New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-03


de Lesseps that he was in too great haste TO make
merry over the grave objections to the Panama
scheme which have come from American naval OIL
GERS and civil engineers Meanwhile we can afford to
read what he saws about us with entire equanim'ty
and 10 give to his objections 10 the rival Nicaragua
project all the weight they deserve. Speaking OF the
Americans he says:
Here Is people who have spent IN tweny
In sending their n ost compctcnf men TO study
Ishmus Their best engineers and their best sailors
have been upon all the coasts Of the Atlantic ana Pa
cifc and have examined all the passes but their
studies did not furnish practical solution became tbey
always contemplated canal with locks. IL belonged
TO the Con zress at last TO give the souionto Con
gress In which the Americans TOOK part with persons OF
all natiOnaitcs who had not preiudRod the question:
There were present Spanish engiBccrs OF high rank
and Dnchmon well versod ia photographic knowledge
tbcy all In accord with The French engineers In
favor OF canal with constant level without locks The
Americans had species OF cold chill seeing that
solution was found which had escaped them because
they had studied the question from side only
This is very neatly said, but the fact is the French
solution was not new one at all. 1t consisted
simply in placing rule across the map and saying
we will cut canal here through the mountains
down to tide-water level. The Americans had
thought of that long before but did not believe
such project could DO successfully carried ont.
Nor have they changed their opinion since the en-
gineer of the Suez Canal esponsed the scheme with
all his audacty. Az to the right of the American
Government to oppose the Panama enterprise, Nj.
do Lesseps denies that it has any. His concession
is from the United States OF Colombia. which he de-
clares to be just sovereign the United States
ofAnerica. The Monroe doctrine, instead OF stand
ing in his way he interprets protecting his enter
prise because the sovereign State OF Co
lombia has given the concession to it
and no European Government takes any
hand in the affair. 81 have written" he says,
a., tI,a al
opposition has not leg to stand upon it will fall
of itself. feared only thing in the beginning.
and that was that everybody would be on my side.
am not yexed that there Is opposition because the
honest people are always in the majority and when
you are unjustly attacked they come to your sup
port"
Summarized in a single paragraph. NJ. de Lesseps's
argument against the Nicaragua route is follows:
Ii is 90 kilometres long, while the Panama line IS
but 73. The country traverses is subject to earth
quakcs. which might ongnlf the ships; whereas on
the lsthmus of Panama earthquakes are unknown.
The outlet to Lake Nicaragua is crooked as to
embarTass tho navigation of large steamers. An
artificial harbor would have to be constructed at its
mouth. The tweniy-one locks required wOuldsdeay
the passage of vessels several days-an important
consideration, inasmuch as the daily expenses OF
1000 ton steamer are from $500 to $780, while the
q
transit The plans made for the Nicaragua Canal
show thirty mine curves, of which twenyeght have
an insufficient radius, some being small go
metres. although large steamer requires 1000
metres to turn in And finally he asserts that it Is
folly to imagine that the Nicaragua plan will cost
less money to carry out than the Panama line; for
though the mountains it must traverse are not so
high. they are broader and more compact.
Thus NJ dc Lcsscps aOandOns the defensive and
attacks the rival project sharply. He entertams no
doubt of his success. - shall embark with full
assurance he SAYS, and shall 90 straight ahead
in a path where am determined that nothing shall
stop me. The work that have undertaken shall
certainly carry forward to a good end because
have commenced 1t. and because never leave I'M
finished what have once begun" He explains IN
this naive way why he insisted on having absolute
control over the enterprise and refused to divide
the authority with anybody: 81 have my ideas,
which are not other peoples ideas ; have. there
fore, need of entire liberty of action. | began my
diplomatic career accredited to Mehemei Ali. who
regenerated Egypt. One day he sac to me- My
dear Lesseps. Won are young. When in the
course of your life you have something important
to do, remember that If there are two of you there
is one too many" DE Lesseps appears TO have
all the money needed for the commencement of his
enterprise. He has paid the Colombian Govern
ment 100000 francs to the existence of his
company, and has bought out the persons who held
the concession for the canal. He has engineer
on the ground He will take with him two wealthy
contractors who did large part of the work on the
Suez Canal. He intends to form commission OF
distinguished engineers from many countries,
among whom he hopes to count Colonel TOtten. of
the United States Engineer Corps. The necessary
appara for soundings and surveys is already pur-
chased, and early III January he hopes to ar
rive on the lsthmus All this looks like business.
In view Of De LesSeps's perseverance and activity,
il is wonder that the projectors of the Ncara-
guam scheme are bestIrring themselves. and urging
General Grant for decision the offer they have
made him. Much longer delay his part will be at
tributed to one of two motives-a desire to re6nter
tire political field. or an intsntion to satisfy himself
of the feasibility of the enterprise by personal
animation of the ground during his Winter tour in
Mexico and Central America.