The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-24
AT The CAPITAL.
Senator Harris Gives InfOrma-
ton About Canal.
Set Mr.. Carnegie Alright About
Nicaraguan Route.
BUFFALO JONES TALKS
Discusses the Game Situation in
United States.
Items of Interest to Kansans
From Washington.

Washington, D. c., Feb. Ex-senator
L. c. Platt has made public some cor
respondence of Andrew Carnegie and
Senator w. A. Harris on the subject of
an isthmian canal. Mr.. Carnegie takes
the position the Nicaraguan canal will
require $500. 00O, 900 to complete it; that
it has curves of 1000 feet radius: that
three days will be required to pass
through it, moving by day only; that
the trade tributary to this canal will be
less than 100000 tons annually. He
says: Il wish to go on record as assur-
ing Senator Morgan and his friends OF
the south as we'll as of the north that
they will be more benefited by the Pan
anna canal than by the Nicaragua"
Senator Platt, knowing of the engi-
neering ability of Senator Harris, re-
ferred the above objections to him, and
his reply is that they ARE not borne out
by the facts" He says the cost is more
liable to run under 5000, 600 600 than over
that sum; that there are curves in the
Manchester canal of less than 1000 feet
radius; that the passage will be made
in SO continuous hours, as the canal can
easily be lighted at night; that the ton
100000 to 100000. ITO my mind"
said the senator, The advantages which
the Nicaragua presents are:
First, shorter voyage and a gain in
time for all business except of that
western South America, which is less
than 20 per cent of the total estimated
business.
Second, and most important, along
the Nicaragua route the work is all well
distributed and easily within the limits
of ordinary engineering experience,
while on the Panama line the dam at
Bohic and the auxiliary work including
the locks, involves new and untried
problems, and as Mr. Morrison says. no
engineer will undertake in advance to
say how the work can be done This
and the adjacent works will cost more
than four times as much, if ever sue
cessfully built, by the commissions es-
Inmates, as any corresponding features
on the Nicaragua line. The great cut at
Culebra is nearly four times as great as
anything on the other route, and from
its character and partial history is a
problem of the first magnitude
Buffalo Jones, of Topeka is in
Washington for the purpose of pushing
through congress a bill having for its
object the preservation and propagation
sheep and goats, and the musk OK. The
bill will also provide for experiments in
crossing these animals upon similar do
nestle animals for the purpose of pro-
ducing harder and possibly more use
full ones in some particulars. The presi-
dent is very m UGH interested in the
proposition, and it is believed that he
will urge privately that some action be
taken by congress in this matter. Il
am very much gratified at the remarks
of the president said Mr.. Jones to the
State Journal reporter, and I have the
earnest support of DIR. G. Hart Mer-
riam, biologist of the department of ag-
riculture, and of Clifford Pinchot, for
ester of the same department.
There are not, all told, over 600 buff
falo left in the United States. The
three principal herds in existence are
located in the great game preserve of
the Austin Corbin estate in New Hamp-
shire, the F1athead Indian reservation,
Montana, and upon the ranch of Mr..
Charles Goodnight, in the Panhandle of
Texas.
"A few years ago 1 owned about
every remaining buffalo in this country,
but sold them off to the parties named
and a few others. 1 also disposed of
sixteen head in Europe.
Il became interested in the perpetu-
alton of the bison chiefly to atone for
my sin of slaughtering them. In the
old days, when they were thick upon
the plains, killed them by the hundred
for 80 cents apiece. Not until years
afterward did 1 realize the enormity of
the offense. Now I want congress to
pass the Curtis bill, which sets apart a
large tract in New Mexico for their