The daily gazette., 1880-02-26
speech by m. de Leaseps.

@RSO@tH ~ WIS a0 sS880FSe
came here, urged partly by de-
sire to see this grand nation and hel
people--a desire that have had for
years-and partly to show the report
of the International Commission, and
to talk to your financiers. My idea is
now, that as popular subscriptions
are not understood here as in Europe,
to get prominent capitalists to form a
syndicate for the sale of the bonds of
the canal. Ibelieve that we shall need
900, 900, 900 francs. Some of the work
suggested in the engineers report is
precautionary, but unnecessary, in my
estimation. At any rate, I shall give
America the option of taking even
more than half of the amount l con-
slider as requisite for the undertaking.
l lam not going to diplomatize to in
sure success. / was diplomatist 80
years. Since then have been an en-
gineer. The scheme will be success
In public opinion after it has been
Shown that success is certain. There
need be no fear of foundations which
will carry away the great dam with
hood-gates at Gamboa, between Cruces
and Matachin. The dam will only be
40 metres high, and will form reser-
voir capable ofholding the product of
such a rainfall as occurred last No
vember, the greatest freshest on rec
ord in the United States of Columbia.
Greater dams exist at st. Etienne, in
France La Gillappe, in Belgium, and
Alicante, in Spain. The last-named,
constructed 300 years ago, is intact.
The height of these dams is from 40
to 80 metres. In regard to the Mic
araguan Canal, opposed the plan
because it contemplated the construc-
tion of 81 ecluses, (locks.) Such a ca
nal would be costly, unsatisfactory,
and Improbable. l am not giving
the attention that / gave, when the
Suez Canal was constructing, to the
canards and objections published and
raised. Matters in regard to the Cha
gres Canal are taking precisely the
same turn as they did in the case of
the Suez Canal, and the result will be
the same.''
: M. De Lesseps, before terminating
the interview, reindorsed the report of
the International Technical Commits
sion made at Panama, and also cir
cular he has addressed to the capital
lists of the United States. The report
says that the line adopted by the Paris
Congress has been slightly modified
and improved. The Panama Railroad
was taken as a base So cross sections
made by five leveling brigades, and
the exact condition of the ground to
be excavated is sascertained by borings.
The overflow from the Gamboa dam
will be carried off to the sea over a
new bed for the River Chagres, and
drainage and surplus water from the
canal is to be carried off by channels
to be constructed. A tide-lock is to
be constructed in the Bay of Panama
to control the level of the canal. In
the Bay of Limon, on the Atlantic
side, it is necessary to construct
breakwater two kilometres long on ac-
count of storms. The cost of the
work, estimated at 843,0 1000, 600 francs,
includes the following items All
excavations, dredging, and removal of
earth, 570,000,000 francs dam at
Gamboa, 100, 100000 francs chang
ing the waters of the Chagres, Obispo,
and Trinidad, 1000, 900 francs tide
lock on the Pacific, 10000, 900 francs,
and breakwater on the Atlantic coast,
10000, 600 francs. Contingencies are
estimated at 76 600, 900 francs. The
work will take 8 years to complete,
and it may be commenced before next
June. The estimates contemplate the
removal of rs, 600, 900 square metres of
rock and soil. The workmen employ
ed will be negroes not Cinnamon, as
currently reported.