The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-04
The Nicaragua Canal.
From the Londo on Times. June

The Nicaragua Canal.
From the London Times. June 20
The latest advices from the United States contain
some in sting details regarding the proposed juno
ton Of the Atlantic and Pacific. The New ork
rapy by whom the concession for the construction of
the canal has been obtained from the State of Nicara
qua, anticipate it appears. to open the route from
San Juan, Greytown, to the Pacific, that may
be practicable fot passengers in the course of couple
of months This will at once famiarize the public
with its capabilities and will prepare the way for the
grand work, which is simultaneously contem plated.
The statistics of the last year show that the number Of
passengers monthly crossing the ishmus. have been
than 1000 and the belief is, that the
possibility exists, nearly the whole Of these will go
warranted by the difference OF climate, as compared
with Panama and the great saving Of distance.
The charge contemplated for each passenger Is
forty dollars, and the transit is hoped to be
ranged so as to occupy not more than twenty feur
hours Instead Of any dininution Of the tide OF traffic,
signs Of it's rapid increase every observable
but supposing 1t is argued, that the monthly number
Of passengers should amount only TO half the average
which crossed the istbmus in 1S49, II would make
aggregate of not less than $4,000 psrsons per annum
which at $40 each, would yield nearly 1000 600 or
about f200 600 The freight Of merchandise aud spe-
Gle and the allowance for mail service will have to be
added and as the land carriage connected with the
route will only be for distance of Is miles the
penses Of the whole service will be altogether
cant Under these circumstances the holders Of the
contract are calculating upon immense profits and
the saving effected by the choice Of this line is too
pspabe to admit Of competition la any other part OF
the isthmus, and they possess monopoly as far as
Nicaragua IL concerned there Il apparently reason
to distrust in any important degree, these favorable
conclusions.
With regard 20 the object In which Europe IS more
medist.ly concerned, namely the construction Of
canal that shall admit the passage Of the largest ships
there seems to be an active feeling which promises
well for the direct accom- shment Of the undertaking
In ls43 the cost Of the work estimated at $4,000
600 and most writer's including English officers and
engineers, who have visited the district since that
time, have been disposed, bearing in mind the i'm
provemonts which have takon place in mechanical
science to consider this as rather over than under
what would be required The tonnage that would
yearly pass through the canal then calculated AZ
BEING socoans to the
treaty to be charged ake would yield 81 100000 or
eouv.r's Island however, had not then into tho
prospect and IL Is now pointed out that the number
of vessels which have gone to California within twelve
Of nearly 100000 tons These. going and returning,
would amount TO 100000 tons, which would yield
$4,000 O00, or fs0eOO0 per annum. making total OF
81 100000, subject only to tax which would be pay
able to the State Of Nicaragua Of twenty cent on
the net balance Of profit.
This 1. the view given by the American promoters OF
the enterprise and the totals such to appear at
the fret glance almost preposterous But It must be
remembered that the calculation made In ls43 OF the
number Of ships likely TO pass through the canal an
nually was not an American one and that was made
obtained would permit while as regards the vessels
that sailed last year to California, the statement Is
simply that Of an ascertained fact The only mode,
therefore by which the foregoing antcipaons can be
dealt with 10 be reduced 10 by assuming that the
calculation In 1913 too large, whatever may have
been the desire to make u correct and by weighing
the question whether the traffic TO CahfornAis likely
the date OF the pletion the be
to what 1t is at present. The experience OF almost
every public work that has ever been undertaken
would also necessitss, notwithstanding the most re.
cent opinions to the contrary belief that the cost OF
construction will by one means or another be raised
considerably beyond the contemplated $4,000 600,
As to the tonnage estimate OF 1913 there is every
to believe that the extent 20 which the route
would be made use Of to the Indian Seas was much
oyerrated and large deduction would therefore be
warranted In that respect. The charge Of % per
ton must likewise be looked upon too great since,
although the saving to American vessels by adopting
the route would be 3es per would in the Of
European vessels, be only I9s "a per ton. At the
same time, the increase In general commerce. during
aperiod OF seven years must be estimated on the other
side with regard to the next point whether the trsf.
&c to California Is likely to maintain IL. present rate,
the fact that no indications Of the supply OF gold
being limited have yet been furnished and that, on
the contrary everything seems to lead belief In
lie extension and also in the working Of other nine
rails .nd metals, such 8. cinnabar, silver, &c must
be taken Into account Apart from this, moreover,
the rapid peopliDg Of the whole northern shore OF
the Pacific, IRON CALIFORNIA; to the strait OF San
Juan de fuoa the effect of the abundance OF coal At
Nancouyers Island. and the certainty Of speedy ee
Enlistment Of n steam route to Chins we'll ss Of
and indeed to greater less degree Of all the other
epaDsh American republics will present the idea not
only that falling OF in the existing trafao prob
able, but that ve are now upon the dawn 81 an ex-
tension of commerce. In the direction OF the Pacific
which will work some OF the greatest wonders that
have yet been Witnessed from the energies OF mankind
The tracts Of land In Nicarsgus conceded TO the
psny. and the monopoly Of steam navigation on the
waters Of that State, must also be considered; and
that II the present calculations OF tonnage, ko,
reduced half and the sstimstsd cost Of the
canal we're doubled making the outlay fS000 600 and
the revenue only fsJ000O, they would still be sun
Gent to make the speculation Legitimate one, II s
difficult not TO entertain conviction that only fsw
yesrs can nov elspse before the world will witness s
accomplishments
There few signs that England vills take part
In the enterprise Its nature and the fitness Of the
moment were pointed out In TIE Tym,, months before
the period when the concession from the Government
Of Nicarsgua was applied for BY the parties at New
York, by whom u II nov held, bat disposition
excited TO do more than 10 confess the grandeur
Of the scheme With two years Of the period when
proposals for the immediate construction Of psb-
lie works to the extent Of f7ls00o,Oo0 for OPEN
ing communications with every petty village in the
United Kingdom, had been gravely put forward and
defended was found scarcely practicable to raise
f2OooOO0 for the improvement 81 India under q
government guarantee OF FER cent. aud wholly
out Of the question 70 think Of raising 1000 600 for
the work Of joining the t~o of the globe
But although the faith which IL great ends
has bten absscd and thus for time utterly destroyed
side. may believe that has merely changed
the place Of lite manifestation, and that what
neglect will be carried out by the IN the
United States II the interests Of this country should
bile suffer from any delay that might otherwise
have been obvisted, or from the adoptsn Of a mar
mode of construction than that which IL essen
tial for ships II must be inferred that u will
be unfair and ass too late to complain when the rick
has been taken and the plans decided upon without
any aid being volunteered on our part.