The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-02-21
THE LESsEPs CANAL.

l. we lHtCTnhtlOudt SCcntllC SOHihtSSlOH,
Is The irrcpressiblc NJ De Lesseps somewhat
| highsoundingly names the corps OF engineers
he put to work in January to rc.survey ano
verify his proposed route for u ship cana
across the lsthmus Of Panama, are announced
in a dispatch of the 18th INST. TO have complet
ed their work, and unanimously agree tina
cutting a canal by the route indicated Is entire
! ly feasible. The corps of engineers was head
ed by Mr. j. Dirks, an engineer Of altogether
too high reputation to risk il by certifying
10 The feasibility Of a project of which Their,
was any occasion for scientific doubt. To pro
tect the canal from the great rams which ial
ed in the report to construct an artificial lake
in the valley of the Upper Chagres, together
with large dam with sluces at Cruces, neal
Matachin. Such reservoirs will be able &c
hold much more than the quantity OF water
that fell during the great frcshet of November
The entire cost of the canal, proposed rescr
vors, harbOr at Aspnwall, &c, is estimated at
Sl10,000,000, sind the time necessary for Its
construction placed at eight years, These are
definite statements and such, it must be adj.
mittcd, rs are within the competency of engi'
neers to determine
W. DE Lcsseps will now, i, is SAID, give the
citizens of the United States an opportunity
TO take half the stock in the proposed corpor'
alton, the other half, and as much more as the
capitalists of the |. :. fail to take of their
half will be offered IN Europe or wherever it
shall find subscribers.
This looks like business. NJ. De Lesseps
certainly did not incur the large personal eX-
pense his steps in the matter have already in
volved, without such backing as gave him as
surance that If the feasibility of his project
was scientifically established, he would be
supplied with the necessary means to put 1t
through. Indeed so great Is the confidence of
French capitalists in the judgment, ability
and pluck of NJ. De Lesseps that no matter
whether he gots dollars aid from the United
States, or not it is affirmed there will be no
lack of French capital TO the full extent ret
quired.
But then comes in another question. The
rumor Is that NJ -. l.esseps has made an ar
with the Colombian government
by which he acquires full right of way for
his canal without reference to the rights or
interests Of any other nation. Colombia, he
appears to hold, Is as completely sovereign
and independent nation as France or the Uni
ted States, and has as perfect authority to grant
rights of way across or to sell portions of its
territory, as any other nation can have. NJ.
De Lesseps therefore expects to proceed in ut
ter oblivion Of the Monroe doctrine, or any
claim by treaty or otherwise that the L. 5. may
have to supervise and control any canal that
may be constructed, no matter under whose
auspices across the Darien isthmus VIII M
De Lcsscps be allowed to do this? President
Hayes Is understood to say not and a commit
Zee of congress that has the matter in charge
Is understood to have agreed on very en-
phatic resolution to the same effect. 1t is
manifest, however, that whatever position our
government may propose TO assume on the
subject, it can be none too expeditions in max
ng it known and acting upon it.