New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-04
THE CANAL TO THE PACIFIC.
AN ADVOCATE OF NICARAGUA.

| VIEWS OF SENIOR DE fRANCo-ms EFFORTS TO GET
THE AID OF AMERICAN cAPITAusIs-GESERAL
GRANTS POSSIBLE PRESIDENCY.
Senior Thomas de Franco, Nicaraguan MIN
lister ITALY, who IL this In tho interest OF
the Nicaragua Ship Canal project. returned from WASH
ngon Tuesday well pleased with the disposition Of the
President and influential members Of Congress
toward the enterprise. and prepared to place
IL In definite shape before the capitalists
OF New-York Senior do Franco Is stately.
gray-haired gentleman, who speaks English
perfectly has had a large experience In business poll
ties and diplomacy and is thoroughly informed on the
whole subject OF isthmus canals. He was associated
with Cornelius Vanderbilt in the first Nicaragua iran
Company and has always cherished an ardent fath
In the idea that the most practicable route Tor canai
between the Atlantic and the Pacific was through his
cour Try and that this route would IN the end be
chosen In conversation yesterday with a representa-
tive Of THE TRIBUNE he first criticised sharply the att
tempt OF DE L~sscps make his advocacy OF the Pan
like a lofty dsiDteresed effort IN behalf
OF commerce and civilization. the truth is said he
Lesseps had his ticket the Panama lottery be-
fore Canal Congress meteand none In the Ncara-
qua enterprise His advocacy ct the Panama route pro-
ceeded from money considerations wholly"
senDr de Franco produced pamphlet containing the
proceedings Of the French Company which got the
concession from the Colombian Government long prior
the meeting OF the congress- which the question OK
the remuneration for DE Lesseps for advocating the
Panama route and securing its adoption Is more than
once referred to- lie also showed The charter OF
the new company, In which reservation OK
10 per cent Of the first twenty millions OK
capital subscribed compensation 10 the founders
and au1aries OF the enterprise Is provided for Re
fcrng to the statement OF De Lesseps IN his recent
speech in Paris that he had deposited 100000 francs
with the Colombian Government 10 guarantee the
carrying OF his scheme, said that the deposit was
in reality made In Colombian bonds Of tue face value OF
100000 francs, which were bought In London Tor
80 per cent. He also spoke OF feature in the
concession which, he said, De Lcsseps has not
mentioned in soliciting subscripiions-a stipulation
for the payment Of per cent OF the gross
receipts Of company into the treasury OF the Colon
blan Government, matter whether tho company
makes any profit or not Thus the money which oughs
20 20 to the shareholders dividends To be constantly
sucked INTO the Colombian treasury.
TGe Panama anal practicable to construct. contin.
ned ST. nor dc Franco would be like the suez Canal only
useful to steam yesses because IL Is In the region OF
calms AMI sailingyesse would be DELAYED for weeks
in OF leaving IT, The Nicaragua route IL not or
that region It would folly construct canal for
steamers only, when there IL better route available
for both sat and steam vessels, and when the great
bulk OF the worlds commercial marine is in sailing
ships"
In reply TO question 10 the attitude OF the United
States Government toward the canal enterprise lie sad
The United States is fully committed to the Nicaragua
route Your Government has spent ten years time and
large amount Of money surveying fewer than seven
derent routes between the two oceans tho decision
engineers after all tais work had been done was
commercial and scientific considerations bind YOU TO
stsen route Of the United states Government"
What is the financial basis of the Nicaragua enter.
81 have the pledges OF French financial agencies that
they will subscribe Immediately loooOo,ooo o,
frames N an American company IL formed and
The obtained The estimated amount needed
to construct the canal ony s52 but to pro,
Of 400 000to be called IN at The rate Of
wear desire associate III the enterprise number
a., ssn'"s" eminent in financial circles this '''n
Tn GET tbe from the Ncaraguan Govern
| ment That will be matter requiring no great time.
days notice. and the necessary legislation viii be
promptly voted Then We s" y, want Sats e., charter from
dlstnctively American National affair. and aftet-
ward can receive subscriptions and push the work
along rapidly"
ASSURANCES FROM GENERAL GRANT
"what assurance have you that General Grant will
accept the presidency OF the canal company T.
Gle has given that II the concession is
obtained and sufficient capital subscribed TO make the
CARRYING out OF the project certain he Will accept or
course in such case he would be bound TO devote
himself entirely the enterprise and would not feel at
liberty to engage in political movements"
Do You expect more positive Information
from General Grant as 10 his ntentionsP
eyes: snail meet him In Philadelphia the 18th,
In company with ether friends OF the canal project"
Winter tour Z" 80
II think quite possible that he VIII 20 there from
Havana before visiting Mexico"
What IL the attitude Of the people OF Nicaragua To-
ward the canal enterprise "
they are SO In favor of
thought there no other way OF earring ont they
would demand annexation 10 the United states"
What IA the population Of Nlclraguaf
About 900. " whom 100000 are producers and
consumers-I mean civilized people"
Z" Do you anticipate opposition 10 your scheme In
financial circles here IN NEWBORN
The Panama Railroad Interest IL, or course opposed
10 H. That company has contract with the De Lesseps
Canal Company by which the latter 10 take It's road
on the completion OF the canal and pay
al4 OoO 900 for IL. As the road only cost
IL 600. 900, this is good bargain. but
in addition the company is TO be given stock in the
email 10 The amount Of 40 900 900 francs In general
way suppose railway nhueoce Of the United states
will be opposed enterprise as 1t Is To All plans for
water carrae. hope however. 70 succeed In Interest,"
Ing Mr. Vanderbilt In route where his father was ono
of the pioneers" -
senior de Franco expects 10 sail for Nicaragua on the
2Oh IN case his business here prOspcrs lie expects
Unless ne is Over sangune IL Is not improbable tAAt soon
after yscount Lesseps reaches Panama with bis
gneers contractors and machinery. General Grant VIII
81 up the San Juan River and the beautiful Lake Mica
qua rs president the American Iuteroce,nc Canal
Company.