New-York tribune., 1902-06-10
NICARAGUA HAS A DAY.
SENATOR HARRIS ADVOCATES THAT
CANAL ROUTE FROM AN ENGINEERS
POINT OF VIEW.
POINT OF VIEW.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]


Washington, June s.-The Nicaragua side of the
isthmian canal controversy had another elaborate
presentation in the Senate this afternoon when
Mr.. Harris, of Kansas, made argument to es-
tablsh the superior advantages of the northern
route. The Kansas Senator has taken an active
part in the work of the Isthmian Canal Commit
tee and his interest in the of the Nicaragua
project has been second only to that shown by
the venerable chairman of the cors<asssss. M
Morgan. Mr.. Harriss speech. like evGSy oeher one
made likely to be made in the of this
sessions debate, covered great deal Of familiar
ground. Yet his argument listened to with
attention by respectable fraction Of the Senate's
membership. By profession Mr.. Harris is an engi-
neer, and he served for long time chief
engineer of the Union Pacific Railway, Kansas
Division His views the engineering problems
presented in the pending proposition were heard
with great interest by his colleagues
One fact Mr.. Harris said. was prominent and
conspicuous. No exploration survey made Of a
canal route in Nicaragua had ever placed on record
q report adverse in opinion to the feasibility
and pracucability Of constructing canal. In an
swer to Mr.. Hanna he quoted De Lesseps, the
famous French engineer. saying to committee
of Congress that If canal with locks was to be
constructed the Nicaragua route the best. In
making its supplemental report in favor of Panama
the 1sthmfan Canal Commission, he asserted, had
allowed the idea of getting a bargain unduy to
influence it's judgment and obscure it's business
vision.
Mr.. Harris went into minute details of the
the valuation of the property of the company both
as to the canal and the railroad property. not
only excessive. but that much of it. being useless
for the purposes Of this country would have to be
replaced He referred to "the legal and diplomatic
difficulties which surround the Panama Canal
Company all Sides" and declared that these
were absolutely insuperable.
Mr.. Timan Inquired how the lands necessary
for the Nicaragua route to be obtained if
they were owned by private individuals. rs the
government SuhiePTed
clafms?" he asked In other words, have Ameri-
cans gone down there and fixed up things that
we will have to pay millions and millions OF dollars
for the right Of way?'
The treaty with Nicaragua Mr.. Harris replied
provides for a condemnation of the lands where
private rights are involved"
Mr.. Culberson inquired how much would have to
be paid by the United States for private rights
Mr.: Harris replied that far he knew data
made. Mr. Morgan said that by arrangement
nd b the ne se Wo9d date M bacs to the
conditions which prevailed in December 1890 That
Continuing Mr. Harris insisted that strictly COM
mercal reasons would warrant the United States in
building the Nicaragua Canal, even though the
Again Mr.. Tillman inter-upted to express his ap
obtain title to lands that would be necessary to
iected. He was afraid. these claims would spring
up in the pathway of the United States. with n
demand to stand and deliver" .
Mr.. Harris replied that, in view Of the diplomatic
arrangements between the United States and Mica
ragua, such apprehension was warranted, al
though in project of this kind and this magnitude
1t impossible perhaps to guard absolutely
against frauds of the kind suggested.
Mr. Harris expressed great fear that the conStruc-
ton of the Bohio dam the Panama route could
not be accomplished, and that even If it were, the
dam could be made of strength sufficient to
withstand the tremendous head of water from the
Chagres River. In support of this opinion he made
an extended technical argument In conclusion ne
expressed the hope that when the canal was built
yyo1 he trading
sells of the United States. If the Panama route
were adopted the canal would be useless for sailing
vessels on which he said, the people of the United
States had rely for protection against the ship
ping trusts The adoption of the Panama route
would be absolute prohibition of sailing vessels
Mr. Morgan briefly discussed the diplomatic ne
gotiations between the United States and the
governments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica to show
that neither Nicaragua nor Costa Rica could have
claims against this government through the oia
Maritime Canal Company He pointed out fIai that II
Mckinley that the United States had acquired7 the
exclusive right to construct canai througn NiGa-
ragua and Costa Rica. ana he declared that this
was one Of the most magnificent acts ever per
formed by President of the United States. IL
had cleared the way for the construction or the
canal, and those two southern nations were pound
by the agreement until this Congress shoulo take
action the canal question