Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-28
either terminal that would be superior
in advantage and ease of construction
to any other route proposed.
Hepburn Talks.

Hepburn Talks.
Upon tLis proposition, in an inter
view with your correspondent, Col.
Hepburn expressed himself in this
vein: The estimated distance via the
Darien route is twenty-nine miles. Six
miles of this must be cut through sol
i'd mountain, the nature or hardness of
which are points unfamiliar TO Col
Hepburn. The estimated cost is $685.
600 900, as against $3.50, 100000 for the
Nicaragua route. 1t is about fifty
miles east of the Panama survey; that
much farther from New Orleans. The
same objections. as to fatal climate,
wretched country and complicated ii
tie exist as with Panama. When the Co
lomfian government granted to the
Panama syndicate concessions cover
ing the grant, these concessions in
cluded express stipulations that the
territory lying between the Panama
survey and the Colombian republic
was barred from use for intar-oceanic
canal purposes. The Colombian gov.
eminent is bound not to enter into ne
gotiations for concessions with any
government or corporation having in
view the construction of a canal. I'm
less the Panama syndicate would quit
claim. which obviously, is out of the
question. a concession from the Col
ombian government would be void and
in fact convey nothing.
One Feature of Importance.
Continuing, Col. Hepburn remarked
that there was one feature of the Nj
caraguan route upon which practically
nothing had been said, yet which, in
his opinion, was a consideration OF
greatest Importance: that of the poll
teal advantages to be gained. The
most fertile section of the earth known
to mankind The climate is semi
tropical. certain air currents combin-
| ing 10 make it as delightful as that of
southern California. The soil is mar
velously rich and fertile, producing the
finest coffee in the world; coffee which
sells at home for one dollar per pound
and of which we know nothing; it is
not shipped here. There are millions
of acres of these lands belonging to
! the Nicaraguan government, which
might be obtained at merely nominal
prices. Nicaragua desires the United
! States to construct this canal for com
mercial reasons, and is ready to grant
| concessions upon most favorable
terms, the protocol providing for a
strip of land six miles wide.
Advantages of Nicaragua Route.
Lake Nicaragua is magnificent
body of water Jas miles long, with
towns and harbors. The building of q
canal would at once place this govern
rent in the position of a dominant
power in that section, with an infiu
ence extending northward into Mexico
The commercial and political advan
tages cannot we'll be estimated, ant
they will increase with each succeed
ing year The opening up of cana
would bring hundreds of thousands o
people to that section who would be
come residents adding to the value o
the concessions and increasing thu
prestige of the United States in tn
l Central American countries. The build
; ing of the canal at Panama or Dariel
! would not add family to the secJio
traversed. nor add dollar to GU
: trade with the southern countries nc
give us additional political influence
: 1t would even jeopardiZe the lives {
3 the government agents detailed to o.
e crate the canal. The climate is deat
|. ly and the country parched desert.
!, No Comparison.
), From strictly commercial vie
$ point there is no comparison betwee
G the two routes. The Panama rout
:, is five hundred miles south of the N
/, caraguan Under favorable condition
b a ship would require two days to NAH
It up the distance thus lost. The CO.
/ of operating a steamship of 5000 tor
It displacement is about $1,000 per da
it Thus the additional expense to eao
il ship for the round trip would excee
e 81, 600 for a 5000 ton vessel TIL
loss to transportation companies ar
shippers would amount to a sum a
nually almost equal to the interest {
If the cost of the canal Here is
e feature that applies for all time
n come. The. question of original co
d is to be taken into consideration b
i, once.
le Cost Is Less Than Estimate.
RI Col. Hepburn says the estimat,
n. cost of the Nicaraguan route is gres
ly in excess of the amount that won
actually be required, in his opinio
al to construct and equip the canal.
/" is now possible TO base estimates upt
me UNI Ol COSt Luz SASdf dung III III
% section, which is approximately s.
at teen cents per cubic yard, where
: the estimate of the comission calls
forty-five cents. The work would
volve practically the same cost as ST
liar engineering works in Peru al
~ Venezuela, which were construct
IT, for sixteen cents. The estimates a
y fifty per cent higher than the excav;
y, ing Of the Chicago drainage canal {
III tually cost. While there might be
er slightly increased cost over the c.
|; cago canal, it would be very slight.
Comparisons.
j. The estimated cost of operatir
LEI maintenance and repairs of the N
araguan canal is S3,300,000 per annu
80 The receipts cannot be so we'll es
~, mated, although the tonnage annua
~ passing through the canal is various
-. estimated from 100000 to 10000
b. tons. On the basis Of one dollar to
st Der ton, the government would ha
IN 100000, after paying fixed charg
Isl The government can borrow money
Two per cent, so if the canal shall CT
400 am n0O and Tho loWact aStipot