Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-10-24
IF OWNERS MAKE PRICE RIGHT
COST OF THE COMPLETED CANAL
NOT TO ExCEED 1900
. 100000.
THE ADVANTAGES OF THE ROUTE
DISCUSSED IN THE, PRELIMINARY
REPORT or THE CON-
MISSION.

Washington, Oct. 10. M. Maurice
Hutin, president of the new Panama
Canal company had a conference
with Admiral Walker, president of the
lsthmian canal commission yesterday.
President Hutin has Just returned from
France and with definite proposition for
the sale of the Panama canal to this gov
eminent as he went to Paris last sum-
mer to secure such authority from the
stockholders. What proposition he has
made or will make and what price will be
asked for the property and rights of the
French company are known only to M.
Hutin and Admiral Walker. as neither
will discuss the question. The efforts Of
President Hutin are now, as they have
been for the last two years, to secure
from the canal commission a recon-
mendation of the Panama route. In its
preliminary report the commission dis
cussed some of the advantages Of
The Panama Route.
but pointed out the obstacles to consid-
Grafton of any plans for the purchase Of
the concession from the Panama COM
pany. 1t is possible by fixing desirable
price for the property of the company
that President Hutin may induce the
concentrations, but congress is the only
power that can negotiate such purchase
or fix route for an isthmian canal. There
has been created in congress suspicion
that the Panama route was simply used
to delay the legislation which has been
proposed and that the representatives Of
the Panama company were in league with
che transcontinental railroads to prevent
the United States government from TAX
ing definite steps toward the building of
canal which should be
Owned and Controlled
by this government. Whether that is
still the strategy Of NJ. Eutin cannot be
definitely stated, but his friends insist
that he now recognizes the futility of
all efforts of this kind and is ready to
dispose of all property and rights of his
company to the United States. The
Walker commission has reported that it
will cost nearly $150,00O,00O to complete
the Panama canal with a width of $50
feet. The Panama company has valued
its concession and the work already done
at $1O7,OOO,OOO. This would bring the
total cost of canal by that route at
about $500, 100000, while the estimates for
the Nicaragua canal are about 5000, O0O,-
600. Admiral Walker has, ever since the
commission was created, endeavored to
obtain a positive and definite statement
of exactly what the Panama company
would accept for it's interest but he has
been unable up to the present time to Sc
cure an upset price. If President Hutin
is now ready to name price which
would bring the completed work on the
canal within 5000, 100000 it is probable the
11
ommendation for that route as favorable,
at least, as that for the Nicaragua route
leaving the settlement of the whole ques-
ton with congress-.
Nicaragua Canal.
Senator Morgan, chairman of the Mica
ragua canal committee in the senate and
Representative Hepburn chairman of the
committee on interstate and foreign COM
nerce in the house are both in favor of
reintroducing the bill passed by the house
in the last congress authorizing the pres
ident to negotiate with Nicaragua and
Costa RIGA for the cessiOn Of a zone
across those countries and for the con-
struction of an isthmian canal. Both
these leaders Of canal legislation are OPP
posed to all efforts towards securing the
Panama canal because they regard these
efforts as calculated to divert the govern
ment from the definite project it has had
under consideration for so many years.
They believe that congress should cease
to discuss other propositions and proceed
to the legislation necessary for the con-
struction of the Nicaragua canal.
1t is now assured that the new treaty
Between Great Britain and the United
States will meet all objections raised
against the Hay-Pauncefote treaty and
that it will he promptly ratified.