The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-07-10
LATEST TELEGRAMG.
THE NICARAGUAN CANAL.
Why This Canal Should be
Built, and Why DeLes-
aens, Will Not.


Washington, 9.-Mr. A. Blanchet,
the original protector OF TIE NicaTa
guam Canal on the plan Of extending
the level of the Lake OF Nicaragua
10 the closest proximity Of the Allan
tic and Pacific Oceans arrived in this
city yesterday. Mr.. Blanchet ID an
eminent civil engineer, and has just
returned from Nicaragua with En-
glneer Menocal. He has devoted the
past fifteen years to the study oil an
inter oceanic canal through Central
America. Being called upon by a
reporter, to-day, Mr.. Blanchet SAID,
regarding the enterprise. that he mad
laid three visits to Nicaragua, and IN
March, 1879, he obtained, in the in
tereat of an influential French een-
papy, q concession from the Nlcara-
guam government, which failed OF con-
frmation by the Senate. Having re-
Gently returned to Central America.
the prolonged interest be has taken
in the canal gives him special popu-
larity in connection with matters per
tanning to the projects. He, in
cooperation with Menocal. approached
the government, aud the result was
the granting of concession to Memo
cal, or the American company, which
be represented. MIR. Blanchett deemed
It important for the completion OF
the great work to obtain a fusion
of interests. This being acquiesced
in by Mr.. Menocal, the result was
that a complete understanding iaVor-
able to the enterprise was arrived at;
hence Blsnchet ia now here to con-
fer with Admiral Ammen, Engineer
Menocal and others, with view to
arranging details for his ehectual
cooperation in Europe, and he ex-
poets TO represent the European in
terests in any organization that may
be contaminated. Mr.. Blsnchet is in
direct opposition TO the plans so
urgently favored by Count DeLesssps.
He considers the Panama project
impossible, owing to its immense cost
and the deadly character OF the work,
digging in one OF the most unhealthy
swamps in the world and sacrificing
thousands of workmen to the ravsges
of fever. He does not admit the
practibility of the canal in view
of anything like reasonable pro-
fits. SupposiDg it practicable,
he estimates tbs necessary outlay
at 800. 100000 yielding at the
outside $1,000 900 or 10000. 00C
revenue per annum. The Nicara.
guam canal, Mr. Blanohet says will
not cost more than S45, 600. 600, IN
der the present arrangement, and the
revenue will be equally as large as ii
constructed uiG Panama. He thinks
it will take about FIVE years to build
the canal, under the present arrange
ments, but it will be through ar
exceedingly healthy country, AND
under the active influence OF tbs
trade winds, which are 30 strong
on Nicaragua Lake as to rem
der it as rough as the British
Channel. In point of economy
OF time, Mr.. BIanchet con
slders the Nicaragua route much
shorter than that ria Panama, and
instances as follows: Going to New
York from San Francisco there is q
saving OF five days for any steamer in
transit, and always in the trade winds.
having to reach only the eleventh de.
gree of north latitude; whereas the
Panama Canal is entered on the
ninth degree and the vessels have
to strike south, entering the Pacific
below the seventh degree, where
the calm belt ia touched. which rem
ders it uniavorable for sailing ships
and might retaId their voyage ser
iously.
Mr.. Blanchet expects to return tC
Europe about the 18th inst, in order
to interest biz friends and raise the
capital needed for the company which
the American promoters OF the
scheme have undertaken to organize,
Immediate surveys will be made FOL
the execution OF the complete plans
of the work, and Mr.. Blanche
expects to return 10 Cen
trail America in the fall
He is quite confident that none
f but the Nicaragusn canal vii
, be completed. He anticipates tina
Dount DeLessepps may begin woIl
in Panama, but he is quite certain
that it will never be completed. Tht
competent authorities in France, Mr.
} Blanchet says. favor the Nicarsguar
route, and that fact, he considers
will be great obstacle in the We.
when it is attempted to raise capita
for the DeLessep's scheme. Tn
} fundamental difference between th,
, two canals. so far IS the system o
working is concerned, is that th,
Panama canal would not require tn,
construction of locks, whereas th,
: Nicaraguan will require a number
but the advantages for navigation
together With other obvious condi
tons, it is considered, render thr
latter alone feasible.