New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-09-05
ADMIRAL AMMEN,s VIEWS.

AIMlhlL A5lhiN >
IMPORTANCE OF ENLisriSG AMERICAN CAPITAL
GENERAL GGANT's APPROVAL OF THE SCHEME
THE PROPOSITION THAT HE SHOULD BE PREsI-
DEST OF THE COMPANY.
Rear Admiral Daniel Ammen, U. s. N, who
has u few DAYS this city. met yesterday
by CyusW Field, by whom he was introduced 10 sew
eral Lalists interested the scheme for budIn an
nieroceanic ship canal TIE object OF the meeting was
OcOnsider what steps necessary To effect an Of
ganzaton AMI promote the enterprise. Admiral Ammen
submitted his views respecting the Scaragrsn route,
hut bey ond mere exchange Of views nothing de
termined The conference OF general character
and merely incld entail the Admira presence IN
the city.
In speaking of the project Admiral Ammen said that
III organization should BE- effected the preponder-
of capital ealised would probably he in favor OF
this country but that there great many reasons
why all the great commercial nations should have
snare IA tue contamination of the work. The United
States however. with oOaitng trade and foreign
commerce. aud ITS present population of 45,OOO,OOO.
which VIII he Increased probably by the time Of the
completion of the canal 10 6OOOO,OOO or 7OOOn.OOo.
should be- in his opinion particularly Interested al
though tho fact That the great channel will he LOO
miles from nearest boundary mglt make the oOun-
Tv clam to absolute control Of the enterprise appear
slightly pretentous.
" I'm speaking with General sherman short time
ago" said the Admiral ne expressed the opinion that
there was necessity IA ms mind OF preliminary
gan zatOn TO arrange matters and enable thoroughly
Organized company do the worn. do not think" lie
continued. that the amount needed to perform the labor
and maintain tho stat will exceed $4,000 OOO hut
there expensive thing than uuOertake any
enterprise on insufficient capital. 1t seems 10 the
that there would be n great advantage IN having
abundance Of capital that interest could be
paid The amount invested while the work going
Many persons who have money 10 invest, but who
require interest income which TO 1--we. will
completed Will begin at once. for tho noeessi
ties OF trade such that the canal is demanded and
thus 70 will be made continuously paying enterprise.
1t VIII take about two years 10 locate the route, and
perhaps five years more to execute the WORK"
In regard to General Grants presidency Of company
organized for the carrying OF the work. the Admiral
said: 81 have been greatly misrrprosentcd in many
quarters upon that point. The facts simply these
Early tn July wrote 10 General Grant long letter
the subject Nv letter was sort Of outline of the
scheme. with many features 81 which he already
familiar but gave him the lat Il phases OF the
apogc OF the dcsrabty Of his becoming connected with
IT, aud Of the great benefit that would accrue To tho m
Gertakng u a company WAS formed vita luln as IT,
president My letter was sort Of arglmont why, II
the presidency OF such COMPANY was offered TO him.
he should accept closed thai letter by saJ ng Of this
g. IL wonld be for all time a monument to marx the
age, aud the who did the work. It's significance
would he i'm ~ utility. with your knowledge OF men
and Zatipn ~ seems To that your task would
DEE easy. feel assured that II the Nicaraguau. fclt
tnat yOu were Wiling 10 DE President VI an inter
oceanic Canal Company, they would grant any cpnces-
that yOu would deem 10 The execution OF
work. should you think fayoraby N this and send
telegram ing simply . approve" IL Will be
sufficient Tor M 10 make prclininarics'
"On the 7th OF August continued Admiral
Amnen "Gencral Grant sent a reply 10 the
Secretary OF the Navy which said simply,
Tell Ammen ! approve I at once transmitted this
Information indirectly to the Nicaraguan Govern
meni. YOu will therefore that General Grant did
approve, not only OF the general proposition for tue
organization of company, but asy tue proposition
that ne should become the president OF such company
provided the position were offered 10 him.
Admiral Anmen expresses himself ~ being fully
that General Grant viii nOt IN the present
state OF National affairs, permit hs name 20 De used be-
fore the convention next and ne does not believe
that circumstances ukely To occur which VIII
lead him 10 think that MS services are Indispensable 10
the welfare uf the country.
Admiral Ammcn dincd last evening with Mr Field
and Jew other gentlemen at Delmouico's. ana Returns
10 Washington to-day