The New York herald., 1876-09-23
THE INTEROCEANIC CANAL

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
In August, 1875. the International Geographical Con-
gress, at its second meeting, held at the Tuilsries
Paris, took up the question of the canal the
American isthmus. Several gentlemen, among them
some who interested in their own particular
lines addressed the meeting this important matter
but the result OF it was that definite conclusion
reached The Congress then passed the following reso
luton, which proposed by Mr. Ferdinand dc Les
seps:-"That the governments Of the different coun.
tries interested In this great work should give every
possible encouragement to thorough study OF IT, and
tha, their attention should be particularly devoted to
those which offer the greatest advantages 10
navigation from their accessibility and from the few
obstacles in passing through them" At the same
time that this resolution passed presented pa
per In which summed up the result OF my studies Tor
Ave years. taken from all the documents and reports
could 1nd in relation TO the proposed canal In this
paper endeavored to put entirely out OF sight all per-
sonai feeling we'll any that l as
Frenchman might have In regard to my country.
Conviaced as l was that work Of such importance
should interest all the nations of the world
coRdned myself to general and purely scientific study
oi the enterprise, and, the work be interna
tonal, invited men OF science all over the globe
aid me In deciding which route for the proposed ship
vantageous for all nations The Commission OF Com
mercial Geography, and the Geographical Society OF
Paris have. IN compliance with my appeal, taken the
matter actively in hand, and March ~ 1876 formed
the French Section oil tho 'lnternational Committee
to study the question OF cutting canal through the
American isthmus" Among the members OF this
section can be mentioned President Mr. Ferdinand
do Lesseps Manager OF the Sucz Canal Company; the
Vice Presidents, Mr. dc la Ronciere do Noury Senator
Vice Admiral and President OF the Paris Geographical
Society, and Mr. Acurand, Director OF the Consulates
in the State Department. aud honorary President Of
the Paris Geographical Society, and the Secretary Mr.
Leon Drouilie an engineer, member OF the Paris Geo.
graphical Society and author OF the proposed or
Ton has had its oaice at No. Rue clsrv
Paris, In Of the OF tho Suex
Canal Companys building, which Mr. Ferdinand do
Lesseps has been so good as to put at Its disposition
where can be found all the papers and documents
the subject, and where all correspondence should be
addressed. The French section has received subsidies
several departments Of the governments and has
entered into relations with all the geographical
ties IN the world of whose existence It is cognizant
begging them TO cooperate in the work, and TO have
sections named in their respective countries similar
that France Most OF the geographical societies of
Europe have already appointed their sections and,
from the resolutions they passed in doing SO, will
be represented at the first meeting of the
Committee al Paris some time during tho month of
November next The American Geographical Society
OF New York have had no regular meeting since the
plan has been offered 10 their consideration, but the
French geographical Society, seeing tho Importance
OF obtaining especially the operation of the kindred
society In the United States. has commissioned
/ can to that the American sec
tion should be formed possible Mr..
Nathan Appleton of Boston. a geutieman who for
many years has been interested in the canal question:
went with me 10 call upon Judge DAILY, the President
Of tho American Geographical Society who received
courteousy. He said that ut its first meeting IN
October the American Geographical Society would
take into consideration the formation OF American
se.tion; that there was every probability that
would be formed and that he thought that measures
would be taken to have the society through
some OF its members at the meeting OF the Interna-
tona Committee to be held in Paris In November
next Judge Daily added in respect 10 letter handed
him from DR.. Johnston, the well known American
ply Paris, that no would undoubtedly DO one
members American
he stood very high in the estimation OF the society.
LEON DR0UILLET,
Secretary OF the French Section OF the
Committee to study the question Of cutting u canal
through the Amerc. n Isthmus.