Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-06-04
The Darien Canal.

AL iHtci co'ilS dCCOuilt Is given III
Scribner for June of the agitatation of the
Darien Canal project before European
scientific societies and governments by
Frederick M. Kelly, a Wall street brck-
er, who has spent a fortune in further
ing the scheme. After describing Mr..
kelly's visit to Humboldt, by whom
he was cordially received, the writer
says:
Returning to London, MI. Kelly read
a paper before the Institution of Civil
Engineers on the practicability Of a ship
canal without locks by the valley. of the
Atlatc, confident that intelligent men
and engineers would fully appreciate
his aims and efforts; and so it proved.
However, the first evening was one Of
uncertainties for Mr.. Kelly. During
the discussion, his plans were freely
criticised, and some grave doubts were
mingled with praise. DR.. Black and
Captain Fitz Roy, al able authority,
spoke in his favor, the latter saying:
"This, certainly is one Of those bold
conceptions, which, if they fail, are
termed chimerical; but, If they succeed
and it does appear that in this case
there is a strong probability Of ~success),
immortalize the authors. A second
evening was appointed to continue the
long discussion, and at this Robert Ste
phenson, the eminent engineer, presid-
ed. The result was still uncertain.
Mr.. Kelly had procured q transla-
ton of the Humboldt letter, and
in the midst of the proceedings sent it
up to the secretary, who read it. After
this, and when Robert Stephenson, in
closing the debate, urged governmental
survey, and said that Mr.. Kelley had
produced more ineligible information
upon the subject than had ever before
been given to the world" he was no
longer a shy petitioner at British doors.
Soon afterward the institution awarded
him the Telford Gold Medal "for dem
onstrating the feasibility of uniting the
two oceans by a canal without locks"
The following week he read a different
paper before the Royal Geographical
Society, Rear Admiral Beechey presid-
ing. 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 Steph-
enson, Sir Edward Belcher, DR.. Black,
Sir Roderick Murchison, Captain Fig
Roy and a large assemblage of mem
bers were present. His paper was dis
cussed on two evenings, and Robert
Stephenson again spoke favorably of the
scheme. De Lesseps was asked to speak
of his own plans, and began by saying
that he trusted the Darlen project would
prove practicable and be carried out.
Not very long ago, at the Congress of
Commercial Geography, held in Paris,
De Lesseps said that some persons
would oppose the Darien project as a
rival of the Suez Canal, but that he
himself was opposed to moDopolies, and
believed that anything which tended to
increase commercial circulation would
benefit the Suez Canal.
One day came an invitation from
Robert Stephenson, asking Mr.. Kelley
to dlpner at 5 O'Clock, but hoping he
might come at 2 for a preliminary chat.
What do you think of De Lesseps'
plan? ?" asked the engineer.
His guest hesitated, saying:
81 am not al engineer-neither by
practice o profession"
But" said the hest, Il think you
are quite as capable of Judging of this
as | am"
Then, l think De Lesseps' plans arc
perfectly feasible, much more so than
my own," replied Mr.. Kelley.
The engineer called for easons.
Because" said Mr.. Kelley, the Suez
route traverses a perfectly dry, healthy
climate; it is also flat, and an abundance
of cheap labor can be had; besides, the
engineering features are simple com
pared with those of my scheme, to be
carried out in the hottest, wettest and
%unhealthiest climate in the world, where
labor must be transported to the ground.
Then 1t involves cutting a ship tunnel
through the Cordilleras."
Mr.. Stephenson thought the Suez CO.
nal would require constant dredging.
"Yes," said his guest; I" but it will
prove such a vast benefit that it will pay
to keen on dredging it forever"
To which Mr.. Stephenson replied:
81 have had a line of levels run across
Suez at my own private expense, and
am persuaded that the scheme is I'M
practicable, on account of the drifting
sands"
1t was the mistake of a great man.
He said he thought the Atrato-Truando
| project far more promising, and spoke
in the highest terms of America and its
enterprise. That De Lesseps did not
meet with a very favorable reception In
London. Mr.. Kelley thought was due to
British jealousy.
THE other afternoon a lady called at
a iewelry store in Portland, and before
enterinp she left her baby in lis carriage |