The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-18

vor Of the Hepburn bin for constructing
the Nicaragua canal.
The report Gays in part: III the provi-
sions of the bill can be carried out. the
United States will. within few years
tfrom six to eight) be in full ownership |
and control OF waterway connecting the 4
oceans that 1t can defend and that 1t /
can use in the interests OF It's navy and |
its merchant marine as wisdom may die
tate. There eeems to be but little doubt |
that the states OF Nicaragua and Costa
Rica Will give their consent for the con-
struction OF this great work. These states
are friendly disposed toward our govern
ment and our people and have interests
connected with 1t that are, in proportion /
to the wealth and population, even greater
than ours. 1t will traverse either the |
border or the interior OF Nicaragua for a
distance OF about 1870 miles Il will give I
TO that stale a waterway from It's capital |
through It's most productive region TO the /
sea 1t Will place that country on one OF
the great waterways OF the world, bring
ing 1t INTO Immediate contact with large
foreign commerce and those who conduct
II. The splendid soil and climate OF thCl
asrlcultural regions will be seen aud
known in such way as to compel imml-
grafton, settlement and largely Increased
production In very many ways the state
VIII have advantages not now possessed
ana that VIII be Tor a long time lost il
another route by which the oceans are
connected should be adopted All OF these /
considerations induce the belief that these !
Two enlightened states viii be glad Ia aid /
our government cordially aud efficiently IN
carrying out this great decision"
no A.,
report continues; "These reports above
referred to. the opinions Of the engineers
ana scientists believed TO be entirely com |
petent for their work. justify your com
mltee IN recommending the undertaking
ht the enterprise as one that IL entirely
practicable and one that can be completed
roy q sum OF money the expenditure OF
which will DO wise.
1t Is true that tho estimates Of cost
are variable, ranging as they do from
less than $4,000 900 to a possible Si45.-
WV'0u1' II is. however. proper to say that
tne SIZE ana character OF the canal esti-
mated Is as variable az Is the cost The
earliest estimates were for a canal suited
10 cue shlps or that limo, Tne later esti-
mates are for ships OF this time The
hlteen foot depth and sixty foot width Is
sle SIZE Of the earlier project. Thirty
rect depth and loo width are tho dlmeu-
sions or the latter proposed canal
Your committee suggests in discussing
the cash remuneration that will come 10
the United States from the ownership Of
thls canal estimates can only be made ana
there has been a great difference of opin-
ION expressed by persons who have come
before tne COMMITTEES as witnesses and
writer's on this subject as TO the extent
OF the use that would be made by the canal
by the shipping of the world One gem
ueman has said that 10 his Judgment no.
more than 100000 tons would pass through
the canal annually. Another has said
100000 tons would pass through the
euhtl Ten Uemen connected with the
Maritime Cannl company gave Il as III f.
opinion that 100000 or 6,000 900 OF ton.
mage would be the amount that would pass
through III canal annually or course W.
have the right to assum that whatever
the amount be II woad be an Increasing
amount from year TO year. AT present
81 55 per ton IL the toll charged Tor th,
use OF the Suoz canal II that rats was
charged at the Nicaragua canal and 600
900 be the tonnage passing through it an
aggregate sum OF more than SO 1000 900
would be the receipts, 1t is estimated that
The cost OF maintaining and operating the
canal would he Sl.000,000 annually. II tho
United Staes borrowed tho money 10 Ia
vest In the enterprise. this sum would pay
The annual interest. the coat OF maintain
Ing and operating and leave a surplus %
tore than a million dollars aud IN
asing tonnage we might reasonably
bpcAfor such s~rmnAarisfs of surplus
hat wonild In a few years fuzzy reimburse
he government for It's outlay Or it II
khoulG be the policy TO use the canal to
Stimulate the building mp of our merChln;
marine II could be made a most powerful
factor. British merchant, trading from
my port III Great Britain 10 Hong Kong,
charte ring n 6000- ton vessel aud using
he Suez canal. must pay as tolls a sum
in nj AZ al la
royage. His rival an American merchant
trading from New York to Hong Kong
uses the Nicaragua canal free II toll be
cause be used an American vessel made
out o. American material by American
labor and loaded with American merchan-
dlge, would possess marked ADVANTAGES
advantages so marked as to make It 20 his
interest 10 stimulate American shipbulld-
ing Il Is this Kind ~ a canal that can
be used in this way discriminating in
favor of our merchants aud our shiphuild-
ers and our labor (it such should be the
policy Of The governnenO and that your
committee are anxious 20 secure.
Your committee Is aware that there
are number Of persons who claim 10 have
concessions from the government of Mica
ragua and Costa Riea investing them with
rights to navigate the San Juan river and
Lake Nicaragua. Others claim 20 be au-
thorized to construct this great waterway
connecting the oceans. but Il Is believed
by your committee that these rights have
either elapsed or are Of Uncomfortable
value or have been obtained for specu-
lative purposes However this may be.
II should be the purpose OF the govern
ment 10 deal directly with the govern
ments OF Nicaragua and Costa Rlca. Those
governments can adjust all questions
growing out OF these concessions much
more easily than the United States II
Is not believed that any one OF these
real or alleged eoncessonaries have any
rights or Interests that they can convey
10 the United States and II Is not deemed
wise 10 have any iont Interests or co-
rnrtncrsnips or nny interest growing out
rf eorRorafe raletions with any - thesi
perspns II Is our opinion that the peo-
pie o. the Da!lfd States want a govern
mert enpsl urder the costrol OF the
sg'r,ird Sta.of
~ Is elllnrd by some persons that
fr2tj7g hli faSrive 10 m rose 81 NJ
vs. ~ iaraslpp ~ thp rgghts OF Other
ieert'r'e -r'irrx~-ihuf the cnnnor-ing ~
TIE to estrs e matter ~ surs v4s,
esucerp that Il becomes international in