The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-10
SPEAKS AS AN ENGINEER
Effective Argument for the
 Nicaragua Route.
Kansan Declares That United States should Not Accept the French Concessions If They Could
 Bs Gotten Free.

washington, June A-An 1ntcrestinn contribution to the discussion of the isth- milan canal project was made in the Sem ate today by Mr. Harris of Kansas. q member of the Committee on Inter- Oceanic Canals, who Is also an engineer of recognized ability. His discussion of technical details of canal construction was listened to with profound attention. He strongly advocated the selection of the Nicaragua Canal. He maintained that it was entirely feasible and practi- cable from an engineering standpoint and said that some of the difficulties present. ed by the Panama route was insuper- able-notabiy the construction of the Bo-s hio dam.
 During the early part of the session the naval appropriation bill was consid- cred. All of the Committee amendments were disposed of. except that relating to the construction of the two additional battleships cruisers and two gunboats.
 Mr. Harris went into minute detailn of the Panama proposition, his point be- Ing to show that the valuation of the property of the Panama company. both as to the canal and the railroad prop erty was not only excessive. but that much of it. being useless for our pur- poses, would have to be replaced
 Panama Out of the Question.
 He referred to the legal and diplomats difficulties which surround the Panama Canal Company on all sides and de- clarti that they were absolutely insuper- able.
 Mr. Tiilman inquired how the lands frr he, Ntru pa to be obtained if they were nowned by private individuals.
 Have Americans gone down there and fixed up things so that we will have 10 pay millions and millions of dollars for the right of wayT' he inquired.
 The treaty with Nicaragua" Mir. Har- ris said. provides for condemnation of the lands where private rights arc in- Yolved."
 MT. Cuiberson (Tex.) Inquired how much would have to be paid by the Uni ted States for private rights along the canal.
 MT. Harris replied that. so far as he knew, no data on the subject had been prepread.
 Mr. Morgan said that by arrangement with the Nicaraguan government, all ac1 quisition of land by the United States would date back to the conditions which
  preclude speculation in land along the route.
 Mir. Harris insisted that strictly com- naercial reasons would warrant the United States in building the Nicaragua Canal. even though the Panama route were pre- sented to th:s country.
 Again Mir. Tiilman interrupted to ex- press his apprehension that spectators had obtained or would obtain title to Inx hot ha agar n a United States If the Nicaragua route were selected
 Mir Harris replied that in view of the diplomatic arrangements between the United States and Nicaragua. no such apprehension as that suggested was war ranted. although 1t was impossible. per haps. to guard absolutely against frauds of the kinds suggested
 Bohio Dam Impossible.
 Mir. Harris expressed great fear that the construction of the Bohio dam on the Panama route could not be accomplished. and that even if 1t were. the dam could not be made of strength sufficient to with stand the tremendous head of water from the Chagres River. In support of this opinion, he made an extended technical argument.
 MT Harris expressed the hope that when the canal was built. 1t would be
  sels of the United States. He urged that if the Panama route were adopted. the canal would be useless for sailing vessels upon which, he said. the people of the United States had to rely for protection against the shipping trusts.
 Mir. Morgan discussed briefly the diplo- matic negotiations between the United States and the Governments of Nicara- qua and Costa Rica to show that neither Nicaragua nor Costa Rica would have claims against this Government through the old Maritime Car al Company. He pointed out that it was through the wis., dom and foresight of William Mckinley that the United States had acquired the exclusive right to construct canal through Nicaragua and Costa Rica. and he declared that this was one of the most magnificent acts ever performer by a President of the United States. It had cleared the way for the construction of the canal. and those two Southern na- tions were bound by the agreement until this Congress should take action on the canal question"
 The Senate at 5:30 went into executive session and soon afterwards adjourned,
 THE HOUSE