The New York herald., 1879-12-10
ACROSS THE IS7HMUS.
Admiral Ammen on the Proposed
Canal Through Nicaragua.
REVIEW OF THE PARIS CONGRESS.
How the Vote Was Cast for the
De Lesseps Project.

ing of the American Geographical Society,
held in Chickering Hall. Owing to his ina
bility to be present Admiral Ammen sent
on the paper be read at his request by Colonel r.
Bailey Myers. of the council of the society Judge
DAILY presided, and among the distinguished gentle
men present were Senior Don Tomas de Franco.
Envoy Extraordinary from Nicaragua to Italy.
and member of the Paris Interoceanic
Canal Congress; NJ. A. G. Menocal. civil
engineer. United States service. and the asso-
ciate of Admiral Ammen at the Paris Congress; Gen
eral Egbert L. Vice Mr.. Finch. president of the
Society of Civil Engineers; General CRAWFORD
Messrs. Samuel B. Ruggles and Clinton Roosevelt
and Mr.. H. j. Cotheal. Consul OF Nicaragua
Colonel Myers. having been introduced by Judge
DAILY read as folows;--
am indebted to prominent member of yonr
society for the suggestion that L should continue
the discussion of the interoceanic question under
its auspices. propose, for your examination Ihe
Present Aspect of the American lnteroceanlc Canal
Question.
shall not tire the patience of my hearers by an
attempted history OF it; those who desirous to
inform themselves as to what was known and what
prior 1866 do by reading areport
to Congress by Rear Admiral Davis, United States
Navy, published that year under the title of "Inter-
oceanic Railroads and Canals" of course referring
to this continent 1t contains from pages 81 to 81
the authorities cited large amount OF vauable
information necessarily interspersed with much that
is wholly unreliable only OF partial value. The
elimination of mere assertions and of errors has
added vastly to the work OF exploration and survey
since that time. For outline as to what has been
done since then may refer you my paper of Oc-
tober IL, 1876 and second read November To- 1875.
before your society.
The first paper was designed to show the error
under which M. Drouillet, French engineer, was
laboring, and those who regard him authority,
III pamphlet issued in Paris III May, 1876, APP
parently with the approval OF the commercial branch
of the Geographical Society. 1t was designed to
show that there did not exist unknown routes com
parable for the construction of ship canal TO those
already known. The second paper was to show the
feasibility of ship canal via Nicaragua us a COM
mercial question, and to do this it seemed to mo
necessary establish its superiority all known
points, especially to economy or construction and
permanency Of works, from less liability to the de-
structive effects OF floods other probable
In the month of March last. when our government
thought proper to have our maps and plans pub
shed the results of close instrumental surveys on
the lsthmus of Panama and also those known as the
AtratoNapipi route for presentation to the Congress
called to assemble at Paris the 18th of May it
considered desirable that should 80 abroad to pre-
sent them, with such other surveys as had been re-
Gently made under it's orders.
/ suggested that had been one OF commission
appointed by the President the 18th of March,
1872 for the purpose of examining into and report
ing upon the question of ship canal across the
continent. and that on the 7th Of February 1876.
this commission had made its report as to locality.
&c., which had been acceptable to the government.
1t seemed to me, therefore, that some other person
should be selected to attend the Congress. sec
ond objection that the selection Of the canal
route eminently question capable of settle
ment only by the ablest engineers and those of the
highest character urged further that Commander
Z. p. Lull. of our navy. who had been engaged on
the surveys of Caledonia Bay and south of it, and
afterward had been the chief of the parties making
the surveys of the Nicaragua and the Panama
routes. could well take my place as he had rare
judgment and capacity, which would enable him to
present fairly such work rs he had done in compar-
with the surveys made under the direction of
other officers.
