The New York herald., 1878-10-23
THE DARIEy CANAL.
The Outlook Bright for the Com
mencement of the Work.
WHAT DE LESSEPS THINKS.
Views Of an American Delegate TO the International
Congress Of Commercial Geography.

Congress Of Commercial Geography
An interesting conversation about tho action taken
by the Congress Of Commercial Geography, at Paris,
In reference TO tho proposed canal across the 18TH
mus OF Darien had by tho writer tho
Nher afternoon with Mr.. Nathan Appleton, Of
bvston, who has just returned from Europe
IN the City OF Berlin. Mr.. Appleton is well read,
accomplished and public spirited gentleman who was
lelegato from the American Geographical Society TO
no recent Paris International Congress OF Commercial
.ography; delegate to ana vice president OF tho
United States Committee OF tho Franco American
Treaty or Commerce Conference; ono of tho vco
presidents of the International Congress OF
Industry and Commerce. delegate Of the American
Metric Bureau 10 the International Congress OF
Weights, Measures and Coinage and also Of the Mas
sachusets Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty to
Animals TO annual Congress OF such societies held
In Paris.
When asked for account or tho present condition
OF the International undertaking. looking toward tho
cutting Of q canal through the sthmus uniting the
two Americas Mr. Appleton said:-
"On returning from Europe to the United States In
the steamship China moro than two years ago
wrote article about tho proposed canal the
american isihmus, with an account Of what was then
being done at Paris TO aid In the
pompiishmcnt OF this International work.
am glad to return the subject, especially
here Is great progress 10 report in the right drcc.
lop, far greater, imagine, than our people have any
Idea o., and Of which ! myself was almost
iircy ignorant until got the welcome
news at tho recent Congress of Commercial
Biography, held at Paris. stated In my
letter wrip.on June, 1876. that organization had
been formed in Paris with N. Ferdinand dc Lcsseps
ns president (wno also put at its disposal q
she building Of tho suez Canal Company, the object
Of which to study, by maps books and information
obtained in every way, all the possible routes for canal
10 unite tho Atlantic and Pacific somewhere between
North and South America All nations wero invited
10 join this international company of study, by cir.
cuars sent 10 the various geographical societies
throughout tho world. From this organization has
rprung another, called the Interoceanic Canal So
sicty. Of which General Turr president, which has
iaken hold practically Of tho work OF continuing the
actual surveys OF tho is,hmus An International
Committee of Exploration was formed, and
the command OF two expeditions 10 tbs
sthmus in the years 1877 and 1878 given TO Lieu
French naval officer, equally distinguished as a navi.
gator and man OF science. Lieutenant Wyse ia
poleon l, and is brother-in-aw Of Gen
ernl Turr, the latter having married some
which viii be interesting TO Americans rive. as It
is probable that both General rurr and Lieutenant
wyse viii take prominent parts IN tho construction
OF the canal. Genera Turr, let mo add IS Hunga-
rian by birth, served with distinction IN the British
army during the Crimean war;, ard later with Carl
Sald and Victor Emmanuel for Italian Independence,
ana Is now with other matters, Interested in canal
for joining the Danube and the Adria,ic Sea-
THE OBJECT OF THE LATE EXPLORATIONS.
'srhc especial object OF these last two expeditions
was to survey certain points OF the sthmus which II
was beloved Tor various mad been
petcy examined and tho results of tho exploratlon
can be considered perhaps moro satisfactory than
.sAt the international Congress OF Commercial Geog-
raphy held AT tho Trocaoero, Paris, from september
privilege oil attending as delegate OF the American
Geographical Society the question OF the canal
was tho ono which most attracted Inc at,sn.
at the meetings, tc which OF course, the presence
OF Lieutenant Wyse and his aDlo assistant, Lieutenant
R6clus. materially contributed. These gentlemen
bad but recently returned from the ishmus, and
> mere sketch OF their work in printed form was
lime TO prepare detailed report At tho fret sitting
the Congress N. Tcsserenc dc Bort Minister OF
Is right ~ Mcurand. president OF the Paris Society
Commercial Geography, and on his lett M Fer
.raphicai saeiety and OF the saez canal
Company. Thero present representatives
0' ho ao world a0 a ws as tho delegates
N ioreign governments; and, among those especially
.rsaSy aU General T"rr could
have boon seen Messrs virlct d'Aodst and Dauzats.
II. Bionnc, secretary OF tho company for studying
the different routes, and an intmltc l.icnd OF NJ.
dc Lesseps; NJ. Caciodo Minister IRON San salvador;
n. Gauthiot, editor OF the Journal des Debdts. and
Mr.. Hawkes. ana tho writer, both delegates OF the
American Geographical Society,
IMPORTANT REsoLUTI0Ns.
"Two resolutions were passed by the Con gross, ono
10 the effect that, sufficient explorations had now
been made ut different parts OF the isthinus by cx
petitions from The United states aud moro recently
by Lieutenant Wyss and his assistants 10 enable us
TO decide practically upon tho best route for tho canal
the Internatiol al Committee be invited to meet
as possible TO setlle this question,
SO that tho great work which interests the entlro
world shall speedily DO an accomplished TACT, and
hat C0pp Of uutlO
to inform their respective governments OF tins
resolution Tho other was, 'fhat the delegates
TO the Congress, on returning homo TO their vari.
Gus ountrics should do their utmost, through their
geographical Societies, boards oi trade and other
pubic opinion the nteroceanc canal, ana on the
advantages which will bo derived from tho opening OF
this new means OF comm uni Observation-Disclosures SO
important 10 thc commerce OF nil nations that ihcy
demand the absolute neutrality OF the canal
LEssEPs THINKS.
sOf course Whatever M. de Iosseps may have TO say
about the proposed canal carries lar more weight than
The words Of any one clsc ana SO am glad " quoIo
tho Conrrsss Il havo often been told, no SAID, tbat
the intcroccanic canal would injura the Suez Canal
but myself have never thought So To begin with,
am the avowcd enemy OF monopolics, and be-
Iievo tho contrary that this ship route VIII
contribute 10 the prosperity OF the suez Canal by
tending 10 increase general navigaton.'
''Again tho idea seems 10 bc gaining ground that
canal with would be mpracc able, but that II
would be possible TO construct Quo with n tunnel In
regard TO those points ns well NJ hc expense NJ DO
Lcsscps said, "A canal with locks ship canal.
for locks o $50 TO 100 metres, which would rot evcu
then be aupcd tor the largest vessels would be very
costly to keep order ana would bc exposed TO In
Duries which would seriously interfere with nav
Igatlon. canal with unncl (as IL Is impossible to
construct one entirely opcn) will alone supply the dee
mnnds OF ship navigation. Thc two routes OF Com
mandcr Wysc with tunnels have tho advantage OF be-
ting very snort they are IRON so 10 10 Kilometres
ono with tunnel OF IA, tho otner oil kilometres.
The Suez Canal which Is l65 kilometres tor 100 milcs)
long, cost 495, 900, O00i. tS9o, 900, 0oo)'
TiIE ESTIMATED COST
"The interoccanic canal, with a tunnel costing
COG, O00 600 francs be entirely constructed on
capital vi 500000U00, and this will give large profit
ON the investment. have consulted Ar.
Lcvacy," he added 'thc engineer aud con.
tractor who had charge OF the principal
part OF tho work tho Sucz Canal tho drcdginR,
building the brcakwaters, quays. &c, and asked MS
opinion 10 Tho pracicability OF tunnel Tor snip
canal III viii be easier TO mako than ono Tor railroad
nurnaacs., Yas his replY. rs The WORKS can more