New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-25
THE CANAL TO THE PACIFIC
VIEWS OF FREDERICK NJ KELLEY

VIEWS OF FREDERICK NJ. KELLEY.
REASONS WHY sEA-LEvEL ROUTE SHOULD ia
PREFEERED-HIs OPINION OF TIE PLAN or "
De LE>sKPS-GREAT ABILITIES OF THE FRENCH
ENGINEER
Frederick VI. Kelley, who is known in con.
nccton with the iDterocrane canal schemes the pro
icct0r OF the Bias ronte, requested recently
TO give his views on the latest aspect the canal que.
SIR Kelley has diligently studied the problem for
twcuty-,eyeu years during part OF the time IN
official capacity. ana has made several surveys on the
i.tnnus at different times When asked 70 state what
ne thought Of tlc movements Of ~ de Lesseps he
replied:
sjill believe thli the shortest seaeyel route with
good herbor., requiring improvements is the beet
and only location for shipcanal The Nicaragua and
Iehnauiepcc routes with their Dad harbors and numer-
ons locks should bn ruled OF discussion entirely J.
that were done the pubic mind wOud be centred on
tho only practical schemes IL is my licf that the
place for locating the selleve canal Il on either the
Panama Bias routes, because they is well
snown--he shortest OF All proposed and the only prac
cal sea-leyel routes"
you think NJ lie Lossops will satisfy himself that
the Panama route Is practical {"
That is somewhat doubtful. The Panama route i
subject TO great foods which it is feared Will wash out
and destroy iuy which engineers may construct
It must be borne In mini however that NJ de Losseps
n worry able man. and mat with the large aui efficient
corps Of engineers the ground he may be able to
overcome tae Hood difficulties in some way. have
great confidence his ability In carving on projects
OF this kind His experience with tie sncz Canal demon
sraes his great energy and perseverance. when was
exhibiting my plans OF the AtratoTfuaudo route before
the Royal Goographcal Society at London. in 1856. W.
de ssep- there with his plans Tor the Suez Canal
His scheme strongly opposed by the leading en-
Gucers, bankers aud statesmen, through motives OF
jealousy. They claimed that bis scheme visionary
that ne would he able to raise the necessary
Whot,l n, .lo III left q
England, who would do nothing bnt listen politely 60
his pans and threw himself upon the generosity OF he
French people TIE result II we'll known. In addition
TO his great experience and pers lac has the
entire confidence OF European capitalists. In a word,
he possesses moro ~ the necessary qualifications for
building Il canal without locks than any nianJiving"
Why has 90 much opposition been made IN this
country to the scheme Of II. &c Lesseps ;" Those
who went tile Paris Congress to advocate various
routes involving locks came home disappointed. and
doing iher utmost to destroy Dis Influence for
securing the necessary for carrying forward tho
work. THIS is plainly done for the purpose Of getting
aim ont of the way that Other schemes may be adj
vanced IL has been claimed that the Paris Congress
was packed 10y NJ dc Lesseps In favor o. the Pan'ma
route bu this Is mistake. All routes were carefully
considered and The Congress wisely decided IN favor o.
a sea-leyei canal H. de Les,eps himself from the began
ming has been In OF seavel canal and OF course
used his Influence IN that direction he had perfect
right to do. He persisted In building the suez Canal
without locks though opposed IN his views by all he
leading engineers In Europe. Subsequent developments
have proved tue correctness or his judgment
But great many persons nave utEcn ihal lh'
building OF a canal largely with foreign capital would bc
an infringement OF tie Monroe Doctrine, aud thal 10
| should looked upon with indifference by tho
! United States government
'I "a plain others that the Monroe Doctrine has no
application at all to tire case. II proposed TO raise
the money Ia tins country well as N Europe How
NJ dc Ic-sops body else gong down to the lsth
mI. md constructing canal win Jamaica negroes
sing when the works. done. can be CON
! sidered as Infringing The Monroe Ductrine nav
never been able 10 comprehend BESIDE s. our Govern
without breaking the Ciayton Bh-
which provides that neither TINS country nor
Great Britain sla occupy, possess or IOItl any Dor
! ton OF the Isthmus. The advantages OF the cahdl
would be shared extent OF at east 90 per cent
by ne United States and there could rc no dis-
ordinations 81 the matter OF tariffs. Nncn any diAcrl
nation made against US then Would Dc the ume Ior
! interference"
| wants ~ commerce. II bulltF 49,
81 II You may build a canal b. the Noa-
IChutntepec route, Dut never thctss the con"
perce Of the world VIII not be satisfied uut deep
wide spalcVr canal IS made through the shortest part
o. Orer that ships may pass quickly ana
CLEARLY an keel r. mods prophet 10 fOietel
that Nicara Canal n built would become worth
less and piece OF engineering .Oiy ~ Woulu
prove with complex system Of locks entirety inaue
! au.ta To tie Z xpauulug wants IT cOmmeIce.'
" What would ". de Lesscps probably pursue
a. oud lie that IL impossible & overcome the on
saro. presented floods Of the Clagres Valley
81 mink he would then modify his plan by intrOduc
floods and also lrssenng the dcpth OF the cut on the
route which 3lS feet deep he would adOp te san
Bias route. which much the shortest ol all me routes
and presents, according 20 NV views, les ar
san Bias are the only possible ones for seaeVeI
| canal