Notwithstanding these representations made by
me. found that the government preferred my going
u delegate. when of course appreciated fully the
honor and made such suggestions seemed neces-
sary to discharge properly the duties which be-
longed to the position. 1t seemed to he important
that the civil engineer who mad been employed on
1nfh fs,A nd Gnr and W IN
had performed his duties most satisfactorily
to the officer conducting them. should go also
either my assistant or as delegate. to make the
technical development of the routes. The sugges-
tion carried out, and may add that so far us
aware Civil Engineer Menocal performed his du
ties with entire satistsstion to our government. In
presenting inlM61yanL Information to the Congress,
the results OF dur government surveys, it seemed
necessary that certain ideas connected Herewith
should be expressed For that reason. what shall
hereafter call my address" to the Congress was pre-
pared aud submitted to the inspection of
the department of our government under whose
instructions went abroad. On arriving in Paris.
the day preceding the meeting of the Congress. Mr.
Menocai and myself lost no time in paying our re-
spects to NJ. Ferdinand dc Lesseps. too widely and
too favorably known to require further comment
unless may add that aud all other occasions
our intercourse was in all respects agreeable.
On the morning of May 10 preceding the meeting
agreeable French gentleman who had been to
Nicaragua on two occasions to secure Il concession
for the construction OF ship canal, and indeed
had one, which last March rejected by their
Senate. was informed by him that the previous
NJ.
to be held or agreement entered into that
ceptable NJ Blanchet aud the party in the Con-
gress who would support the Panama project;
My understanding OF this was that they had
agreed to permit the discussion of the question to
stand its merits. and that whichever side lost the
vantage ground would receive some recompense
which had been agreed upon in advance Once at
least during the sitting OF the Congress received
visit from NJ. Blanchet, who seemed to bo very
much excited about the question. and TO think
should be also told him that the decision of the
Congress was no concern of mine: that my duties
he usph "a
sentaton of all the information in the possession OF
our government which was in tact the object of
my being in Paris. After the adjournment of the
Congress previous to my leaving, received another
visit from NJ. Bianchet who informed me, or at
least conveyed the impression. that his opponents
had acted in bad faith with him. On the meeting of
the Congress on May 10 an Immediate organization
was effected. NJ dc Lcsscps president and hve vice
presidents
The names of the members Of the different COM
missions called. numbered az follows:-Frst,
Statistics; second, Economic and Commercial third,
Navigation; fourth. Technical; NTH, Ways and
Means.
After naming the members of the commissions M.
dc Lesseps remarked In iocular manner that our
work was all cut out that many OF the delegates
were anxious TO got home and tnat we could carry
the work through r1me,tcdine. which may DO
translated with "a rush" The fuil meeting of tho
Congress was then adjourned until the 18TH; tho
commissions met at nine o'clock the following
morning
Owing to the non.arrival OF our heavy package OF
books, maps, &c. was not able TO present them
The next uay, as desired, but did so on tho morning
OF the nth to the Technical Commission. On their
printed in French aud English. The following day
copies were IN tho hands of the secretary for dis
tibution to such persons as wished them.
lThe address OF Admiral Ammcn at the Paris Con-
gress. OF which full synopsis given in the
HERALD in May last. then reaa.1
The presentation of maps. plans SC, was followed
by technical presentation OF the Nicaragua route
by Civil Engineer Alcnocal. Aftorward in answer to
inquiries. lac gave the methods OF proposed I'M prove
nnent Of the harbCr OF Greytown and the regimen Of
the bar as observed by him during several recent
v.lla In 4 M hgr rf.y tI,.t
the able sub-commissos subscribed TO the eff
cheney of tho proposed method, aud as well to tho
method proposed for constructing the dams across
the san Juan. Several engineers OF note al that time
not favorably disposed to the Nicaragua route made
many inquiries, with view OF developing It's diff
cultes aud its inferiorty, and became well in
formed adopt It as tho route Offering relatively
the fewest difficulties and in the end certainty of cx-
ecution. These engineers were found 0lterward
among those who au ustained from voting.
On the second general meeting Of the Congress,
May 10, Sir John Itawksbaw, OF England, who's,
reputation as hydraulic engineer is second TO