The Butte inter mountain., 1902-06-06
FIRST BELIEVED IN NICARAGUAN
ROUTE, BUT UPON STUDY HAD
CHANGED HIS MIND.
SENATOR is ACCORDED
ATTENTIVE HEARING
Maintained That the Cost of Construct
ing the Nicaraguan Canal Would Be
Much Greater and That Panama Route
Being Shorter Would Be Much the
Best in Every Way-Stubborn Facts.
lBY ASSOCIATED PRESS


Grafton OF the isthmian canal project the
senate heard yesterday two speeches,
neither Of which was completed Mr..
llama, Ohio, spoke in favor of the
Spooncr amendment comforting on the
president authority to purchase the rights
OF the Panama Canal company il trihe
could be obtained. otherwise he shall de-
eide upon the Nicaragua route. Mr..
Mitchell supported the Hepburn bill for
the construction OF the canal by the Mic
araguan route. Seldom has senator
been accorded more attentive hearing
than that given to Mr.. Hanna The
Panama route he considered much to be
preferred to the Nicaragua route, as it
provided an intcr-occanic waterway much
shorter and one that could be traversed
at less expense than the Nicaragua
route.
Mr. Mitchell urged that unless the
Nicaragua route was determined upon
definitely by congress it would mean the
indennite postponcment and perhaps The
ultimate defeat OF any canal legislation
lie insisted that the Nicaragua route was
entirely feasible and practicable, while the
Panama route involved difficulties which
were scarcely to be surnionnted.
The senate passed the military academy
appropriation bill providing for extensive
improvements at West Point. Mr.. Harris,
Kansas opposed Mr.. Bates amendment
and expressed the wish that there were
5000 cadets at West Point Those not
needed in the army, he said should re-
turn TO civil life. They could form fine
reserve force TO be on call for the de
fensc Of the nation. Mr. Bates amend
ment was rejected and the bill passed. A
bill to ratify an agreement with the Choc-
taw and Chickasaw Indians was passed,
also an act providing for free homesteads
in the Ute Indian reservation in Colorado.
Senator Hanna's Address.
Al O'Clock the istlmian canal bill was
taken up. Mr.. Hanna, a member of the
inter oceanic canal committee. addressing
the senate IN support Of the Spooner
amendment providing that the president
shall have authority TO determine upon the
Panama route, provided he can get clear
title TO the Panama Canal company's con-
cessions and property; otherwise he shall
decide upon the Nicaraguan routc.
The Ohio senator said the American
people having become accustomed 10 the
rapid transit OF railways now demanded
quicker transportation on the seas. The
experimental stage had been passed, and
the question now presented was that of
the best route by which the canal was to
be constructed Mr.. Hanna said he had
shared AT first in the common belief that
the Nicaraguan route was the only one
to be considered. The United States had
been deferred from embarking on that
project and in the light of events the
iates seemed TO him TO have interfered TO
prevent lis from making mistake The
Panama route was only 20 miles long,
while that OF Nicaragua was rS3 miles In
Length
You build your canal" said he, "to
provide for the passage OF ships from
ocean to ocean in the least possible time
and with the least expense A canal
constructed on such lines, he said. meant
success. lie said he was looking for the
proposition for its commercial advantages
rs well as its advantages as means oil
defense
I'VE are to build this canal for the
world" he said I'VE agree to build a
canal for the commerce OF the world and
we must take into account the world"
BY stubborn facts and by the findings
Of the best engineers in the country he
had been compelled to change his views
which originally had been in favor of the
Nicaragua route,
Mr.. Hanna referred to the seismic dis
turbances in the canal region and s,g
| gestcd that those disturbances ought &c
| cause the American congress to paus,
| and to consider the suggested dangers Sc
| rously.
He maintained that the cost of the Mic
aragua canal would be immensely create,
in point Of construction that the Panam:
canal, and said he was prepared to dem
onstrate that the Nicaragua canal coul,
not be operated at night. Mr.. Hanna sal,
that in many respects the same condition
applied to both the Nicaragua and Panam
| routes.
Discussing the Spooner substitute, h
denied emphatically that it was subter
fuge intended to delay and procrastinat,
He explained that if the president wer
not satisfied with the Panama Canal CON
pany's title he could proceed to build tn
canal by the Nicaragua route, provide
that all conditions and concessions wer
satisfactory. 1t was understood of cours
that the United States did not propos
to go ahead with the canal project exceI
with a clean sheet. By either route h
believed the canal could be a power fc
the peace of the world and he had no fei
of any interference with the United Stat,
or any of its citizens engaged in the can
construction by any foreign power.
|