The New York herald., 1879-09-24
THE INYEROCEANIC Canal.
Reply to Admiral Ammen and En-
gineer Menocal
THE PANAMA ROUTE DEFENDED.
Action OF the Congress at Paris
Explained.

GAPlSAIIS0.
To THE EDITOR THE HERALD:--
have just read the abstract Of the reports of
Admiral Ammen and Engineer Menocal published
in the HERALD few weeks ago. relative to the work
Of the international Congress- convened at Paris
the 18th of May las. to discuss the advantages Of the
different routes for interoceanic canal the
American Isthmus. These distinguished gentlemen
have therein given to the public their views the
conclusions arrived at by said Congress on ques-
ton which is justly deemed Of vital importance to
the industrial and commercial development of the
American nation. had known that their opinions
werc anagonstic to those entertained and expressed
by tho Congress- and now their severe criticism on
the latter tells me how firmly they adhere to their
cherished idea. am thus In the presence Of
two conflicting authorities. and all that tends
to show the value Of their respective methods
for tho solution of this important problem cannot
but be Of interest to tho American people. This
consideration has prompted me to present to the
public, through your valuable paper. some points
in which think the conclusions Of the gentlemen
have the honor Of answering not in accordance
with those that would logically be deduced from
impartial examination Of the proceedings Of the
Paris Congress. My presence at the Congress and
the study have made Of the many explorations Of
the Isthmus furnish me with the facts present in
favor Of my assertions.
Though the problem the International Congress
had to discuss is one Of q complex nature yet tho
elements to be taken into consideration can be
duced to two the technical and the financial.
Upon the 6rst it IL evident that only engineers
could give authorized opinions but in order to
decide upon the second 1t is equally clear that the
cooperation of mariners. statstcians. geographers
If~l@~
dispensable. to collect and discuss In . COM
pararvely short time all the data necessary for the
settlement of such q complicated problem. Nothing.
them natural than that there should be gath
cred that great assembly composed Of not only the
first European and American engineers. but also Of
the most distinguished men that figure in the last
named branches of professional knowledge, for tho
consideration Of the subject. This fact has served
as u basis. however. for several criticisms tho
presumed incompetency Of the Congress. and it Is
on this account only that have referred to this
point, which certainly requires no arguments to
substsntiate it.
ADMIRAL AMMKN's POSITION.
Admiral Ammen attacks the decisions Of the Paris
Congress on the following grounds
FYrst-Thst the vote OF said Congress cannot be
considered an independent ono. inasmuch as 1t was
partly dictated by personal interests and partly
Secosd-That the canal through Panama did not
meet the approval Of tho able engineers present At
the Congress. but that said engineers generally
in favor Of the Nicaragua route.
Third-That the plans presented for the Panama
route not sufficient for its discussion.
Fo&rA-That such canal was little studied before
its presentation to the Congress that the arguments
presented by Mr.. Menocal threw its supporters in
the widest confusion.
1t is my purpose now to rofer to the principal
statements made by Admiral Ammen. in the order
given in tho abstract published by the HERALD.
The first relates to the route chosen by the Con-
gress. Concerning this. Admiral Ammen asserts
that Mr.. Menocal. when invited to explain his plans
and surveys of the Panama route. exposed the hope
lessness Of attempt to make ship canal on that
route niveau. That such was the opinion Of said
engineer I will not deny; but that his exposition
failed to produce the same impression upon the
engineers present at the Paris Congress Is
proven by the fact that. after . thorough
discussion on the subject vote taken
in the technical committee. which resulted in the
adoption Of the very route condemned in such abso
lutte terms by Admiral Ammen and Engineer Memo
cal. There is another point, and one which the
Admiral regards OF great Importance. He tells us
in u triumphant tone that Mr.. Menocal pointed out
niceaU there would be cataract Of the river
Chsgres at Mstachin of forty-two feet. which, in
times Of food. would be seventy-tvo feet high
Here the Admiral is. to say the least rather
generous toward the learned officers under whose
directions were prepared the plans he audes to. for
nothing short Of stupidity could have hidden these
facts from them. Lieutenant Rsclus gives. in his
report (page 1871, q table OF the mean height Of
the Chagres. at different points. above the mean
level of the sea. There We see that the river
at Matachtn is fourteen metres above said
level. and the following page he states that
height of IL metres above the same level We arrive
then at the height OF rs mctres. or 80 feet,
S greater ter % men. sror' tnan tns'
tainly very strange that this fact, which once
thrusts itself upon the mind Of the most common
OF mortals. should have remained dark mystery to
the engineers and supporters of the Panama route.
The act is that the tall spoken of is in itself
obstacle to the success Of such . work. suppose
that would bo generated in the canal during great
foods leaving it, however. for the reader to draw 1t
acoroary from his menacing cataract. This dioulty
which is said to have been pointed out by Mr.. Memo
csi. forcseen and the means of obviating IL
plietly indicated by Lieutenant Recius In his report
Referring to that work. fnd that not less than
thirteen pages devoted to exhaustive discus
sion OF the currents and their effects on naviga-
ton I'm the Canal Lieutenant Reclus arrives at the
conclusion that during great foods navigation
would be interrupted. unless the means indicated
for its remedy were adopted. The panic of which
the Admiral speaks haxng siexed the supporters
OF the Pansms route. owing to Mr. Menocals novel
argument Is difcut to explain when the above CIR
cumstances made known
ILL DIoksrRD PLANS AxD EsrrMArrs.
Admiral Ammen again says. speaking of the Pam
plans prepared and also estimates OF cost OF
erection quite indcpenden OF sufficient owiedgo
Of the topography OF the country. upon which only
could they properly be based. suppose the Ad-
miral refers to the plans and estimates relating to
the restrctions imposed by the Technical Commit
tee dor he must be aware that IL was only IN this
that consisted not the alterations. but the additions
to the plans presented tor the Panama route. Tho
original plans. plus the conditions regarding the
foods OF the Chagres. were adopted by the
gineers of the Congress without any variation
than that OF the dimensions OF the section
ut certain points. A similar change was thought
necessary by the Technical Committee with regard
other projects, especially the one through Nicara-
qua, in which the radii of curves shown to be
too small. wcll other items concerning the inn
provcments on the San Juan River. The Admiral Is
of opinion that the data at hand sufficient
to conclude upon tho possibility of obtaining what
the Technical Committee demanded. Looking at the
proceedings OF Congress l that the eminent