Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-06
57th CONGRE SIS.
Continued from page -

the common belief that the Nicaragua
route was the only one to be consid-
cred The United Kingdom had been
deferred from embarking on the project
and in the light of events the fates
seemed to interferred to prevent US
from making a mistake. The Panama
route was only 40 miles long, while
that of Nicaragua was 183 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 at the Least expense
A canal constructed on such lines, he
insisted, meant success He said ne was
looking at the proposition for IT'S com
mercial advantages as well as means
Of defence I'VE are to build a canal for
the commerce of the world; and we must
take into account the business attracted
to II from the world he said.
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.
Hanna referred to the seismic distur-
bances IN the canal region and suggested
that these disturbances ought to cause
the American Congress to pause and con
slider the suggested dangers seriously. He
referred to the maps arranged around thu
walls OF the chamber, showing the mum
her Of active and inactive volcanoes in
| the canal region, demonstrating that
there were more volcanoes in the neigh
! borhOOd of the Nicaragua route than in
| that of the Panama route. He maintained
! that the cost of the Nicaragua canal
| would be Immensely greater in point ol
| construction and operation than the Pa
mama canal and said he was prepared
| to demonstrate that the Nicaragua canal
| could not be operated at night.
Hanna said that in many respects the
same conditions applied TO both the Mic
aragua and the Panama CAMS.
| Discussing the SpoOner substitute. ne
denied emphatically that it was subteI-
! fuge intended to delay and procrastinate
! He eXplned that if the President was
not satisfied with the Panama Canal co 8
| title he could proceed TO puIld me, cana
| bV the Nicaragua route, provided thai
Ian conditions and concessions We're satlS
| factory. 1t was understood Of course
that the United States did not propose {
| 20 ahead with the canal project except
| with a elan sheet. BY either route h
| believed the canal would be a power fol
the peace of the world, and he had ut
fear Of any interference with the Unitet
| States or any of its citizens engaged II
| the canal construction by any foreign
power.
Hanna. after speaking one hour and 2
quarter pleaded fatigue and, saying h.
| would continue tomorrow, yielded tnt
| Of the inter-OCeanic canal committee.
The Oregon senator declared that tbs
const ructiou Of the canal was demandel
Nv the American people in tone tina
could not be mis- Understood. He assertel
that unless the Hepburn bill We're accept
ed it would mean the indefinite postpone
Elent of any canal legislation and pos
sibly defeat. He maintained that th'
Nicaragua route was absolutely feasi5l'
and practicable.
Mitchell said that if shippers coui,
send their products from the Pacific coas
10 Europe by way of an isthman canal
sailing vessels would b+ employed. Whcr
now only steamers We're used, thus re
lducing enormously the freight rates nov
paid BY the Pacific coast. He maintaine'
that sailing vessels could not SO throue'
the Panama canal without the assist
ance of steam or electricity, on accoun
of the Gains.
Mitchell declared the authorities indi
Gated that the danger from earthquake
was 100 Per cent. greater in the regioi
Of the Panama route than in that of TIL
Nicaragua route. In neither case, how
ever was the danger sufficient 10 rendn
hazardous the construction Of the canal
The Senate, at o'clock, went into tx
ecut!ve session, and soon afterwarl al
/ journed