The evening times., 1902-05-31
MINORITY REPORT ON
IBTBROCBANIC CANALS
SpCOner Amendment Recon-
mended as Substitute.
THE PANAMA ROUTE FAVORED
Urges That Isthmian Commissions Lat
est Advice Be Followed on All Techni-
cal Questions-Its Earlier Reports IN
Favor of Nicaragua Criticised

The report embodying the views Of the
minority Of the Senate Committee on
Intero2eanic Canals. on the subject Of
the construction OF an fnteroceanic
canal was presented in the Senate this
afternoon by Senator Kittredge- The
report. which is quite lengthy, deals
with each feature OF the canal question
The minority recommends to the Sen
ate that the Spooner amendment be
adopted as a substitute for House bill
No. BIO It finds that the Panama route
is superior. in all respects ~ an inter
oceanic canal to the Nicaragua route
It recommends that the report Of the
Isthmian Canal Commission be followed
on all technical questions as it is the
.opinion of the highest competent experts.
and states that in all the testimony had
before tne committee nothing appears
against IL
The minority also finds that the 18th
mian Canal Commissions earlier reports
in favor Of the Nicaraguan route, were
based wholly on the impossibility, at
that time. Of acquiring the property and
concessions OF he Panama Canal Com
panv at q reasonable price
4 Substituted Suggested.
In presenting its report. the minority
states that they present an amendment
rhe Spooner amendment) as substitute
! to the House bill which we believe viii
most surely. wisely and speedily accom-
pIish the national desire for an isthmian
canal. and for the best canal
The substitute which We advise in
sures an isthmian canal and in our
/ iurgment more surely, satisfactorily
and speedily than by any other plan
We consider that the Panama route
/ IS the best route for an isthmian canal.
/ 10 be owned. constructed, controlled.
and protected by the United States.
The minority declares that in the mat
ter OF the important engineering fea-
/ lures OF both the Panama and Nicara-
guam routes the testimony Of the engi-
neers Of the Isthmian Commission is
/ greatly in favor OF the construction OF
2 canal BIZ the former route
VOLCANOES and Earthquakes
On the point Of possibility Of destruc-
! tior or damage TO the locks or dams OF
/ the canal from volcanic eruptions or
from earthquakes the minority presents
! an array OF facts intended to show that
+ the Nicaraguan route is directly in line
with numerous volcanoes more or less
active that the entire country through
which the Nicaragua Canal route runs
has been frequently visited by earth
! auakes. while the Panama route has no
/ volcanoes extinct or otherwise nearer
than 200 miles. and that the official rec
/ ord OF seismic disturbances in the last
/ two years is about one-teDth in number
/ Of those reported in the vicinity Of the
I Nicaraguan route and practically moth
+ ing il point of intensity CT those feiy
at the latter place.
Passage by Daylight.
The minority also assert that for the
purposes Of prac cieaI use and naviga-
ton the Panama. canal route is in
every way superior to the Nicaragua
route.
They suggest that the Panama Cana
b. reason o. its short length. PeruitE
OF the passage Of a vessel entirely dur
ing twelve hours Of daylight while the
Nicaraguan route. by reason Of its great
length. would necessitste a vessel using
Up ffty-seven hours OF two days and
half. in passing through it
While the report Of the Isthmiar
( Commission states that thirty-thre'
hours will be required to pass through
ltba Nicaragua Canal the minority as.
eert that the thirty-three hours mean!
continuous gtesming. and that the com
mission In its plans has made no pro
vision whatever for vessels TO pTocee'
ibv night via the Nicaraguan route; there
fore the actual time required for tn
MASSAGE OF the Nicaragua Canal must b
lhased on q vessel proceeding for twelv,
Ibours Of daylight. tying up at night
then twelve hours the next day, agail
tying Up al night, and making the res
of the passage IL nine hours on the thir
/ CAV. making a total of ffty-seven hours
= Right of Way in Doubt.
4 Another important assertion by tn
t minority is that the way IS by no mean
{ clear for the United States to obtain
! right Of way through Nicaragua The,
. saw that several companies lay claim
By reason Of concessions from Nicara
!. pra. direct purchases of land for cash
! and by other conveyances. TO the righ
of way for an interoccanic canal. ant
. that the officers and stockholders o
z the several companies have stated unde
P oath to the committee that they exPec
s to De paid in full fer all their rights b.
[ the United States peculiar condition
g Of affairs exists in Costa Rics, it q
/ said. and by reason Of these claim
{ tedious and expensive litigation /
r bound TO result before tho United State
Z can become possessed Of clear title q
the right OF way for a canal" with
probability Of having 10 satisfy at leas
some Of these claims, 10 the extent o
: millions Of dollars
Perfect Title Expected.
D IN respect Of the legal questions ant
I ltitIes concerning the Panama Canal. tn
, minority expresses itself, after mos
exhaustive examination Of all docu