The sail- ing difference between Panama and San Francisco is 5,350 miles; between Nicara- qua and San Francisco, 3,240. The differ- ence in time is fourteen days sailing, and five days for steam vessels.
 Should we build the canal through the Panama route, and Nicaragua or Costa Rlca opened d canal through Nicaragua. 1t would cut our line communication If two canals are cut through the isthmus, one must be under American control There is no reason for delay through fear of making mistake or hope for cheaper route through Panama. One great fact is the people of France who sank three hum dred millions in the Panama canal will not fail ito place claims for reeoupment when We shall have taken part of the work cre- ated by their money and made them paving property. Without positive guarantee from France that this will not be done which France will not give, would be extremely embarrassing to us not to have fleet of marshps corresponding in magnitude to our interests. The Pacific fleet should equal our Atlantic fleet. That would greatly ex. ceed the cost of the canal
 With the canal open, we can guard our interests and double our sea power win. out building another ship.
 ''The canal should be open, free and neu. tral to all nations as is the Suez Neutral, ity can best be arranged by treaty.
 The bill creates no vested rights bevond control.
 The continuance of the present WaIJser commission Is advantageous in giving facta confirming the wisdom of the measure or. or error in time to prevent harm.
 'If we ever begin the work we should provide the means for it. When that IA done efforts to obstruct the waterway4 creation will cease"
 In connection with the report 1t fs of much interest to note, too that 1t is un- deretood that Great Britain will offer no objection to our construction of the canal. Some time ago it was so understood but our boundary difficulty with Canada inter< fered. Now, it is believed, it will not. .S