New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-22

and has set on foot the surveys for the
proposed canal. He speaks with conf
dence of the enterprise, and considers
that the cost will not exceed the esti-
mate announced at Paris. He says he
will have only tide-level canal, and de-
cares that lie could raise twice the amount
of money needed for the project, in France.
LOOKING OVER THE GROUND.
THE FRENCH ENGINEER AND HIS INTEROCEANIc
CANAL sCHEME-A HEARTY WELCOME FROM
COLOMBIAN OFFICIALS AND THE NATIVES
HIS VIEWS IN DETAIL-HIs ZEAL AND CoNFI-
DENcE IN HIS POWERS AND REsoURCEs-wHAT
THE PANAMA RAILROAD HOPES TO GAIN.
[FRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE J
AsPINwALI, Jan. 1.-THE visit of NJ. de Lesseps
to the sthmus Is a genuine ray of sunshine to the
simple natives He has knded their hopes and
whatever may be the opinion held elsewhere of
his Canal scheme the natives of Panama have given
If their implicit confidence. From the moment the
news reached the Isthmus of his coming their
minds were mado up. The scant supplies Of the
government for the fiscal year were unhesiatlngly
appropriated for his entertainment, and the
poverty stricken inhabitants of Panama were
compelled, under heavy penalty, to scrub, white
wash and paint their dwellings and set their streets
and alleys in order Such an cir of neatness and
real cleanliness has not peryaded this city OF pigs
and smells within the memory of the oldest inhab-
liant. The story of the reception of De Lesseps
and of the long round of festivities held in his
honor has been already told He thoroughly appre-
catcd the efforts of the populace TO entertain him ;
during the races. mounted on a splendid horse and
accompanied by his personal stan, lac rode through
tho streets Of the town. 1t seemed almost incredi-
bic that this spry active, restless man had passed
his thrcc-5c years and ten. Madame do Lesseps
and her three children, when not driving or riding,
were 10 be seen on the balcony Of the Grand Hotel,
eager spectators of all that occurred. She is the
mother of eleven children. is very youthful IN ap-
pearance and quite pretty She takes an active IN
tcrest in the plans Of her husband and is very SAN
gmnc. She won the good opinion of everyone. ard
her influence will be potential in smoothing her
husbands pathway, which is not likely to be strewn
with roses.
| have had interviews with NJ. de Lcsseps. and
also with the president of the Panama Railroad.
The different surveying parties are going ahead
as rapidly rs is consistent with thorough and ex-
haustive examination of the Isthmus. Reports arc
made every three days to the International Com
mission. by whom they compared with former
surveys and verified. NJ. dc Lcsseps thinks that by
the end of January he will be able TO present to the
world yindication Of h's Judgment, and announce
a substantial beginning OF the greatest work ever
undertaken in modern times. His mind is unalter-
ably made up on one poiEt-he will have nothing
TO do with n canal with locks. His reasons, II not
conclusive, carry great weight. Tho tendency Mt
present is to build ships Of very heavy tonnage. 1t
was thought he said, when steamers of 5000 tons
were built that the end had been reached. To-day
ships of 5000 tons common, and experience has
shown that vessels much larger and very long mar
! row ard deep viii be true economy The leading
European lines are building vessels of 6,OOc, and
| even 1000 tons, and the end is not yet reached.
| What could such ships do in locked canatI One,
| or even fny sh' = might pass safely through the
nnumorable hazards OF fifteen or twenty locks pro-
vided the locks were extended 10 length never yet
prouosod but the iifty-Grst attempt might prove n
| failure lie the public consider said the engineer.
! what an Undertaking il is TO move an immense
steamer heavily laden with frcight-say one of
| 5000 tons. The ship herself, with her coal and
| stores will outweigh the cargo. Here we have an
immense mass approxlmatng 10, 600 tons in weight.
| II her great bulk. by the slightest movement came
| in contact with the gates Of lock they would be
crushed.
go TO the owners and captains Of vessels" he
continued "and ask their opinion. None can be
| better qualified TO speak. and | think ! am not
overstating the case when venture tie assertion
that three-fourths of them would decline to trust
~
objection, he added, urged that sailing vessels
would find It difficult TO leave tho Gulf of Panama
nj certain seasons of the year had already been
| partially answered. The carrying trade of the
| world was rapidly undergoing "a revolution. The
time was not remote when sailing vessel for ocean
| passages would be n rare exception. These lni-
! monse steamers built in compartments with
capacity 10 load and unload from dozen different
| hatchways Mt once, would supersede them. But the
objection itself was not well founded. There were
seasons when Gains prevailed to 4 considerable ex-
tent but they were not Of such frequent occur
| renee as to make the harbOr exceptional. At the
worst tugs would be numerous and towage cheap
A canal with locks ho said, could be built across
the lsthmus for two-thIrds Of the cost of similar
| work in Nicaragua because of the fower locks re-
| quiIed and the shorter distance but such canal
aid not meet the needs of the ago. The proposition
| coud not for "A moment be entertained canal
could not be built anywhere else except on the
Isthmus and he was afraid the hopes of all those
who for SO many years had looked forward to the
| construction Of this vast improvement must stand
or fall by the decision Of Che Commission now at
work Since his arrival at the lsthmus NJ. dC
Lesseps has become convinced that tunnel through
the lill or mountain over which the Panama
Railroad passes is impracticable, and the MI
must be blasted ont. The tunnel could be made
but aside from the stupendous nature OF th'
undertaking. the owners and captains OF vesset
would be unwilling for their ships to go through
the heart of a mountain. There are imaginary a.
we'll as real dangers to be guarded against ant
these can only bo obviated by sinking shafts an'
blowing out free passage for tho canal. IL Is h'
intention therefore. to separate the two continents
by passage as clear and much SAFER IMAM th'
Straits of Magellan. -.
1t is impossible as vet to make an accurate esti
mate of the amount Of rock and earth to be pe re-
will not fall short Of nor will 1t very greatly ex
cccd Sc. 900, 900 cubic metres, or about Oooot
cubic yards. This will give canal 4li2 miles n