The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-10
His Speech is Listened to With
Marked Attention.
HE FAYORS NICARAGUA
He Replies Promptly to Rapid
Fire of Questions.
Expresses Fear That Panama
Route is ImpracticabIe.

AlIE A@ElLHAaM Lalld-lr WI +Ae~- 80
member of the committee on inter-
oceanic canals, and is an engineer
Of recognized ability. His speech was
awaited with interest by every one who
had watched the progress of the inter-
oceanic canal project He is regarded
as an authority on the entire canal Ques-
fion. and especially upon the routes pro-
posed. for he has traversed them all
and has scanned their lines with the
discriminating vision of an engineer
The Kansan has been in his seat every
minute since the beginning of the de-
bate on the canal bill, and has not per-
mitted one point made in the discussion
to escape him. More than once his in
tsrruptions have proved disastrous 20
some Of the conclusions OF senators VINO
do not agree with him in his opinions
respecting the best canal route and the
plan of construction. In his speech last
Friday, Senator Hanna, who taVors the
Panama route, referred to a problem in
engineering which drew from Senator
Harris an apparently innocent question
Mr.. Hanna at first endeavoFed to an
swer it. but only became further in
volved. Realizing the helplessness Of
his position he evasiVely said: "Of
course. the senator from Kansas can
answer that, and viii do so IN his own
time And with that he abruptly pass
ed on to another phase of the canal
question
On another occasion Senator Hanna
remarked that If the volcano in Lake
Nicaragua should duplicate the per
formence of Mont Pelee the lake would
be dned with ashes. mud and lava
THE senator evidently does not
know" suggested Mr.. Harris, that the
entire island of Martinique would not
dH one-half Of the area occupied by
Lake Nicaragua"
Mr.. Harris audience was all that-any
senator could desire. Few senators were
absent and the galleries were filed. The
q diplomatic corps was well represented
and a group Of diplomats from South
American and Central American coun-
fries interested in the canal project were
in the diplomatic gallery.
Senator Harris said
HARRIS SPEECH.
After 400 years of effort on the part
Of individuals and nations, said Sena-
tor Harris, the senate of the United
States finds itself face to face with the
ultimate and final decision of the great
problem Of straits-of the union Of the
TWO oceans and the opening Of the
barrier explored by Columbus in 1902.
For so years our own people have SUI
fered under a nightmare Of restraint
brought about by diplomatic jugglery
and unwarranted selhshness.
About five years ago the American
people had made I'D their minds that
this was a work Of too great magnitude
to be entrusted to the hands of private
individuals or corporations and all over
the country the sentiment was universal
that the government itself should under
take the construction and control of this
worldwide necessity. Fortunately we
have been able to remove the barrier to
national action, and by the enactment OF
the y-RauncefOte treaty the hands OF
the government are released for this
mighty work. The nation was really
ready to proceed with this work at that
time but there were powerful interests
who feared the competition and inter-
posed every possible obstacle for delay,
9th ne
doubtful as to whether the necessary ex-
plorat4Ons had been made and whether
any unknown difficulties existed which
had. to be revealed. The two influences
combined held back action at a time
When 1t seemed as if -the work were
about to be begun.
Ine Nicaragua canal commission was
organized and authorized to make thor
ough exploration Of the route via tie
san Juan river and Lake Nicaragua.
Ahis route had been explored, surveyed
and resurveyed time and time again
and the extraordinary fact remains t
this day that. knowing the number Of
surveys and explora lions that have beer
made Of this route by governmental, az
well as corporate representatives, no en-
glneer has ever yet placed upon recorl
an opinion adverse to its feasibility and
practicabflity. After complete exami
nation again the Nicaragua canal com
mission reported to US that there wer,
no obstacles in the way, that a cana
+C4AA re GGAAa 7uELEU NlLAln a limit ina
was deemed a reasonable expenditure
Of money. This still was not suff1cien
and again the same powerful influence.
were brought to bear and the Isthmia1
canal commission was authorized and
AnllAon or dollars appropriated in Orde
that It might not only re-examine thl
Nicaraguan route, but the Panama ans
all other possible routes. Over tive
years OF time were consumed by thi
commission, and on November 80 1900.
preliminary report submitted
which. while making estimates on
larger and deeper canal than had eve
been contemplated, still reported tina
there was absolutely nothing to ORE
vent the construction Of a practicab l
canal ample for all modern purposes
along the Nicaraguan route A yea
later their final report was submitted
which again repeated the undoubte,
fact that there was absolutely nothing
along the line OF the San Juan river
the lake or the two divisions at tn
east and west end, which offered any
thing that was unusually difficult G.
overcome
Eat the same time certain differences
were pointed out as to the Panama
line It was fairly and fully examined
and although 1t was stated that Their
were certain physical advantages. sucl
as a shorter canal line. more complet
knowledge OF the country through whicl
i passes and a lower cost Of main
eS-elllSe ana operation IN AaFOf OF IN
Panama route yet the price fixed b.
the Panama Canal company for the sal
of its property and franchises is so un
reasonable that its acceptance could no
be recommended by the commission.
was stated in this report that excep
for the items of risks and delays tn
time required to pass through the ca
nails need not be taken into accoun
only as an element in The time require
by vessels to make their voyages be
tween terminal ports.
Compared on this basis the Mic
araguan route is the more advantageou
for all transisthmia-n commerce, excep
that originating or ending on the ives
eoast Of South America For the com
Eaarea ia Which the Unlted States !