The New York herald., 1879-07-30
THE KIERoCEANIC CANAL.
Reports Of Rear Admiral Ammen and
Engineer MenOcal.
ATTACKING THE ROUTE CHOSEN.
Estimates Prepared by Engineers Who
Never Saw the lsthmus.
Tue BITTERNESS or QEEEAI
ATTACKING THE ROUTE CHOSEN.
THE BITTERNESS OF DEFEAT

with reference to the recent international congress
convened in Paris to consider the question of an in
teroceanic ship canal
Admiral Ammen reports his arrival in that city on
May IA. and the organization of the congress
in the hall of the Geographical Society
the following day. On the 10th the con-
gress met in committees and listened to
presentation by Commander Selfridge of plans and
estimates based on the surveys of Lieutenant Col
Inns. United States Navy. the Atrato-Napipi
route. On the 18th Admiral Ammen gave a resume
of the results Of the different expeditions sent out
by the United States government to survey routes
through Tehuantepec. Nicaragua. Panama and Da-
rien, leaving Mr.. Menoca to make technical
explanation of the comparative merits of the plans
based upon these surveys. On the afternoon OF the
same day Lieutenant wyse, of the French Navy.
presented his plan for canal near the line or the
Panama Railway This plan again taken up and
q further elaboration of it made by Lieutenants
Wyse and Reclus on the 18th. On the Goth another
general session was held and Commander Self
ridge had resumed consideration of the Atrato-
Napipi route. reaching favorable conclusions.
which Admiral Ammen thought and said were not
justified by the report of Lieutenant Collins, on
which they were based.
WATER CANALS DENOUNCED.
Mr.. Menocal then invited to explain the
veys and plans of the Panama route, which he did
leness Of attempt to make ship
canal route that route niceau; pointed
out beyond controversy that if SO made
there would be cataract of the
River Chagres at Matachin of forty-two feet. which
in periods of floods would be seventy eight feet high
of body of water that would be thirtysix feet deep
with a width of 1900 feet. The surprise and pain
full emotion on the part Of those who had plans
mireau. and of their very friends in attendance.
hardly be conceived. The fact stared them in
the face that the plans which they had presented
SO confdentially for adoption were abso-
lutely impracticable. There was however;
estimates Of the cost of erection quite independent
of a sufficient knowledge of the topography upon
which only could they properly be based. Mr..
Menocal went on to explain how q water supply was
obtainable. and that, owing to the floods of the
bottom OF the canal below the height of
the aqueduet: as proposed by him., crossing
sentation of the Panama route he stated that he
would be happy to answer any questions which
might be proposed Not question was asked.
On the 2lst general session occurred and the
port OF the Committee on Tunnelng was read.
This committee was composed of the ablest en-
gineers in Europe in that branch OF engineering Ii
is sufficient to state in brief that it arrived at the
mpracticability. at whatever cost. of constructing
waters at the ocean level by the Panama route Ad-
miral Ammen then proceeds to give in detail the
proceedings OF the following week. which. how
ever are without particu He then says
AMERICANS WERE DEFEATED.
there were two parte, Of what we would cali spec
ulators. the one represented by Mr.. Blanchet, who
had an unconhrmed grant from the Nicaraguan gov
ernment. and Lieutenant wyse, OF the French
Navy, who had grant from the Colombian
government. embracing with reservation
the right to construct ship canal over
any part of her territory. the reservation
applying understand it. to the already conceded
right of the Panama Railroad. The presumed grant
to Lieutenant Wyse published in the NEW York
HERALD nearly one year ago. Lieutenant Wyse had
the powerful support of NJ. de Lesseps l need
hardly add that through geographical societies of
Paris and the method OF appointing delegates to the
Congress the latter is quite able to nave any
desired majority on vote rcating to the respec-
tive merits of the Nicaragua and Panama routes
1t quite apparent as the routes presented
and discussed that I, ,Ie able engineers generally
ranged themselves the side of the Nicaragua
route. On the 27th the final full meeting of the
Technical Committee and vote the resolution in
favor of the Panama route" The hall was densey
crowded and there were enthusiastic manifestations
of approval whenever vote of yea was given.
which Admiral Ammen says would hardly have been
the had the audience regarded the selection
depending wholly natural conditions physical
causes. The vote resulted Yeas, 20; nays, D; alb
staining from vote l6 making total OF 90 out of
the 135 delegates on the list. Admiral Ammen then
draws the following conclusions from the proceed
ings and actions of the Congress-
ADMIRAL AMMENs OPINIONS
First-That personal interests arising from a
cession for the construction of unfavor-
able to q relative consideration of natural advan-
tages, between two more routes; that such
personal interests did exist quite apparent
frst TO last and the "concession' was frequently
partially discussed alluded to, especially in the
committees or subcommittee.
.Second--That the discussion in Paris has shown
that hereafter in the examination of the question
only the Nicaragua and Panama routes need critical
examination ana that sufficient Information exists
Third-That the canal a nidedu by the Isthmus of
Panama. either with or without tunnel has been
shown to be hopelessly impracticable il considered
~ a commercial question.
FottrM-That a general and special knowledge now
subject of ship canal across the American conti-
nent which did not exist prior to the assembage of
the Congress In Paris.
CHANCES THE OTHER ROUTES YET
In view of actualities it seems proper that the
government of the United States should consider the
question OF the interoceanic ship canal still
determined. Notwithstanding the report of its CON-
mission the subject, which has received
acceptance by the people of the United States and by
our able civil engineers. inasmuch as it has not
received a criticism. Should this bo regarded as
advisable IL would seem necessary to form a com.
mission of the ablest engineers of army and to
invite the ablest civil engineers OF country,
and as well invite all the governments who
were represented ut the Congress Paris to
send their engineers. all to join full
discussion. and have equal powers with the view of
cessions other objects than the OF
the construction of a ship canal this contl-
nent capable of fulfilling the demands OF the worlds
commerce under the most economic conditions.
ESoISEER MENocALs REPORT.
The report of A. e.. Menoca the other delegate
behalf of the United States. is very long and ex
haustive resume of the discussions OF the Congress-
especially those concerning the two rival routes of
that at the final meeting of the Technical Committee
1T was at last agreed amid great confu-
sion and excitement by vote of 1G yeas,
IL abstentions, nays and absentees, that
the committee standing on technical point of view,
Of the opinion that the canal such would satisfy
the requirements of commerce is possible the
Isthmus OF Panama and recommend especially
canal Mt the level OF the sea- similar resolution
was, on the following day. adopted by a general
meeting of the Congress. The vote was yeas ~,
nays n; abscntces 81, aud abstentons 16.
Of the Affirmative vote. only ~ were
engineers aud of this last number eight are ut
present or have been connected with the suez canal
I'VE are not practical en gineers. and only one has
been in Central America. lie is young graduate of
little or no professional experience, native of Pan
anna and has assisted Lieutenant Wyse in his OK
plorstions. OF the five delegates of the French
Society of Engineers two voted and three abb
sened themselves from the last sessions of the
committee and the congress.
THE PANAMA ROUTE FAILURE.
Il abstained from voting for the that the
resolution is indefinite to what system of canal
should be finally adopted believe that canal at
lo lay loft he sea- ae IL Bile.