River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-12-19
The Nicaragua Canal Assured.

There seems now no further room
FOR doubt that the United States gov
eminent will build, maintain and con-
troll the Nicaragua canal, in reference
TO which the president in his message
to congress said:
No single great material work which remains to
be undertaken on this cont inent is Of such conse-
quenee to the American people the building OF
q canal across the isthnius connecting North and
South America
In line with the presidents recon-
mendations two bills have already
been submitted in the senate for the
construction of an isthmian canal via
the Nicaragua route, which is approx
ed by the canal commission. whose re-
port to congress declares:
After considering all the facts developed by the
investigations made by the commission, the actual
situation as it now stands and having in view
the terms offered by the new Panama Canal com
pany, this commission is OF the opinion that the
most practicable and feasible route for an 18TH
milan canal to be under the control, management
Dnd ownership Of the United States, is that known
as the Nicaragua route.
The commission in its report estl-
mates the cost of construction of the
Nicaragua canal at $3.50. .062, while
the cost of the Panama route would
be S144,233,35S. But $109.241,O00 adj
ditional would be required to obtain
from France the Panama concession.
The commission values the work done
at 100000. Thus the Panama route
would have cost more than the Mica
ragua, to say nothing of the interna-
tional complications likely TO be in
yolved in the adoption of the former
route, whereas the way is open and
clear for the latter. The diplomatic
obstacles have been brushed away by
the new y-Pauncefote treaty.
Nicaragua stands ready to grant the
United States the necessary conces-
sions and rights of way. having revok-
ed, forfeited or Cancelled all conces-
sions to all persons or governments
that could in any way clash with the
interests of the United States.
! The government of Costa Rica,
through whose territory a portion of
the canal will pass. will also gladly
make the necessary concessions, so that
there are no obstacles in the way on
the isthmus to retard the enterprise.
New treaties must be entered into
with these governments, but as they
are DESTROYS of having the waterway
built and controlled by the United
States that is only matter of diplo-
matte detail easily and quickly accom-
plished.
IL remains only for congress to au-
thorize the digging of the canal, and
that seems likely to be speedily done.
The bills introduced in the senate will
have the right of way in that body. One
of these, which was introduced by Sem
ator Morgan, chairman of the inter-
oceanic canal committee, provides:
That the president OF the United States be and
is hereby authorized to acquire from and to con-
clude arrangements with the states of Costa Rica
and Nicaragua or either Of them for and in be-
half of the United States for the full control OF
such portion of territory now belonging to Costa
RIGA and Nicaragua as may be desirable and nee
eSsary on which to excavate. construct, govern,
regulate. police and protect canal OF such depth
and capacity as will be sufficient for the move
ments Of ships Of the greatest tonnage and
draft now in use, from a point near Greytown,
on the Caribbean sea. via Lake Nicaragua to
Breto, on the Pacific ocean. and such sum as
may be necessary to necessary rights, priv
ilege and such control is hereby appropriated
out of any money in the treasury not otherwise
! appropriated.
The other, introduced by Senator Per-
klns of California, which is supple
mental to the Morgan bill. provides for
the construction of the canal, making
an appropriation of S120,000,000, of
which sum $l2.000OOO is to be expend-
ed annually. A nonpartisan commission
is to be appointed by the president. the
members to be selected from different
parts of the United States. and each to
be paid a salary of $4,000 year.
/ The house, which passed the Hep
burn bill at its last session, will not be
outdone by the senate in pushing canal
! legislation. and in all probability soon
after the holidays the president will
have before him for his approval con
gressional acts authorizing this great