This Commission, under the presidency of Rear-Admiral John G. Walker,
U.S.N. (retired), entered promptly upon the work intrusted to it,
and is now carrying on examinations in Nicaragua along the route of
the Panama Canal, and in Darien from the Atlantic, in the neighborhood
of the Atrato River, to the Bay of Panama, on the Pacific side. Good
progress has been made, but under the law a comprehensive and complete
investigation is called for, which will require much labor and
considerable time for its accomplishment. The work will be prosecuted as
expeditiously as possible and a report made at the earliest practicable
date.
The great importance of this work cannot be too often or too strongly
pressed upon the attention of the Congress. In my message of a year ago
I expressed my views of the necessity of a canal which would link the
two great oceans, to which I again invite your consideration. The
reasons then presented for early action are even stronger now.
A pleasing incident in the relations of this Government with that
of Chile occurred in the generous assistance given to the war ship
_Newark_ when in distress in Chilean waters.
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