The New York herald., 1879-10-22

THE PANAMA AND NICARAGUA PROJECTS COM
PARED AND DISCUSSED gY GENERAL W. W.
wBIGHr-rHE COST ONE HUNDRED MILL
IONS JUSTIFICATION or THE OUTLAY.
General W. W. Wright. formerly chief railroad
engineer with General Sherman his famous march
to the has paid many years careful attention to
the subject Of interoceanic canal tho result Of
which is embodied in the following letter.
NO AIS WALNUT STREET. |
PHILADELPHIA June III, 1879.
TO THE EDITOR HERALD
Icommenced this paper on the Isthmus Canal. to
be read before the Cleveland Convention of the Amer
lean society OF Civil Engineers. but was prevented
by professional and other duties from completing it
in time. l regret this the more l deem it i'm
portant to try ana correct ut early day. the
neous opinions entertained by many in this country
respecting the best route for that great and
work.
Most Americans with but a superficial knowledge
of the subject believe the Nicaragua route to be the
best. This belief is mainly based upon the pub
Nshed recommendations OF the commission which,
under the auspices OF our government made explora-
tons ana surveys in 1872 and 1873. but consider it
a mistaken one. That survey conducted by naval
officers. and however capable these gentlemen may
be to handle and fight ships it by no means
follows that they are accomplished civil engineers
anu qualified to locate and construct railroads and
canals 1t Is not surprising therefore. that expert
enced engineers, with a thorough knowledge OF the
subject. should differ in opinion from the conclu-
A little piece of personal history IN place
here:-For nearly three years was i'll the service
or the honduras lnteroceaulc Railway Company
first US division engineer. then assistant chief
engineer and finally eDgineer-in-chief. For about
one-half that time was engaged on the isthmus
making surveys and examinations OF the various
proposed routes for interoceanic railways and
canals. For the balance of the time l duty
in Europe, where had access and it my busi-
ness to examine all information collected there on
the subject Both in Central America and in Europe
was thrown into familiar intercourse with those
best informed this specially nnd even since then
while otherwise engaged, have kept up my connec-
tion with such parties both i'll this country and
elsewhere. Having thus given the whole subject so
much thought. and bestowed upon it so much time
and labor, it will not be considered ptuous
And so understanding 1t here emphaticaly
affirm the opinion have maintained for years that
the best route for the great American Interoceanic
Canal Is at the narrow point OF the ishmus near the
line of the Panama Rail way. Here the distance in
straight line between the is but thirty miles.
and the length of the canal route about forty miles
The Panama Railway is forty-seven miles long. and
the summit elevation Of "the divide 280 feet above
mean ocean level.
THE PANAMA RourR.
These figures give general idea of the problem to
be solved and my for preferring this route
Frs-It is the shortest practicable route by which
the two oceans can be connected by q canal.
econd-lt will cost less than any other line prop
erly constructed. This opinion Is concurred in by
the civil engineers most competent to give
opinion on the subject. notably among whom is
Colonel George NJ Totten, whose long professional
connection with the Panama Railway and residence
there make him the best authority in the world on
the Panama Isthmus. and will be fully sustained by
careful and thorough survey and preparation Of
plans OF construction such would be required for
any great work elsewhere. and which are impera-
lively necessary before any accurate estimate of cost
be made Of this any other route Private
capitalists i'll any country. II about to invest their
money in u similar work. would certainly try and
obtain the best engineering talent avalable-inen
who have made the planning and execution OF public
works life study. and the building Of the Isthmus
Canal must be conducted like sound business
principles and only in that way it ever be made
u success.
PREVIOUS SURVEYS AND EXPLORATIONS.
All surveys and explorations heretofore made have
been done in hasty and superficial manner. aud
admitting the entire capability of those engaged in
them 1t was an impossibility in the time and with
the means at their command to collect sufficient and
reliable data for accurate estimate. However,
our government commissions collected much valu-
able information, and this, together with other
valuable information obtained by surveys and per-
thoroughly familiar with the country to make q
comparative estimate of the various routes, and in
this way have formed the opinion expressed. AS
to the actual cost OF the Panama line put it at
$100,000,000; but these figures may have to be
changed after careful location. aud will. most
probably, be reduced.
TAird-It can be built in less time than any other
line because its greatly superior facilities for the
transportation of men and supplies will enable the
working force to be kept up to the maxmum all the
time and easily supplied with the necessary pr0vis
ions and working appliances. Regular lines Of
steamships and vast number of other vessels are
continually arriving at and departing from the
vicinity of the termn and these. together with the
line of the cana will enable supplies to be obtained
and distributed promptly and ut reasonable
cost. Then the machine shops and other
industrial establishments created and built up
by the railroad will be found Of prime
importance and value in the construction OF the
canal; and the trained labor Of that country will be
invaluable o nucleus for that to be employed on
the new work. For the Nicaragua any other line
special lines Of steamers would have to be employed
on both sides of the isthmus to connect with the
civilized world and long and expensive wagon roads
would have to be constructed in the interior, over
which the transportation OF supplies would be both
tedious and expensive. The vital Importance of
these matters OF labor and supplies only be fully
appreciated by who has lived that country,
where there is to use the common answer OF the
natives, d6sot~fsmene no hay nddd absolutely no.
thing).
F6arG-The cost of maintenance and risk Of OBJ
struction from any will ut least be reduced
proportion to its length as compared with the Mica
ragua or other longer lines. Maintenance being
constant aud heavy item OF expense for all time It
becomes a matter OF most serious consideration.
These reasons. supported by considerations Of
Climate, should be conclusive rs to this route.
CONCERNING THE CLIMATE.
Respecting the climate there be great difer-
Both within tho tropics. not far apart and alike
subject to the malaral diseases peculiar to tropical
America. Any difference in the amount Of rainfall
that may exist In certain localities is not enough to
make IL matter Of much practical impor ance either
in building or operating a canal. That there are
great climatic and other difficulties to be overcome
In the execution Of this work very true but that
Northern men can build and operate an nteroceanic
route on the isthmus is proved by the existence and
success Of the Panama Railway and it is but fair to
presume that future operators will profit by the
perimental experiences of that road.
DIMENSIONS AND PLAN OF CANAL
The canal should be made wide enough and deep
enough for the safe passage through it of the largest
classes of steamers in likely to
come into in the future. II is not neces-
sary that 1t should at first be made wide enough
throughout it's whole length for such vessels to
pass each other at any point but sufficient num-
Der OF pas sing places, sidings, can DO arranged
to accommodate tho present business and these can
generally be located where 1t will be least expensive
build them. When the increased business justines
It then these sdings be extended, even to the
whole length Of the canal IL required.
,s,f hnt1
/ advocated before making thorough investigation
of tho subject; but since then have abandoned IL
account of two almost insurmountabc obstacles
which presented themselves. namely--frst, the
great cost Of construction and, second tho almost
impossibility OF maintaining such canal. Tho
feasible plan, thep is TO lft-locks both sides
OF the summit. thereby reducing immensely the
amount OF ordinary excavation. and throwing out
entirely all the expensive subaqucous rock
ton. except that which may be necessary in the
minal levels. The exact number and the lit. US
well the location of these locks only be finally