New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-24
ISTU3fCS CANAL ROUI rs.
A LETTER FROM THE HON. J. ID. DEFREES.
CANAL ACROSS THE IsrHMCs OF DARiEN DID
GLAZED 70 RE OF NO ADVANTAGE To COM

A LETTER FROM THE HON. J. ID. DEFREES.
A CANAL ACROSS THE IsrHMCs OF DARlEN DID
Glazed TO RE OF NO ADVANTAGE To COM
MERGE.
TO fheEdftor Of The Tribune
sIE: great deal has been said and written
about the construction OF canal across the
Jstb,nus of Darlen Its enthusiastic advocates
claim that when constructed it will become the
highway of nations through which the commerce
of the world will pass! These high-sOunding and
noetIcal words seem to have 30 infamed the lmagl-
nations Of men that they do not stop to reason on
the subject. A few facts and figures demonstrate
the absurdity of this claim, and show that only a
very small portion of commerce would pass over 1t;
indeed, so small portion that the tolls would not
be sufficient to pay the pense OF repairs and
management.
THE PANAMA ROUTE.
shall not discuss the applicability of the Monroe
doctrine Tor rather the Canning doctrine. Endorsed
| bv Mr. Monroe's Administrator to digging ship
canal under a concession given by sister republic
to foreign capitalists; nor shall L say anything
about the doubtful feasibility of its construction
Notbipg short of omniscencc tell the cost OF
digging canal rty-fve miles long, fifty yards
wide at the water surface, and twenty-five yards at
the bottom. through mountains, and to a depth of
thirty feet below the water level of the Pacific
Ocean The most skilful and experienced engineers
can but Ruess at it, Their guesses have been from
| two hundred to four hundred millions of dollars
Put il at the last sum, and ten chances to one IL
would be doubled before it's completion. The interest
| on this sum, at per cent, would amount TO
| S24. 1000 900. To this must be added the cost of
| repairs and management. Where is the CONNER e
| the tolls on which will produce this enormous sum
Certainly not the commerce between Asia and Aus
tralia and Europe that finds more expeditions and
tha
| and by steamer via the Suez Canal. A comparison
of distances between important commercial points
proves this to be true. The distance from Liverpool
TO Australia, via the Suez Canal, is 11.221 miles
| via the Panama Canal when constructed 1859
miles--a difference of 164S miles in favor OF the
former route The distance from Liverpool to Singa-
PORE India via the Suez Canal is $500 miles VIA
the proposed Panama Canal Is, 416 miles-a differ
| of 711O milee In favor of the former route.
| From Liverpool to Hong Kong, via the suez
Canal is ,S65 miles; via the Panama Canal, ID 900
miles-a difference of 1920 miles. From Liverpool
| TO Yokohama, via the Suez Canal, the distance is
IL, $40 miles via the Panama Canal, 126l5 miles
"a difference Of over H. 100 miles III favor OF the
Sueg route These facts and figures show beyond
question that no portion of this immense commerce
would pass through q canal at Panama. On the
contrary, it's business would be limited to but q
small portion of the commerce between the Atlantic
and the Pacific States and to that between the
Pacific South American Republics and Europe. No
norton Of the trade with Japan and China would
nass tro oh IT, because that trade would find shorter
and better routes.
The tonnage of the commerce above alluded TO
only amounted to O. 46S OF tons fQrtbe year 1873,
a large portion of which was wheat. guano and
nitrate of Soda which will be continued to be car
RED In sailing vessels via the Horn. because their
low valne as compared with their bulk will not
beer the tolls of canal This would leave about
800, 900 tons which might pass through the canal
If not excluded by the charges for tolls anchorage
and pilotage, which. If they exceeded 81 per ton
they would most certainly be AZ SI per eoh nn f
tolls would amount TO S3,2OOOOO, wncn wceiu no.
nav per cent ON the first cost of the canal, TO say
ppottb,ng about the expense Of repairs and