The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-13

observe In the Washington items OF your issue
OF this morning the following statement in regard
to the "Tehuantepec" route:-
The report OF the route examined and surveyed
by Captald NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. laid aside by
the commission until they shall have been able 10
satisfactorily iniorm themselves egardlng the CUR.
veys at Nlcarauga and Napipi This Is Tor the rea-
son that Captain Shufeldts report presents little
more than an examination OF his route. 1t CON
tains no estimates OF the work required and a
doubtful Recommendation OF Its feasibility with any
means short OF national resources. The slirve &
OF Captains Lull and seliIidge present complete
estimates and earnest rec0mme nations. The
surveyor, though a civil engineer has been en-.
gagged with each party, whose report u an appen.
dix to their own.
This statement is, fear, calculated to do inus-
tice to that route and incidentally to myself For
the purpose, so lar as possible, OF correcting any
misrepresentation which may result from 1t beg
leave to say .t......-.
THE PRIMARY PROBLEM SOLVED.
FtrstCThat the expedition was organized by my
self Tor reconnaissance only. 1t occupied PERIOD
OF ave months, ana Iesulted in solving the primary
problem, VIZ. FINDING an uniailing source OF
water supply at the summit level sufficient to ill a
canal o. me ioewlng dimensions isa ieet top
depth. These dimensions were assumed be-
cause the utility OF tas canal was based upon
us geographical, commercial ana political position
with reference to the domestic trade OF the United
States 10 develop our own trade, to bring the
sition, to complete water route as a competitor
to The transc0ntinentai railway system are the
main objects OF an lnleroceanlc canal SO lar as
the people OF sthe united States are Immediately
concerned, to hold that route within our own con.
troi anu 70 locate II within our own waters ought
me as impoliiic to build q can which In time of
peace would throw open the commerce OF the Pa
cine to the easy competition OF Europe, or in time
OF war wouid enable any naval Power to control 1t.
NO ESTIMATES YET CONTEMPLATED.
1t was not contemplated to estimate for this
work. Estimates, unless based upon the most
n rOn
are iaiiacous ana caicuiated to misead. We
neither had The men nor the money to make such o
report.
THE FEASIBILITY OF THE CANAL
Is doubted as O pecuniary investment ON the part
OF capitalists, but Is recommended as a national
undertaking, because we all know that the Suez
Canal was oullt, IN point OF TACT, by the French
government; that Its nominal stock does not
begin to represent Its real cost, and that ever
upon that stock 1t does not yield paying dvl-
dend. We have no reason to expect that canal
across this Continent can be constructed on more
favorable or less expensive conditions.
1t is lair to assume that with the knowledge of
the cost OF the SueZ Canal and the remuneration,
either present or prospective, to its stockholders,
together with the fact that this was built, to q
pOic government, It is fair. / say. to assume
That no private individuals can be found In good
lalth to undertake work Of such magnitude on
this continent at the present day. ! believe that
treaty with Mexico, 30 far as Tehuantepec is
concerned, could De made by which that country
might issue bonds for the construction OF o canal
and the United States. as an onset to certain mil
tary and mercantile concessions, might guarantee
the interest upon them. We look IOr remunera.
ton to the immense benefits accrutng to the coun-
try by the opening OF a route when will 20 far
towards solving the question OF "cneap transpor-
tati0n." nr.f Il.
ADVANTAGES OF OTHER SURVEYS.
Second-1he surveys at Darlen and Nicaragua
are more thorough because they have occupied
much more time. That OF the first, under Com
mander Selfridge, has been In progress Tor nearly
three years, and That at Nicaragua, under Com.
mander Lull, having also had the advantages oil a
previous and thorough survey, made by Colonel
Child. These reports are OF course more complete,
and their estimates, presume, reliable.
ON THE BASIS OF ABSOLUTE FACTS
Thtrd-in my report on the return OF the survey.
ing expedition from Mexico referred the Navy
Department to the accompanying report Of the
Chief Civil Engineer, wnO from his attalnments
and experience was In every way calculated to
give the subject that scientific accuracy which the
object demanded. r-. 300 ~ a'.fiD4
work which before It is begun must challenge
the criticism Of the world, SO lar as | am con-
Cerned, was placed before the government upon
the basis OF absolute iacts and the deductions OF
a competent expert To the limited extent OF my
own knowledge OF the last and my own personal
inspection OF the first am wiling to stake my
reputation. Professor Fuertes, the Chief Civil
Engineer, Is now IN the faculty OF Cornell Univer-
sity. 1t ls proper to add that almost Immediately
alter my return from Mexico / went to sea and
the report was lett to the revision OF Others
Now, all ask Tor myself Is the credit OF having
organized this expedltlon actuated by the sole
hope OF bcnehtihg the country, and the permission
to express the belief That when this question Is
understood In all Its bearings the lsthmus OF TIE.
huantepec will De found to possess advantages
which this country cannot afford to ignore
K W. ShUFELDT, Captain United States Navy.
NAVY YARD, New York, Feb 10, 1874