Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-20

| test over the Panama canal treaty
and it was only after months of hard
work that that agreement was rati
fed. 1t is predicted that the fight over
the new treaties will be even more bit
ter.
Costa Rica's Constitution.
Another obstacle which can be re
| moved however, in due course of time
Is the fact that the constitution o
Costa RIGA forbids granting any foreign
power sovereignty over it's territory
| A convention will have to be called tt
amend the constitution, giving the
| United States perpetual control ovel
the canal strip. The president of Cos
| ia RIGA has called this fact to the at
tention of his people, and when the
| negotiations for new canal treaty be
gin he will take steps toward convenins
constitutional convention.
Little Republics More Reasonable
Aside from these obstacles there
will be smooth sailing, as both Nicar
aqua and Costa RIGA are anxious tc
have the canal constructed through
their territory, as it will be of great
advantage to these countries. They are
more reasonable in their demands thar
| Colombia, which eXacted bonus OF
| $40 100000 and an annual rental OF
$25O,000.
Costa Rica's Former Offer.
In the protocols and treaties enter
ed into with those countries but
which were not ratified because of the
adoption of the Panama canal route
Costa RIGA agreed to grant the neces
sary concessions for bonus of 81,
| 100000 and small annuity, and the
| United States agreed to guarantee in
perpetuity the sovereignty, indepen
dence and territorial integrity of the
little republic. Nicaragua will grant
the concessions for bonus of $4,000,
600 and an annuity of only $4,000,
with the same guarantee of territorial
integrity.
Cost Will Be Greater.
These are small considerations com
pared with the demands of Colombia
"a bonus of s10,000,000 and an an.
nual rental Of $250,O00. The cost of the
canal by the Nicaraguan route will be
greater than the panama, and the dis.
lance through it will be four or five
times as great, but the Nicaraguan
route is much nearer the United
| States.
| Millions Are Ready.
For the shorter route congress ap
propriated $60,000,OOO and authorized
| additional expenditure of $135 ,000,0 900
or total of $195,O0o,000. OF this
amount S40,000,OOo was for the Pana
ma railway and other property and the
rights of the Panama Coal Co., A bon
| us of $10,000,000 was to be paid to Co
lombia and $10,900,000 devoted for the
beginning Of work on the canal.
Nearly s2oo,ooo,ooo.
If Costa RIGA and Nicaragua do no
increase their price for concessions
the Nicaragua canal will cost $197 500,
900. OF this amount $6,O00,00O will b.
paid to Nicaragua, $1,500,0o0 to Costa
RIGA, $10,000,000 for inaugurating the
work on the canal and $3.50, 900 900 au
thorized for expenditure in the future
The Nicaragua canal will therefore
cose $2,500,000 more than the Pana
ma route, but if the canal had beer
constructed by the latter route thu
United States government would have
owned the railroad running between
| the city of Panama and Colon at an ad
ditional cost of $2.500,000.
No Trouble With England.
4 In order to make it possible to built
the waterway by the Nicaragua rout
it was necessary for the United State
to negotiate treaty with Great Brit
ain abrogating the Clayton-Bulwe
treaty and entering into a new conven
ton. This treaty, which was negotiat
ed by Secretary Hay and Lord Paunce
fote, is now in effect, consequently n
obstacles will be encountered in thi
: direction.