The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-06-06
HANNA FAv0RS
PANAMA ROUTE
Oregon Senator Claims Vessels
Could Not Sail Through.
VOTE WEST POINT Sc, 500, 600
DISAGREEMENT MAY MEAN
DEATH TO PROPOSITION.

iHIASHINGTON. June SIN further
w consideration of the isthmian
canal project the senate heard
today two speeches. neither of which
was completed. Mr. Hanna Of Ohio
spoke in favor of the Spooner amend
n2ent comforting on the president au-
thority to purchase the rights Of the
Panama Canal company if a title could
be obtained, otherwise he shall decide
upon the Nicaragua route.
The Ohio senator said the American
people having become accustomed to
the rapid transit Of the railroads 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 i'm
the common belief that the Nicaragua
route was the only one to be cOnsid-
cred. The United States had been de-
TERED from embarking on that project
and that in the light of events the
fates seemed to him to have inter-
fered TO prevent us from making a
mistake. The Panama route was only
fOrty-nine miles iOng, while that Of
Nicaragua was 1873 miles in length.
You build your canal" said he, Ito
provide for the passage of ships from
ocean to ocean in the least possible
time and at the least expense
A canal constructed on such lines,
he said, meant success. He said he
was looking for the proposition for its
fol
advantages as a means of 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
business attracted TO 1t from the
world"
BY stubborn facts and by the findings
of the best enginNSrs in the country
he had been compelled TO change his
/ views, which originally had been in
/ favor Of the Nicaragua route.
Fears Volcanic Eruptions.
Mr.. Hanna referred to the seismic
! disturbances in the canal region and
/ suggested that those disturbances
/ ought to cause the American congress
/ to pause and TO consider the suggested
J dangers seriously. He referred to tht
| maps arranged around the walls OF
/ the chamber. showing the number OF
active and inactive volcanoes in tht
( canal region, demonstrating that there
! were more volcanoes in the neighbOr-
/ hood of the Nicaragua route than il
/ that of the Panama route He main
| tanned that the. cost of the Nicaragua
canal would be immensely greater IN
( point of construction and operation
/ than the Panama canal and said h
/ was prepared 10 demonstrate that TIT
/ Nicaragua canal could not be operated
/ at night Mr.. Hanna said that II
I many respects the same conditions ap
| piled to both the Nicaragua and Pan
! anna routes.
! Discussing The SpOOner substitute, h
denied emphatically that it was subter
fuge intended to delay and procrasti
nate. He explained that if the presi
dent were not satisfied with the Pana
ina canal cOmpany's title, he could pro
coed to build the canal by the Nicar
aqua route, provided that all condition!
/ and concessions were satisfactory. i
was understood of course, that thu
] United States did not propose to e
ahead with the canal project eXCep
with a clean sheet. BY either route h
believed the canal would be pOwe
for the peace of the world, and he haC
no fear of any interference with tn
United States or any of its citizen
engaged in the canal construction b.
any foreign power.
Mr.. Hanna, after. speaking an hOu
and a quarter, pleaded fatigue, an'
saying he would continue tomorrow
yielded the floor TO Mr.. Mitchell of ore
gon. another member of the inter
oceanic canal committee.
Americans Demand Building of Cans
The Oregon senator declared that tn
construction of the canal was demand
ed by the American people in a ton
that could not be misunderstood. II
| asserted that unless the Hepburn bil
We're accepted il would mean the IN
definite pOstpOnement Of any canal leg
islation and the possible defeat of III
canal project. He maintained that IN
Nicaragua route was absolutely feas
ible and practicable.
Mr.. Mitchell said that if shipper
could send their products from the Pa
cific coast to Europe by way of a
. isthmian canal, sailing vessels wout
be employed. where now only steamer
were used. -hus reducing enormousl
the freight rates now paid by the Pa
cific coast.
He maintained that sailing vessel
could not go through the Panama cans
, without the assistance of steam or cleo
{ tricity. on account of the Gains
Mr.. Mitchell declared the authorize
indicated that the danger from earth
duakes was 100 per cent greater in tn
: region of the Panama route than
- that of the Nicaragua route. In neithe
f case. however. was the danger sutf
cient to render hazardous the construC
/ | ton of the canal
4 bill appropriating $4,000 for tn
- completion OF a light house and 70
r signal station on the Patapsco rive
Maryland. was passed
The senate then. at o'clock. wer
: into executive session and soon after
: ! ward adjourned.