The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-17
THE VOLCANIC VETO ON
THE NICARAGlJAN CANAL
II Is Emphasized by the Recent Commissions Senator
Davis Speech in 1S9l-What Geologst WincheII
Says-James j. Hills Blunt Assertions.

guina in 1885. Churches 40 miles dis
tant rocked and tottered over the af-
frighted people," In 1871, the city of
Carriage, in Costa RIGA, eighty miles
south of the canal, was nearly destroyed
by an earthquake. In 1S44. the city OF
Nicaragua, or Rivas, five miles above the
canal, was much: damaged, and the lake
earth In 1s47 and 1858 earthquake
shocks destroyed public buildings and
aqueducts In Mexico. In November. 1857,
new volcanic cone appeared In Nicar-
aqua and 282 earthquake shocks were felt
at the same time in the West Indies.
July 26, 1870, volcano Momotombo broke
forth and earthquake shocks frequented
the isthmus. March 10, 1873, the, city OF
San Salvador; just north of Nicaragua.
was entirely destroyed In 1882 the city
of Mexico suffered from earthquake. The
senator went on. ..~>.''
Mr.. President, come now to call the atten-
ton Of the senate to the most extraordinary
event of this character which / have read
about. 1t will be observed on the map OF
Lake Nicaragua that Immediately opposite the
exit Of this canal towards the Pacific is an
island, which should say Is fifteen or twenty
miles long. It is called the island OF. Cnotepe.
The northern end of that island is marked by
the volcano Of that name, and the southern
extremity of the island Is occupied by the
noes and set down as such In sclentlhc WORKS.
How have they performed? -.--., -
On the 10Th of June, 1882 while these me-
gotiations were going on and while the pro-
uoters were upon the ground, from the vol
cano Of Omotepe lava flowed for days and
spread over the island. The eruption was ac-
companied by earthquakes, and the whole pop
ulation of the island took refuge on the main
land.
/ That was as late as 1883 and within twenty
miles of the exit of this canal going west from
the lake Of Nicaragua. : Omotepe is on the
island Of that name and lis now (1S33) twice
as active as it used to be-" For more than
century 1t has been quiet, but during the
| last few years it has been active, so much
| 60 on one occasion as to nearly destroy the
town at its base. In 1885, the town of Anna
titan, in Guatemala. was almost destroyed.
An eruption OF Mornotombo occurred on the
! ED OF May, 1885, and Nicaragua, or Rivas,
and other towns experienced earthquake
| shocks. s..
| Kneeland, volcanoes and Earthquakes
pages 1853, says: I'm Nicaragua a great
eruption of Momotombo occurred on the I'D
Of May, 1885. 1t was accompanied by severe
earthquake shocks, during which the whole
area of Managua, the capital, sank three feet,
completely destroying all the most importan;
public buildings and many lives
In 1887 an earthquake in the City of Mex
leo fractured walls and aqueducts.
| In 1888, on the 3oth day Of September, Poas
volcano (fifty miles south of the eastern sec
tion of the canaD was in eruption and. de-
! stroyed the capital and cathedral in San Jose
the capital Of Costa Rica. =
1t. is Cascutlan-"the land that swings like
| a hammock according to the translation Of
| its Indian name. There Is not city within
$50 miles Of this canal, either way, that in
| the last forty years has not had the bell;
| In its churches tolled by earthquakes. Thi
awful operations OF nature, in my opinion, Mr.
| President, explain why that vanished civ
tlization in Yueatan was so transitory. Tina
people disappeared in the abyss of time an;
left no trace excepting those colossal struc
lures which rival the s"pyramidal immens
ties" of Egypt. That is one of the reason
why modern civilization has taken no fruit
/ eul and enduring root in that country. TIL
| forces Of nature are so stupendous and de
structive that they annihilate the works o
men, the most enduring Of which are bu
4 bubbles. -.
Il In my Judgment it Is not wise and pruden
to commit the government to the expenditur