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

with reference 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 on
the following day. On the 10th the con-
gress met in committees and listened to
representation by Commander Selfridge of plans and
estimates based the surveys Of Lieutenant Col
Inns. United States Navy. over the Atrato-Napipi
route On the 18th Admiral Ammen gave 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.. Menocal 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 OF the
Panama Railway. This plan was again taken up and
q further elaboration of it made by Leutenants
wyse and Reclus on the 18th. On the Goth another
general session was held. and Commander Self
ridge had resumed consideration of the Atrato-
Napp route. reaching favorable conclusions.
which Admiral Ammen thought and said were not
justified by the report of Lieutenant Collins, on
which they were based
TIDE WATER CANALS DENOUNCED.
Mr. Menocal was then invited to explain the sur
veys and plans Of the Panama route, which he did
with great cearness. He exposed the hope
leness Of an attempt to make q ship
canal route ON that route miceau; 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 seventyeight feet high
of body of water that would be thirtysx feet deep
with a width of 800 feet. The surprise and pain
full emotion on the part of those who had plans d
nrea and of their very many friends in attendance.
can hardly be conceived. The fact stared them in
the face that the plans which they had presented
confdentially for adoption abso-
lutey impracticable There was. however.
after day or so, presentation of "plans" and
estimates Of the cost Of erection quite independent
of sufficient knowledge of the topography upon
which only could they properly be based Mr..
Menocal went on to explain how water supply was
obtainable. and that. owing to the floods Of the
Chagres River. it impossible to lower the
ouc % the Del0 Nv 'hs h he.gns
the river ut Matachin, When he concluded his pre-
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 re-
port OF the Committee on Tunnelling was read
This committee composed of the ablest
gneers in Europe in that branch OF engineering. 1t
is sufficient to state in brief that it arrived at the
impractcablity. ut whatever cost of constructing a
tunnel riredu that is to say, to secure navigable
waters at the ocean level by tie Panama route Ad.
miral Ammen then proceeds to give in detail the
proceedings OF the following week. which, how
ever without particular interest He then says
HOW THE AMERICANS WERE DEFEATED.
From the first sitting it was quite apparent that
there two parties of what would call spec
ulators,' the represented by Mr.. Blanchet, who
had an unconnrmed grant from the Nicaraguan gov
ernment. and Lieutenant Wyse. OF the French
government, embracing with reservation
the right to construct ship canal over
applying, understand it. to the already conceded
right OF the Panama Railroad. The presumed grant
to Lieutenant Wyse was published in the NEW YonK
HERALD nearly one year ago. Lieutenant Wyse had
the powerful support of NJ. de Lesseps. l need
hardly add that through the geographical societies Of
Paris and the method of appointing delegates to the
Congress the latter is quite able to have any
desired majority on vote rcating to the respec-
tive merits of the Nicaragua and Panama routes
1t quite apparent as the routes were presented
and discussed that sie able engineers generally
ranged themselves on the side OF the Nicaragua
route. On the 27th the final full meeting of the
congress took place TO hear the report of the
Technical Committee and vote on the resolution in
favor of the Panama route" The hall densely
crowded and there were enthusiastic manifestations
of approval whenever a vote of "yea" given,
the had the audience regarded the selection
depending wholly on natural conditions or physical
causes The vote resulted: Yeas, 20; nays. 81; alb
staining from vote, 49, making total OF 90 out of
the 1876 delegates on the list. Admiral Ammen then
draws the following conclusions from the proceed
tngs and actions of the Congress:-
ADMIRAL AMMENs OPINIONS.
FYrst-That personal interests arising from con-
cession for the construction of canal are unfavor
able to relative consideration of natural advan
tages, as between two or more routes; that such
personal interests did exist was quite apparent from
first 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 and that sufficient Information exists
Is to all other routes.
Thtrd-That the canal a ndedu by the Isthmus Of
Panama. either with or without a tunnel has been
shown to be hopeessly impracticable, il considered
hs n commercial question:
FrrDt-Thst general and special knowledge now
exists among European engineers relative to the
subject of ship canal across the American conti-
nent which did not exist prior to the assemblage OF
the Congress In Paris.
CHANCES roR 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 it's
mission on the subject, which has received
acceptance by the people of the United States and by
our able civil engineers nasmuch as it has not
received criticism. Should this be regarded as
advisable ii would seem necessary to form COM
mission of the ablest engineers of army and to
invite the ablest civil engineers of our country,
represented at the Congress in Paris to
send their engineers, all to Join full
discussion. and have equal powers with the view of
removing it from all extraneous influences of con-
cessons other objects than the consideration OF
the construction of ship canal across this conti
nent capable of fulfilling the demands OF the world 4
commerce under the most economic conditions.
ENGINEER MENocALs REPORT.
The report of A. q. Menoca the other delegate on
behalf OF the United States. is a very long and
haustive resume of the discussions OF the Congress
especially those concerning the two rival routes Of
that at the final meeting of the Technical Committed
1T at last agreed amid great confu
sion and excitement by vote of 1C yeas
Ii abstentions, 3 nays and Z abscntees. that
the committee standing on technical point of view
s Of the opinion that the canal such would satisfy
the requirements OF commerce is possible across the
Isthmus OF Panama and recommend especially
canal at the level of the similar resolution
was, on the following day. adopted by general
meeting of the Congress. The vote was yeas ~
nays 4; absentees 81, and abstentions 1G
Of the affirmative vote, only ~ were
engineers, and of this last number eight are al
present have been connected with the Suez Canal
nve not practical engineers, and only one has
been in Central America. lie Is young graduate OF
little professional experience. native of Pan
anna, and has assisted Lieutenant Wyse in his cx
plorstions. OF the i've delegates of the French
Society of Engineers two voted and three alb
sened themselves from the two last sessions OF the
committee aud the congress.
THE PANAMA ROUTE FAILURE.
II abstained from voting for the reason that the
resolution is indefinite as to what system OF canal
should be finally adopted. believe that canal at