Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-12
The Nicaraaua end.

of the American people, of which II
was the official expression.
The features of this measure have
already been summarized in our news
columns. 1t authorizes the President
Ito acquire from the states or costa
Rica and Nicaragua for and in behalf
of the United States" such territory
as may be necessary to construct and
protect a canal of sufficient depth 10
admit of the passage of ships OF the
greatest tonnage and draft from a
point near Greytown on the Caribbean
sea. via Lake Nicaragua to Breto on
the Pacific ocean," This work is to be
under the direction of the secretary of
war and suitable appropriations are
made to carry it into effect.
The debate and the decisive vote upon
this bill in the National House very
strongly emphasized the fact that the
people of this country, irrespective of
party affiliations, are heartily sick and
tired of the policy of procrastination
in connection with this great project SO
essential to the future growth and
greatness of the republic. They firm
ly believe that the time for action has
arrived, and that the work of actual
construction on this much needed
The bill that has just passed the Ma
tional House by such a sweeping ma
jority has much to commend it, in that
it insures United States control of the
whole enterprise both during and after
| construction.
This is no new project. The
question first engaged the at
tention of Congress in 1925, and may,
! therefore, be said to have been officially
before the American people for pc
riod OF more than IS years. Certainly
| three-quarters of a century should be
time enough for purposes of informa-
ton, and as a plain, practical fact it
has been more than ample for this pur-
pose. The great need of an
oceanic canal connecting the waters
oceans has been repeatedly urged upon
Congress by various Presidents in their
official messages beginning as far back
as the first annual message of Presi-
dent Taylor. Following even more
earnestly the same line of recommen-
dation, Presidents Pierce, Fillmore,
Buchanan, Hayes, Arthur, Cleveland,
Harrison and Mckinley have all given
the project their hearty support. In
his third annual message, December,
1891. President Harrison used the fol-
lowing direct and vigorous language:
The Senator from Alabama (Mr.
Morgam in his argument before the
Senate at the last session did not over
estimate the Importance of this work
when he said that the canal is the
most important subject now connected
with the growth and progress of the
United States l most sincerely hope
that neither party nor sectional lines
will be drawn upon this great American
project so full of interest to the people
of all our states, and SO influential in
its effects upon the prestige and pros
perity of our common country
The official literature of this subject
is already .voluminous and exhaustive.
Money enough to do a considerable
portion of the actual work has already
haan aynan6a1 N nraliminary
of the most comprehensive and thor
ough character. Some of the worlds
greatest engineers and scientists have
devoted years of time and thought to
this great project, both as regards the
Panama and Nicaraguan routes.
The history of this great undertaking
down to 1898 is thus admirably sum
married. by Representative Waters
| of California:
Since 1926, this project has been
! repeatedly presented to the govern
| ments of the United States and Mica
| ragua.
I'm that year, Congress decreed the
| construction of an inter-oceanic canal
| through Nicaragua, and after calling
| for proposals concession was given
| to Beniski.
I'm 1926, Mr.. Clay, then secretary of
state, ordered the examination of the
| route.
I'm 1S43, J. l.. Stephens was sent to
| Central America on a confidential mis-
sion on behalf of the United States in
| the interest of this canal route.
| I'm 1S49, Cornelius Vanderbilt and
others contracted with the government
for regular transportation service
across Nicaragua from the Atlantic to
| the Pacific.
In 1852, a series OF explorations We're
| commenced covering the whole 18TH
mus, mostly under the instructions of
the United States government.
Surveys of the Nicaragua and PAN
anna routes We're made by Commander
Lull, United States navy, with A. G.
| Menocal as chief engineer. The result
was the condemnation of the Panama
route and the approval of the Nicara-
qua route for a lock canal, using the
| Great Lakes as it's summit level.
I'm 1880, canal society was formed in
| New York by General Grant, General