, 1880-01-04
THE NICARAGUA ROUTE.
Capt. Bedford Pfn,s Lecture ON the
lstlmus Canal-He Favors the Amer
lean Route.

Capt. Bedford Pimss Lecture ON the
Istllmus Canal-I4e Favors the Amer.
lean Route.
London Morning Post. D<e. ia.
at the meeting Of the members Of the London
Society Of Arts, John street, Adelphi, Capt Bed
ford PIN, r n, M. P, read 8 paper on the sub
ject OF 1.-THE Panama Canal.'' The chair wus
taken by Sir George Balfour, II. P. The lecturer
first adVerted to the conclusions recently ar
rived at by the Paris Congress, when the route
for canal across the 1sthmus of Panama wus
selected by majority of the delegates, and then
discussed the varied interests involved in the
formation Of such a connecting link between
the two oceans. He thought, however, that the
Bay Of Panama was unsuited for the enter
prise on account Of the persistent ca1ms
which Often efreotlally barred ita approaches to
sailing ships, and in this opinion he was borne
out by many persons eminently qualified to
decide upon the merits OF the question. After
giving his OWL experience, derived during ofh-
clal employment in Central America, Capt PIN
mentioned in detail the various schemes which
had been propounded for canal transit In that
region, and said that there now seemed no rea-
sou to doubt the choice would ultimately fall
upon Nicaragua. He thought that We should
do well to accept the decision which had been
recorded BY the Americans in favor Of such
route with the proviso only that the Nicaragua
canal should be absolutely neutral territory,
t IS to abighSay Of nation%s @ % Il ofering aG feW
suggestions to those who might be engaged
e the construction tt Of canal through
sdered that the difficulties which the
sand bars Of Greytown presented we're
sufficient to make It impossible to form harbor
desirable to suggest an alternative route, with
very different dimensions, for the canal. and
consequent diminutton Of cost from TINT now
contemplated. Surfing from Monkey Point,
now called PINS Bay, on the Atlantic, and forty
miles north Of Greytown. he would advise the
formation OF canal from the inner part Of that
buy down to the Rama River, distance Of about
ten miles. This river carried deep water for
about twenty miles into the interior, and the re-
traverse land which offered no particalar diii-
Guilty. Then, from San Mg,lclito, on Lake Nica-
r.gua, By WY Of Tipitapa, to the northern
which an engineer would consider DIM
Guilty K in these days, an and the s remainder m @
Rcaleio, the Pacific, could scarcely be said to
afford field for engineering Skill the only ditt
Guilty being the supply. Of w,lter for the canal,
above the Pucifc, that was not insurmountable.
The entire distance by this route would be about
20 miles, and, at say four miles An hour, would
occupy vessel three days. In the scheme he
OF, and depth Of eight feet would be amply
sufficient as the ships passing through the canal
aa ee9 ss tse
Victoria Docks. The cost Of the construction OF
u canal would be materially reduced by the
opening Of a system Of raflroad and lake
steamers over the route further adyan--
tages would be secured to those engaged
always a delicate matter to deal with, he would
not attempt to 90 into detail us to cost, but even
At the outside sum Of o m mile ror the 11o
total cost would amount to some six millions.
There would not, he thought, be any difficulty
If nn1V n 1nOd warrant for n f1Va-aprH