Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-12-12
FOR lSTHMIAN CANAL
Two Bills Favoring the Nicaragua
Route INTRODUCED In the Senate.
MEASURES BY MORGAN and PERKINS


I Washington, Dec. 5.-Two bills
looking to the construction of an
isthmian canal via the Nicaragua
route were introduced yesterday in
the senate. The first of these were
presented by Senator Morgan and is
as follows:
"That the president of the United
States be, and is hereby authorized,
to acquire from and to conclude
agreements with the states of Costa
RIGA and Nicaragua, or either of
them, for and in behalf of the United
States for the full control of such
portion of territory, now belonging
to Costa RIGA and Nicaragua, as may
be desirable on which to excavate,
construct, govern, regulate, police
and protect canal Of such depth and
capacity as will be sufficient for the
movements of ships of the greatest
tonnage and draught now in use,
from point near Greytown, on the
Caribbean sea, via Lake Nicaragua to
Breto, on the Pacific ocean; and such
sum as may be necessary to secure
necessary rights, privileges and such
control is hereby appropriated out of
any money in the treasury not other
wise appropriated"
The other bill was introduced by
Senator Perkins and provides for a
perpetual lease by the United States
Of the right-of-way across Nicaragua
and Costa RIGA and confers military,
police and sanitary police control Of
the canal route by the United States.
1t makes an appropriation for $780,
100000, of which sum $12,0O0,OOO is to
be expended annually. A non-par-
tisan commission is to be appointed
by the president to have charge of the
canal, the members of the commission
to be selected from different parts
of the United States and to be paid
$4,000 salary each per year. This
commission is to haze its headquar-
tiers at Rivas, Nicaragua, with a
branch Office in Washington. The APP
pointment of engineers also is au-
thorized, 1t is further provided that
the canal shall be of the dimensions
recommended by the isthmian canal
commission. The commission pro-
posed is empowered to make all con-
tracts and to supervise their per-
Torrance, no contract to be legal I'M
til ratified by u majority of the com
missioners. The commission is to re-
port semi-annually to the president
and to keep accurate accounts of its
transactions. 1t is explicitly provided
that no commissioner or employe
shall be interested in any contract
connected with the construction of
the canal. The bill authorizes the
president of the United States to
make minor changes in the route
adopted for the canal and the meth
DDS of its construction.
The Commissions Report
Washington, Dec. 5.--The report of
the isthmian canal commission was
sent to congress Wednesday. The
commission, as anticipated several
weeks ago, favors the Nicaraguan
- ond makes all esrnIatr' or v1oo,.
664,062 as the total cost of construc-
ton of the canal through Nicaragua.
The estimated cost of the Panama
route is $144,233,35S, but, the report
soys, it would cost $1O9,141,O 900 to OBJ
tain the Panama concession. The
commission values the work done at
100000. The report says the Pana-
ma route is feasible as a sea level
canal, while the Nicaragua route must
be by locks, but Lake Nicaragua will
furnish an inexhaustible supply Of
water for the canal.
The Nicaragua route has no natural
harbors at either end, but satisfactory
harbors may be constructed. With
adequate force and plant the COM
mission estimates that the Nicaragua
canal can be completed in six years,
exclusive of two years for prepara-
ton.