The New York herald., 1879-08-08
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.


sEPs ROUTE NOT FAVORED.
As the result of thorough inquiry at the State De-
partment and of interview with the President this
afternoon it may be authoritatively stated that
action has been taken and no correspondence held
by this government either with regard to the de Les
seps canal scheme In its relation to foreign policy
or with regard to the further exploration of the
Isthmus by another government expedition with
view to tho organization Of American canal com
pany. AS far the de Lesseps scheme is concerned
beth the President and the Secretary of State firmly
convinced that exigency is likely to arise which
can cause disquetude make it necessary for this
government to take steps for the pro otection Of
American interests. They believe that NJ. de Losseps
and the Paris Congress have selected impractcabe
route and that the de Lesseps scheme will eventually
fail through the lack of financial support and for want
OF American cooperation. The report that another
government expedition to the Isthmus is contem-
plated seems to be founded msapprehension.
No such proposal has been made and no such expe-
dition thought of.
Admiral Ammen. however. is very anxious that
commission of American engineers should be ap-
pointed to make careful examination Of and an
official report upon the whole subject of an inter-
oceanic canal with view further action therein.
should it then seem advisable. Many expeditions
have explored the Isthmus. and an immense mass of
information relating thereto has been accumulated;
and this information has never. in Admiral Ammens
opinion. been thoroughly and inpartially examined
and colated by body of competent engineers. Such
a body he proposes that the government shall
organize and If this commission shall decide that the
information already extant is insufficient and report
in favor of further exploration Of any particular
route, expedition may be sent out for that pur-
pose. As yet no action has been taken by the gov
.ernment upon Admiral Ammens proposal; but
there ia little that will ba
cred, and that the commission of United States en-
gineers will be appointed
LETTER OF ADMIRAL AMMEN REGARDING THE
NATION OF THE LAJAs ROUTE RECOMMENDED.
Secretary Thompson has received letter from
Admiral Ammen with regard to interoceanic canal
communication and the proposed visit of Civil En-
gineer Menocal to Nicaragua. The Admiral says:-
should the department grant the request of the
Nicaraguan government. to permit Civil Engineer
A. G. Menocal, United States Navy, to go to that
country for the purpose Of improving the naviga-
tion of the San Juan River in the vicinity OF the
Costello Rapids, would suggest that he be
formed that it is desirable to re-examine the region
Of the Lajas route which lies between Lake Mica
ragua and its junction with the Rio del Medic
route. with view to ascertaining whether consid-
cradle amount OF the surface drainage fall
Lake Nicaragua u reasonable cost. If this should
prove be practicable it will allow the safe location
of ship canal through summit level of only forty
three feet above Lake Nicaragua. but with IL
Of length of 149 miles in lieu of deep cut of
133 feet by the Rio del Medic route. preferred
account Of supposed better conditions of per-
manency. An object never disregarded III inter-
oceanic canal surveys to. the element of
permanency especially from floods. in great
degree possible, hence the Rio del Medic route
was preferred The estimate of the cost of this
route s65.722,1E and Of the Lajas route
sGo.352 1885, making difference in the estimates of
So 369, 800. with the disadvantage of troublesons
surface water on the Lajas route. 1t was not sup
posed. however, that the very careful location Of
the work when the construction is made might not
end in preference for that route In my report to
the Secretary of tho Navy chief of the Bureau Of
Navigation in 1876 will be found the following
'It proper add that the most careful and elab-
orate surveys would necessarily have to be made in
advance OF any point heretofore examined before
commencing the construction OF an interoceanc
ship canal aud that these surveys could only lessen
the labor and cost Of construction, inasmuch the
locations given actual throughout their
length, and would only be changed when advantage
could be gained by doing NO.
"While q company organized for the purpose Of
constructing ship canal would not fail to re-ocate
every part OF the route. preliminary examination
by Civil Engineer Menocal may show in advance
that the surface drainage above alluded to may adj
vantageously be thrown into Lake Nicaragua. with
considerable decrease In the aggregate estimate for
labor in the substitution of the lower lines levels
Of the Iass routes. and without any sacrifice of the
conditions Of permanency.-'
MAILS POSTPONED
The Post oGice Department is informed that the
sailing Of the Pacific Mail stcamsh Gaelic from San
Francisco with mails for China. Japan and the
Indies scheduled for August Is. has been postponed
to the 25th.
The sailing of the steamship Niagara from New
York with mails for Havana and the West Indies
has been postponed indefinitely.
THE STATUS OF EMPLoyEs OF THE NATIONAL
HEALTH BOARD.
A decision was rendered to-day by Judge Tarbeli.
Deputy First Comptroller OF the Treasury, in aues-
ton recently raised by the National Board of Health
the ofcisl status OF health officers appointed
by the State and local boards and paid ou. of the
funds of the National Board upon application of the
local organizations for aid The general statutes re-
quirc all employees of tho government to take the
oath OF Office before being paid. and this rule has
heretofore been held to apply to ali persons recoiv
ing salaries in any capacity from tle United
States its officers. As the appointees OF
all state and local boards which receive
assistance from the National Board paid by the
latter. the question raised whether they were
not by virtue of that fact constituted United States
officers. and whether they should not therefore. be
required to take tho oath OF Office. Judge Tarbel
decides this question in the negative. He holds that
appontocs OF local organizations are at most only
agents OF the National Board. aud that the fact
that the rules the latter require money in aid of
local boards to se paid directly to their employee
and not tho boards themselves for discretionary
use does not make said employees United States OIL
GERS. Judge Tarbeii rccommcncs. however. that all
such appontees be required 20 certify. under oath.
the correctness Of their accounts and the amount OF
their compensation.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE NEW YORK CUSTOM
HOUSE FoR rwo YEARS
The following statement OF the receipts and cx-
ponscs of the Custom House Of New York for the
as.ai aud hasl l,su hx an.