The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-21
Civil Engineer Menocal Settles Some
Important. Points.
GRANT HEADS THE COMPANY.
A Commission Of Corporators Ready to
Start for Nicaragua
IMMENSELY VALUABLE CONCESSIONS.
IRON OUR REGULAR conarsrosDrSr.]

with the Nicaragua Interoceanic Canal prolsct as
that of Real Admiral Ammen returned to Washing
ton yesterday. having been absent some days in
New York and Philadelphia matters con-
nected with the canal. On Thursday last he
was in Philadelphia and saw General Grant
upon the subject which now bewilders very many
people in this country especially to what is to be
the future of the ex-President. In conversation
with Mr. Menocal this evening. to what impress
sion he derived from his interview with General
Grant, he replied smilingy) that Admiral Ammen
and Senior de Franco had already communicated all
that could be said the subject to the correspond
ent of the HERALD Philadelphia.
''rhere some additional points have no doubt
which you can communicate that did not occur to
those gentlemen that would be Of interest to the
HERALD?
IMPORTANT LETTERS.
Perhaps One Of the objects had in
stopping IN Philadelphia was to show General
Grant several letters had just received
from Nicaragua relative to granting liberal conces
sons to American company in the event
ould be organized and apply for the right Of way
through Nicaragua for an interoceanic canal route.
had just received letter from Mr.. Elyzondo. the
Minister of Public Works, from the President of
Nicaragua Mr.. Zavula; another from Mr. Runnell, the
agent Of the Pacific Mail Company and United States
commercial agent in Nicaragua, and fourth from
Mr.. Ramirez. Senator of Nicaragua. and these four
letters forth that the design of the
is grant the most liberal concessions for canal to
American company with General Grant at its head
From Mr.. Norris. also American engineer, and
contract build line OF railroad in Nicaragua,
whom met in New York during my recent visit.
learned that the Nicaraguans daily expecting
the commission to arrive from the United States,
with credentials. asking for tho concessions neces
sary for the route Of the canal. thought this in
Tho
part of jealous persons meddlers to create the
impression that Nicaragua not favorably dis
posed toward the United States private company
formed of its prominent citizens to build the pro-
posed canal"
GENERAL GRANTS OWN PROJECT.
"Did you succeed in convincing General Grant
that the road to fame and fortune via Ncara-
guar
''Of that am sure he has long since been
WINGED. This is not new subject to him. Why. the
idea appears to have got abroad that begging
General Grant to accept the presidency OF the
proposed canal company. while the fact is-and
1 do not any harm in its being pub
lished-General Grant is the pioneer of the
Nicaragua Canal project. You certainly remember
the remark attributed to him. and which is strictly
true. that it speciality with him during the
eight years he was President. and he says himself
that during that time he tried very hard to get
others take the interest in the project that
he did. Yet with all his advantages he did succeed
in making 1t administration measure. It is
within my recollection that before General Grants
term OF office expired Admiral Ammen and several
others suggested that it would be good enterprise
for him to embark in Immediately upon his leaving
the Executive Mansion. He thought too. but as
he had had nearly sixteen years of constant
strain in the army and in the White
House he made up his mind to take
a trip round the world. He is back just
where his inclination and business ambition would
have guided him nearly three years ago.
THE GENERAL WAITING OTHERS.
''The statement. them recently published that
General Grant had said that he had accepted the
presidency Of the Nicaragua Canal Company is not
truer"
81 have no doubt General Grant said ii,
and it is strictly true. aud those who know
what is going in Philadelphia can
afford to laugh at the great efforts
being made to discover the hidden secrets of Gen.
eral Grants mind this and other subjects. 1
have objection to your saying that General
Grant leads the project to establish the Nicaragua
Canal Company. He is not waiting for capital
PROMISES; he is to-day the most active of the pro-
motors of the enterprise, and presume it is
saying too much to say that General Grant is wait
ing for others; they not waiting for him."
''This will be news to the country. Why. the i'm
preston has certainly got abroad that the friends
the scheme were engaged in Philadelphia in coaxing
General Grant to become the head of the company
elm business enterprise of the magnitude of the
Interoceanic Canal Company. with parties striving
to ascertain just what the advocates of tho
Nicaragua route doing. / presume a little
business secrecy might be tolerated. 1t would
certainly be observed by parties in private life.
understand that the people of the country have
sort of claim upon General Grant that would seem
to entitle them to know the details of his daily life
in other words, that whatever he thinks does is
public property. That is not true, and no
one thinks decidedly than General
Grant. Now. i have objection to saying
you that it will be several months before General
Grant can accept the presidency OF the canal
pany; certainly not before the LIST of March next.
You see therefore, that his statement is literally
true.
A POINT WELL MADE.
"'Bui,' you will ask. how do you reconcile this
with the declarations made by Admiral Ammen and
Mr. Dc FrancoY think the trouble with tho inter-
viewers in Philadelphia has been that they wanted
to find out more than legtimatcly belongs to the
canal company's project. They wanted TO ascertain
II General Grant would be or could DO a candidate
for the Presidency and yet retain his position
head of the company when 1t is organized; whether
IL he accepted this position 1t would not preclude
him from accepting any other. am going to
answer that question for you in the most explicit
manner. The subscriptions which the French capt.
talists have offered to make to the stock Of the
company depend upon General Grant being either
tho active or honorary president of the company.
II he is not elected President Of the United States
again he will be free the active president
! II he should be, then what is there to prevent
his remaining the honorary president?
| On the other hand. the concession which
tho Nicaraguan government is ready to make
! depends upon General Grant being ut the head
of the company IL by OF the demands
of his countrymen General Grant should again
be elected President OF tho United States the Mica
raguan government would willingly exchange
his active for his moral support. which his position
as President would certainly enable him to give.
II the capitalists of the country making the con-