The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-07
HANNA TALKS
FOR PANAMA
Ohio Senator Continues
His Argument.
POLITICS NOT CONSIDERED
Ayers That He IS Earnest n
His Advocacy.
Presents statem3ts from Ship o.
tains and Pilots, Favoripg the II
Panama scheme-The oues-
ton Of olcanoes Discussed.
POLITICS NOT CONSIDERED

washington. June 6.--After transactinu
some routine business today. the Senate
resumed consideration OF the isfhmian
canal bill. Mr.. Hanna tohio) continuing
his argument in support Of the Panama
canal.
The Ohio Senator declared that no POI
litical considerations were involved in the
canal problem. He presented the opln-
ions Of cfghty-three ship masters and pi~
lots in favor of the Panama route e
against the Nicaragua route, for reasons
which they cited, He urged that the con-
struction of the Nicaraguan canal wan
bcsct with unknown difficulties. while the
construction Of the Panama canal was
ian open book" He laid particular stress
on the danger to the Nicaragua route
from VOLCANOES and urged that 1t was nod
good business policy to ignore those dan-
gers in project involving an expendi-
turs Of saoe ooo. 600.
Engineering Difficulties.
Mr.. Hanna discussed at length the en-
cheering difIiculties presented in the con-
struction of the Bohio dam on the Pam
anna route, maintaining that 1t was fea-
sible project In the hands of modern skill
ed engineers.
Mr. Hanna criticized the statement Of
Mr. Merry, United States Minister to
Nicaragua, who supported the Nicara-
qua routes He said Captain Merry was
stakeholder in the Maritime Canal Come
pany, which. of course, wanted the Mica
ragua route adopted.
| AS to the possibilities of danger from
| semismic disturbances, he thought II was
practically an even thing between the
| two routes There was not enough dan
| ger along either route to deter the United
states from building the canal. either in
Nicaragua or Panama. He laid 'psrteu-
| lar stress on the danger in the Nicaragua
route from VOLCANOES and quoted Professor
Heilprin, the volcano expert. as saying
| that the region of Panama was not IN
danger of volcanic disturbances.
Active Volcanoes.
| Mr.. Hanna said that In the construction
| of this canal, the United States was in
vading the territory of the volcano; that
| In Lake Nicaragua itself there were two
VOLCANOES, one of which had been active
recently.
| rs It," he inquired. reasonable or safe
| to put aside lightly such conditioner We
are not going backward in history to find
| illustrations, but we are considering the
dangers from VOLCANOES that may arise at
any time If there were no other reasons.
would not these reasons cause any person
or corporation to hesitate In the expendi-
| ture of $500, 900 0O0f''
Mr.. Hanna declared that If one of the
VOLCANOES in Lake Nicaragua should play
the same part as Mont Pelee had play
| ed enough lava and mud and rock would
| be elected to fill Lake Nicaragua
May l suggest said Mr.. Harris (kas.)
he n Martinique
would not fill one-half of the lake OF
Nicaragua"
Mr.. Hanna presented synopsis
from data collected by him from the
statements of eighty-three captains OF
ocean going steamers and other vessels
bearing on the use of an isthmian canal.
and said 1t seemed TO him sound busi-
ness proposition to build the canal along
the route preferred by seafaring men.
Favor Panama Route.
Ali of the masters questioned had had
experience in navigating the Suez, Man
chester and Kiel canals. They were
una nimous In favor of the Panama route
for steamers 400 feet long and 25 feet draft
provided both canals were In operation
| and weather and expense conditions were
equal.
Mr. Hanna repudiated absolutely any
insinuations against the motives of those
who favored the Panama canal. he said
the work already done on the Panama.
canal was along the lines of the best en-
cheering skill The proposition to sell
to this country che Panama Canal Com
pany's rights WAS made because It was
known that this country had determined
to finish this great work. He suggested
that IL the United States should decide
to construct a canal along the Nicara-
qua route 1t would have no assurance
| that some other nation would not decide
| to complete the Panama canal.
| The Senate at 4:35 p. m. adjourned.