New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-07
CANAL DEBATE IN SENATE
MR.. HANNA PRESENTS FURTHER ARGU-
MENTS IN FAVOR OF THE
PANAMA ROUTE.
IBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.1

washington,
rest Mr. Hanna renewed to-day in the senate Ms
argument I'm demonstration of the superior adVan-
tages of the Panama over the Nicaragua lamar
route He insisted what he called pureiS ouSf
ness and non-sentimental solution OF the lstniAii
canal problem and elaborated with skill ana ear
nestness the reasons which convinced niIl-dho' as
he hoped would convince the Senate-that water
way from Colon to Panama would prove SAFER
and better investment for the United States IMAM
one from Greytown to Brito-
Mr. Hanna referred to some comments mace SeS
terday by Mr.. Mitchell. of Oregon, in which tnat
Senator spoke OF the advantages of the Nicaragua
route while the Hanna commission haa repoiteu
once in favor of that route Mr. Hanna TOOK eAoep
ton to the insinuaton that this was haln'i -
mission II consider" said he. that am mere 70
do NV dutv to NV country, and when am placed
on an important committee which is charged Win
an important duty I am determined 10 dischaise
that duty faithfully and conscientiousiy.
He made an earnest and vigorous defence Oh lhe
Isthuian Canal Commission appointed oy mcf>ihleS'
and said that he sought to discuss the pehdlhs
question on higher plane than mere personalities
He declared that there was no pohucs III uie 30
lem presented, and he was certain lhefe "eA0 ~
personalities in It, -..
A. Hanna discussed at length the engineering
difficulties presented in the construction OF the
Boho dam on the Panama route maintaining .la1
it was a feasible project in the hanos Oh louei.
skilled engineers He criticised tne tes "a,
CAPTAIN Merry United States Minister 10 ENCa
rasua who supported the Nicaragua route iio
said CAPTAIN Merry was stockholder IN the Hia
time Canal Company, which, Of course "ahteu .l'
Nicaragua route adopted. Captain MERRY ne sue
gested should attend to his of1ciai duties anu A0
interest himself in questions OF Ihis hinu-
THE DANGER FROM VOLCANOES
NJ, Hanna insisted that the construction Of the
canal NV the Nicaragua route involved unknown
difficulties while the Panama route on account u
the work already done by the engineers was q"
omen book" AS to the possibilities of danger rom
ho hn1
ON oven thing between the two routes. Ihere was
not enough danger along either route 10 oe.eI ta
United States from building the canal either ~
Nicaragua or Panama. He laid particular SUE
IN The danger to the Nicaragua route Hoii '01
canoes. and referred 20 the maps on the "ais 80
the chamber to show the active and extinct Eo
canoes in that region lie quoted Frolessoi -
nrin the volcano expert as saying that lne iesto
of Panama was not in danger from Noi. O. -.
turhance 1t was a curious fact that on the maps
NJ pe1as the awful volcano on the lsiano OF
Martinique was marked as being extinct III tn1
construction of this canal the United States 49,
he invading the territory OF the FoIcaIlo' III Ian
Nicaragua itself there were two volcanoes, one Oh
.iob had heen active recently. rs it,, he IN
o,,ired reasonable or safe TO put asloe hsh'lS
such conditions? We are not going oacA""1u III
b1story TO find illustrations. but we are consider
49,; tba dangers from VOLCANOES that may arise az
ing time IF there were other reason wouIa
not these reasons cause any par,ty of sSoo Gao
6ko07', Mr. Hanna declared that If one OF the voi
canbes IN Lake Nicaragua should pay lava and
mud and rock would be elected to M the Rsas
May tn 7p geie island Of Martinique would not
iii one-half of tho Lake of Nicaragua
sr11p CAPTAINS WHO PREFER PANAMA
Mr.. Hanna presented a synopsis Oh 'he So So
ments of eighty-three captains O. ocean So
steamers and other vessels bearing on the use Oh
- ,s+brotaD canal and said II seemed to him a
- business proposition to build the canal along
tba route preferred by seatarlhS ileii An TIC
masters had had experience IN navigating '4ie -
Manchester and Kiel canals They were uhaif
nous in favor OF the Panama route Iof s'e@,ie
400 feet long and % feet draught' provided ooth
caraIs were in operation and weather ana eA-
nense conditions were eqtaL From the ans"eis 20
Tho questions he said 1t was evident tidl tl
masters much preferred the Panama route u 'iie
Nicaragua route. ~,
~ ss,,ar n an inquiry from Mr.. Mitchell Mr.
Hanna said the information had come 10 him at
his own nstigation in the course OF nus h o~ oh
yestgation OF tins eanS so thoroughIy accurate
b9SneSS insisted that the Interoceanc Canal
Committee had no knowledge OF any such hVesli-
CATION and he objected TO it. .u,,r,.5 r,,1, vs.
sponsbiiity, and said he had been engaged nearly
all his life in the navgation OF tte his bnsiness
to obtain information which he thGughs
that if the construction Of an sthmian canal were
begun this it w9a rsn g3t the DE n Of
those who favored the Panama Canal. He salq
that the work already done on the
was along the lines of the best englneerIng SalI.
pany's rights this country was made because II
Vas known that this country had determined TO
finish this great work. the inspiration OF which did
moi rise from any selfish motive.
iT He sngrested th~t if the United States should
decide to construct canal along the Nicaragua
route it would have no assurance tnat some otner
nation would not decide to complete the Panama
Canal If such jealousy should arise as would
nrompt another nation to construct the Panama
Canal the United States. in his opinion. would be
at serious disadvantage.
AT the close Mr.. Hanna's argument the Sem
ate held a short executive session, and then adj
journed
ARMY AND NAVY ORDERS.