The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-06-10
SENATOR HANNA CONTINUES HIS
ARGUMENT.
ROUTE PREFERABLE
Opinions of Large List of Ship Mas
tiers and Others Unanimously in
Favor Of Panama-Biu for Relief NJ
h North Carolina A. and VI. Col
lege-Further Debate on the An
archy Bill.

a1c iSSuliieu the consideration of the
lIsthmian canal bill, lIr. Hanna. Of
Ohio. continuing his in SUD-
port Of the Panama canal.
The Ohio senator declared that no DO
iltical considerations were involved in
the canal problem, and that every SEN
ator was IabofIng for what he conceiy-
ed to be the best interests of the coun-
try He discussed some of the technical
difficulties involved in the consideration
OF h Panama route, notably the Bohio
DAM, and declared his confidence in the
engineering skill of Americans to solve
any problem. OF hat kind.
He presented the opinions of eighty
three ship masters and pilots as to the
desirability of the Panama and Nicara-
qua routes Unanimously hey were in
favor of the Panama route for many
reasons which they cited. Senator
Hanna reinforced this information with
the argument that the views of men
who had devoted their lives to the sea
and who were expected to use the canal
by Whatever route it might be con-
structed, ought TO be given considera-
ton. He urged that the construction of
the Nicaragua canal was beset with I'M
known difficulties. while the construc-
ton of the Panama canal was IAN open
book" He lao particular stress upon
the danger to the Nicaragua route from
volcanoes and urged that it was not
good business policy to ignore those
dangers in a project involving an eX-
penditure of 5000, 000, 900.
In conclusion Senator Hanna appeal
ed to the senate to consider the matter
as a business proposition, and, with
some feeling, ne repudiated the Sugges-
ton that those who favored the ana
ma route were not in favor Of the con-
Istruction of a canal. He hoped that the
work of construction would be begun
before the close of the present year.
senator Ham criticised the testi-
mony Of Captain Merry, minister of the
United States 10 Nicaragua, who sup
ported the Nicaragua route. He said
captain Merry was a stakeholder in the
Maritime Canal Company which, Of
~course. wanted the Nicaragua route
adopted. The Ohio enato suggested
that MIR. Merry would better attend to
his own duties and not interest himself
lin questions of this kind.
Mr.. Hanna devoted some attention
Ito the action of the house in passing the
Hepburn bill for the construction of
the canal by the Nicaragua route and
declared that scores of members OF that
body had not even read the report upon
the bill, brief as it was" Members
had voted it because they were anxious
to bring to a satisfactory conclusion the
Itsthmian canal question.
AS to the possibilities of danger from
Seismic disturbances he thought it was
practically an even thing between the
two routes. There was not enough
danger along either route to deter the
United States from building the canal
either in Nicaragua or Panama. He
laid particular stress upon the danger
to the Nicaragua route from volcanoes,
and quoted Professor Heilprin, the vol
lcano expert, as saying that the region
of Panama was not in LANCER from vol
Icanic disturbance. Mr.. Hanna said IN
the construction of his canal the Unit
ed States was invading the territory of
the volcano: that in Lake Nicaragua it
self, there were two volcanoes, one OF
(which had been active recently.
Senator Hanna presented a synopsis
Iof the statement of eighty-three cap
itains of ocean Solng steamers and other
vessels bearing upon the use of an 18TH
imian canal. He said the ships and
their 6 must pay the operating
IeXpenses of the canal and in the natur-
al order of things the wishes OF the
lowners and masters of ships as to the
route of the canal ought to be consider
ed. Up to this time it had not been
ldeemed necessary to obtain the views
of e masters and pilots as to the
route of the ANAL 1t seemed to him a
sound business proposition to build the
lcanal along the route preferred Dy sea
lfaring men.
Senator Hanna said that all of the
masters questioned had had experience
in navigating the Suez, Manchester and
lkiel canals. They were unanimous IT
favor of the Panama route for steamer
four hundred feet long and twenty-five
draft provided both canals were in Up
leration and wea tier and expense condi-
lions were equal. From the answers tC
the questions ~propounded it was eviden,
that the masters questioned much pre-
lferred the Panama route to the Nicara
qua route, declaring that for practical
i~seafaring reasons the Panama route
was the better.
In answer to an inquiry of Senator
Mitchell. Senator Hanna said the infor-
nation had com to him at his W in
Istigation in the course of his investiga-
ton of this carai question.
He suggested that If the Cniteo
States should Construct a canal alons
tine nicaragua lOule, II "oOio
assurance that some other nation
would no. decide to complete the Pana
ina canal. If such jealousy hould arlst
as would prompt another nation to CON
lstruct the Panama canal. the Unltec
States in his opinion. would be at 4 Sc
lriouS disadvantage.
The senate PASSED a bill to relieve
George T. Winston and W. S. Primrose
from responsibility for ordnance store:
Issued to the North Carolina college
lof Agriculture and Mechanic Arts de
lstroyed by fire.
House of Representatives.
General debate upon the anti-anarch1
bill closed today. The incident of tn
day was a speech by Mr.. Richardson
Ian Alabama democrat, condemning tn
president, in severe tones, for the refer
~Iences in his memorial day Grafton a
darlington to the epithets applied u
lLincoln and Grant during the civil war
and m his illusions to ~lynchings.
Reluctant as he was to do SC, Mr.Rich