Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-06-06
The Darlen Canal.

An International Congress has been sit
ting in Paris under the presidency OF M.
Lcsseps to discuss the ways and means OF
carrying out the greatest engineering enter
prise yet projected-the piercing of the
isthmus between the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans by ship canal. The scheme has
occupied mems minds in greater or less
degree ever since the Spanish conquest, and
the first survey for it was made as long ago
as 1929. The seven or eight rival lines
projected all involve either system of
gigantic locks or of gigantic tunnels.
On Friday the Congress adopted, by a
vote of 9S to 8, the Panama and Limon Bay
route, Mr.. Appleton, one of the American
representatives, voting for that line. The
congress then closed its labors. The route
selected is the shortest. and is thought to
present the fewest obstacles of any suggest
cd. 1t contemplates a canal IS miles in
length, to connect Limon Bay with the har-
Dor of Panama From twelve to twenty
locks will be required, and the. canal will
cost $l4O, 100000.
Gen. Mccullough, the son-in-law Of Hon.
T. W. Park. the president of the Panama
Railroad Company, and the legal counsel Of
that company, was interviewed one day last
week, as to the effect which the proposed
canal would be likely to have on the road.
Gen. Mccullough said:
81 don't think it will have very much
effect, for the reason that we are protected
by our contract with the United States Of
Columbia. In this contract it is stipulated
that no maritime canal to unite the two
oceans shall be constructed across the 18TH
mus without the concurrence and consent Of
the railroad company or rather 1t Is pro-
yided that no such canal shall De constructed
without our being awarded, in case we do
not consent to the undertaking. a sum
sufficient to indemnify US for damages and
to pay US for the privileges We hold OF act
ing as carriers on the isthmus. We should
certainly demand our rights in full, and that
would probably be equal to the whole
amount eff our capital stock, say 100000
600 or So, 000, 900. While the canal was
building our road would no doubt be bene
fitted, as We would have to transport large
quantities of freight The canal being COM
pleted and opened, there is no telling what
would become of US. But regard that day
as 20 remote as to be hardly worth consider
ing at the present time. ="
"Why do you think it will be so long
time before the canal will be constructed ?"
Because it is such vast undertaking.
You know it has been talked of seriously for
great many years. However, as | said
before, the canal will, no doubt, be built
some time. 10 any event our rights are Sc
cured to u.s."
Speaking of the extent Of the company's
business, Mr.. Mccullough said that last
year they transported more than $50, 900
tons of freight and carried about % 900
passengers This year the amount of work
done by the road would be good deal
larger The freights, which constitute the
greater part of the company's business, are
made up chiefly of coffee, cocoa. bark and
cotton, Las; year the gross earnings of the
road amounted to about 50, 900, the
gross expenses being less than $3.50, 900.
The company. however, has to pay an annu-
al subsidy Of S250,O00 to the Columbian
government, and this, together with the
interest on bonds, amounting to about
$40 900, increased the actual expenses OF
the road to about 81 1875 900. which left
net balance or profit Of about 81 $50, 600.
The road-bed and track are in good order.
The company, during the past year, has
been putting down new rails OF steel over
the greater part OF the line from Aspinwall
to Panama