The Leavenworth weekly times., 1879-05-29
The Darien Canal Project in England

Mr.C.C. Buel contributes to the Jun
.Szibner a full account of the diferen
projects for Piercing the Amerlcal
Isthmus" las his paper is entitied), VIII
maps showing the seven or eight route
proposed, several of which we're advocated
before the Congress Of Engineers which D'
Lesseps called to meet in Paris May lotf
to select the best route. An interesting
account is given in the article OF the agita
ton of the canal project before European
scientific societies and governments BY
Frederick NJ. Kelley, Wall street broker
who spent a fortune in furthering the
scheme. After describing Mr.. Kelley 4
visit to Humboldt, by whom he was cordially
received. the writer says:
Returning to London, Mr.. Kelley read q
paper before the Institution OF Civii
Engineers on the practicability OF a chip
canal without locks by the valley oi the
Atrato, confident that intelligent men and
engineers would fully appreciate his aims
and efforts; aud so it proved. however,
the first evening was one OF uncertainties
for Mr.. Kelley. During the discussion
his plant we're freely criticised and some
grave doubts were mingled with praise.
DR.. Black and Captain Fitz Roy, an able
authority. spoke in his favor Of the latter
saving: This, certainly is one Of those bold
conceptions, which if they fail, are termed
chimericaI: but, if succeed land it does
appear that in this case there is a strong
probability Of success), immortallze the
authors" A second evening was appointed
to continue the long discussion and at this
Robert Stephenson, the eminent engineer
presided, The result was still uncertain:
Mr.. Kelley had procured translation oi
the Humboldt letter and in the midst ol
the proceedings sent it up to the secretary
who read it. After this, aud when Robert
Stephenson in closing the depate urged
joint governmental survey, and said that
Mr.. Kelley had produced more lntelligl-
BILE information upon the subject than had
ever before been given to the world, he
was no longer shy petitioner at British
doors. So n afterward the Institution
awarded him the Telford Gold Medal ''tor
demonstrating the feasibility OF uniting
the two oceans BY canal without locks"
The following week he read different
paper before the Royal Geographical
Society. Rear-Admifal Beechey presiding.
De Lesseps was present, his Suez scheme
being at that time before the Society, and
his maps hanging on the walls OF another
room. Robert Stephenson Sir Edward
Belcher, DIR. Black, Sir RoderIck Murchl-
son, Captain Fi;z Roy and large assembl-
age OF members were present. His paper
was discussed on two evenings, and Robert
Stephenson again spoke fsyorably OF the
scheme. De Lesseps was asked to speak
of his own plans and began by saying that
he trusted the Darien project would prove
practicable and be carried out. Not very
long sgo at the congress OF Commercial
Geography held 10 Paris, De Lesseps said
that some person would oppose the Darien
project a. a rival of the Suez Canal, but
thai he himself was opposed to monopolies
and believed that anything which tended
to increase commercial circulation would
benefit the Su.z Canal.
One day came an invitation from Robert
Stephenson asking Mr.. Kelley to dinner at
five o'clock, but hoping he might come at
two for a preliminary chat.
What do you think Of de Lesseps plsn?'
asked the engineer.
His guests hesitated, saying:
Il am not an engineer-neither by prac-
tice nor profession"
But" said the host,"I think you are
quite as capable OF judging Of this as l
am"
Then think de Lesseps' plans are per-
fectly feasible, much more so than my own, u
replied Mr.. Kelley.
The engineer called for reasons.
Because" said Mr.. Kelley, "the Suez
route traverses perfectly dry, healthy eli
mate il is also fl 1t and an abundance Of
CHEAP labor can be had; besides theI enRi-
neering features are simple compared with
those Of my scheme, to be carried out in the
hottest, wettest and unhealthiest climate
in the world and where labor must be
transported to the ground. Then it in
wolves cutting q ship tunnel through the
Cordillbras"
Mr.. Stephenson thought the Suez Canal
would require constant dredging.
"Yes," said his guest; 'but it will prove
such a vast benefit that il will pay to keep
on dredging it forever"
To which Mr.. Stephenson replied:
81 have had line of levels run across
Susz at my own private expense, and am
persuaded tn at the scheme is impracticable
on account of the drifting sands"
Itwas the mistake of a great man. He
said he thought the Orlando project
far more promising and spoke in the high
est terms of America and its enterprise.
That de Lesseps did not meet with very
favorable reception in London, and Mr..
Kelley thought it was due to British leal-
ouy.