The New York herald., 1878-11-13
PANANA'S SHIP CANAL.
Interesting Lecture by Admiral Am
men on the Project
THE LAKE +. NICARAGUA ROUTE.
Advantages It Would Confer on
the Worlds Commerce.

Navy lectured last night in Chickering Hall before
the members of the American Geographical Society
and friends upon the interesting subject of 1.-THE Pro-
posed Interoceanic Ship Canal Across the American
lsthmus," between Greytown and Brto. via Lake
Nicaragua showing its feasibility and its advantages
as compared with other proposed routes. Mr.
Ammen formerly Chief Of the Bureau Of
Navigation. under the management Of which
the surveys the Isthmus conducted.
lie therefore speaks from practical knowl-
edge Of the subject. as well as from theo-
retical acquaintance of all the matters relating
to il. His views have met with the approval of the
best engineers of this country and England. Tho
hall was crowded last night to hear his remarks and
the sudience entertained with some excellent
music prior to the opening Of the meeting. Judge
DAILY presided. and number Of prominent gentle
men had seats on the platform. After some routine
business connected with the society Judge DAILY in
lengthy speech introduced the lecturer Of the
Ing Rear Admiral Ammen.
THE LECTURE.
Two years ago. began Mr.. Ammen. had the honor
10 have read before this Society. by its secretary
paper upon the suciency of the information relating
to the topography Of this continent for the considers
ton and discussion Of transcontnenta ship canal.
The object was to set forth what was really Known ,
might be regarded as aording possible conditions for
Its construction 1t is fair presumption that the
constructed can only be named when it is shown
that better one exists At this time the informa-
hon supposed to be all that be desired by any
one relative to fair consideration Of the subject
After examination of the reports Of Lieutenant
Wyse Of both seasons have the belief that the clos
Ing paragraph Of my last paper is verified. namely
"That possible route exists comparable with what
had been presented in the surveys made by order Of
our government" The able reports Of Com
mander E. P. Lull and Civil Engineer A.
g. Menocal United States Navy. on the Nicaragua
route are sufficiently full for examination and crit
been given throughout careful consideration to that
vital question the construction Of interoceanic
ship canal in that reeion-an ample and studied pro-
vision to prevent quantity of surface
drainage entering the canal and the feasibility Of
eomplishing this object the located route, COM
pared with other routes. is, in my belief most i'm
portant point in it's favor.
LAKE NICARAGUA ROUTE.
The most important physical feature is the exist
ence of Lake Nicaragua, which, when full, is 1915
the summit level Of the canal The lake has q super
6ces Of 800 miles, with surface drainage falling into
II roughly estimated ct $50 miles which furnish an
great the commerce Of the world could require
h the lockaee Of vessels passing through the canal
cost OF feeder is not the most bene6cent feature; it
b in the equalization Of foods from large super
hcies that in reality the surface level Of the lake
may be said to change almost imperceptibly from day
to day In this lies the praccabity OF utilizing the
upper part of the San Juan River for slack water nav
cation.
At the distance Of 2s miles below the mouth Of the
Ban Carlos River the canal projected takes direct
ing through deep cuts that it is now known can be
avoided with considerable decrease in the estimate
for labof When the location Of the canal was made
the season was 80 far advanced that it did not allow
the necessary examination to be made to improve this
part of the canal line as located Civil Engineer A.
O. Menocal United States Navy, has since made suf
cient examination to assure him Of more favorable
location with probable decrease of the estimate for
COST OF THE UNDERTAKING..
A summary Of distances and estimates of cost ~
given in the report Of Civil Engineer Menocal is as
western division-From Port Brito TO the
lake. DistaLce. 1888 miles, estimated
Middle division-Iai AXE Nicaragua. Distance. -'
CO. so miles, estimated cost 716,65S
Eastern division--From lake to Greytown.
Distance 108.43 miles, estimated COST. 1920 9h
Construction OF Greytown harbor.. 2,2s5630
Construction OF Brito harbor. 2,337 739
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. .s52.577 71s
true economy. howeyer, viii VI! be to- to consider the
Dapita as double of the estimated cost Of construc
hon, in round numbers at 0o0o0,oo0.
No less than twelve miles Of the 58.23 referred to
Iboye "a entaling the heavy part of the expense is
ehiue labor This mode Of procedure could be prac-
hsed also nearly two miles the west coast leav
ing only about and half miles ON that section
The work. The government Of Nicaragua is now en-
gagged in blasting and removing rock from the chan
mel Of the San Juan River to improve its navigation
for small vessels. employing the methods and appi
ances Of Civil Engineer Menoca ut cost not exceed.
mate made by him for that work; the depth in
Crease doubtless the cost of excavation will Also but
certainly not beyond the estimate on this part Of the
projected canal.
Mr.. Amnen here digrcssed at length upon the
other proposed routes, and showed their impractica
bility and certain failure.
The question at issue he continued, is can an in
teroceanic canal be constructed with advantage to
commerce , q Of the world The points between which
the trade would naturally through the canal
shown by the map. First. between the Atlantic
oytdf1 af
this continent. Second, between the Atlantic
coasts Of Europe and America and Japan, Northern
China the Philippine and Sandwich Islands in the
Eothcrn Hemisphere and the eastern coast Of Aus
tralia. New Zealand and numerous productive islands
Of Statistics has kindly furnished me with several
tables two of which relate to the tonnage of the trade
that would naturally pass through this canal IL con-
structed. Additional information from the same
and from Mr.. Owen M. Long, United States
Consul ct Panama; also from Mr.. p. NJ McKellar,
United States Vice Consul at Valparaiso indicate that
not less than three millions OF tonnage, British and
own, would pass through the canal yearly, and
that the aggregate Of the other commercial Powers
MAaMrupE OF TIE woHx.
work of such magnitude a. this interoceanic ship
world, requiring considerable time to complete IL,
even II prosecuted in the most vigorous manner. and
Intended to serve world wide interests could, without
doubt best be constructed international basis.
The United states Is relatively near the work and has
one 20 unite ,s ner th COASTS =, uy
secure 10 the west coast a European market for
its average crop of 20O00,000 sacks Of wheat.
The great commercial nations may fail for time to
recognize the full Importance of executing this great
work, or the means that will best forward 1t. but
sooner later. probably in the near future. tho
intcroceanic ship canal via Lake Nicaragua will no
longer be problem. but an accomplished fact
The government and people Of Nicaragua
have hitherto cndeavorod TO bring about
the construction Of the interoceanic ship
canal, Offering to our government somo time ago
ample powers and concessions to construct It, with
facilities based the broad and common interests OF
she worlds commerce. This enlightened and liberal
pier was not responded at once, probably because
deemed proper in advance to ask the views and
pooperaon Of such Powers Az might feel disposed 70
participate actively In the construction OF the canal
IL believed that all OF the great commercial nations
bAve been invited by government to consider the
ubjcct aud 10 express fully and frankly their views
m relaton y the mort alyantageous mAner OF BRING