National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-29
Admiral AnlInen Replies.
.SuTSC.T0C n n Isu OS

| ". u,
| Hon. J. FLOYD KING.
Chairman Select Committee on Interoceanie Canals:
SIR: had the honor of presenting on the Dist
! instant suggestions as to classes of persons who
were specially qualified to express opinions which,
| if considered a whole, might free your COM
mittee from some embarrassment arising from con-
| flictinG statements.
| When before your committee had note from
| Civil Engineer William J. McAlpine, second to
in this country, relates to this subject He
| informed me that he would send in few days
technical discussion of the proposed Tehuantepec
ship railway. which he regarded quite visionary
as NJ. de Lesseps' Panama canal. 1 did not then
acquaint you with this fact as you seemed much
| pressed for time
Not only is Mr.. McAlpine pre-eminent as an en-
gineer but his opinion this ship railway should
have special value from the fact that he spent last
winter on the Isthmus in the examination of the
topography, and has full knowledge of it.
Iappend copy of letter received from Mr., C.
H. Mallory. He has, understand, commanded
ships at sea- has been ship-builder, and is now
large ship-oTner L know no one person who
! uniies so many qualifications to give value to his
opinions. L quote his closing paragraph: I'VE
don't want any stock and don't believe it should
succeed. If our Government, instead of guarantee
ing large amount of money to purposes of this
kind, would turn its attention to many matters
much more tangible, perhaps we shoul not hear
so much of the decline of our commerce.
The successful transportation of the obelisk
which is now on its pedestal in New York has
given Lieutenant Commander Gorringe, L. s. n.
an enviable reputation among engineers; and, as
he is acknowledged as a thorough seaman, his
opinion should not be without value. He says :
However successful Captain Eads may be in
moving Is den ship across such distance, over
such varying grades the ship would not float on
reaching the point where the floating would be
matter of some Importance. = The iarring
III motion no less than the development of strains
not provided for in ship construction, must nevi-
taby open every seam and cause every giyet to
leak
From the letter of Mr.. C. II. Mallory, and
letter which l have received from prominent
agent of underwriters it seems probable that the
Tehuantepec Ship Railway Company would have
TO add the business of insurance TO that Of trans
portation, Or that ship-owners would have to take
their own risks.
The New York Herald of March 10, 1880, states
that Captain Eads said before this committee that
E. J. Reed, formerly chief naval constructor of
Great Britain, Mr.. John Roach, an eminent ship
builder. and Mr.. Henry Steers had received his
plans with favor 1 have received the following
from Mr.. John Roach:
al am in receipt of your communication and in
steamer of large dimensions cannot in safety be
taken out of the water with cargo on board, as
there would be great danger of injury to the hull
and consequently cannot be safely transported
with cargo on ship railway. Very respectfully,
JOHN ROACH"
The first proposition that I saw published by
Captain Eads referred to the transportation of
water-borne vessels the letter of Mr.. Reed pub
lshed in the PoS ofto-day, would seem to refer to
H. y, al,-r
the committee can, if desired, get the opinion of
Mr.. John Lenthsll, No. 1918 street northwest, of
this CITY, He was for many years our chief naval
constructor, and in my belief has few equals in
professional knowledge and capacity.
appreciate the difficulties your committee may
have in arriving at satisfactory conclusion Cap
ial is always sensitive and informs itself before
investing as to what will pay" Therefore, it
seems to me that by granting acts of Incorporation
unsupported by subsidies or Endorsement of bonds,
the wheat will be separated from the chat, and
capital will support the safest and most economical
transit between the two oceans, thus relieving
Congress from deciding questions of such grave re-
sponsblity, embarrassed by conflicting statements.
Referring now to what is published by Captain
Eads in the Post of to-day, beg to say that what
have presented, and what is now presented, will
satisfy your committee that there are able men in
all the departments of special requirement (among
them Mr. McAlpine, one OF our most eminent en-
gineers, who has full knowledge of the ground),
who utterly discredit the possibility of making
successful ship railway across the Isthmus of
Tehuantepec.
If there are others, and among them capitalists,
let them build the railway with their own money,
and then transport all the vessels whose owners
wish that kind of transportation.
In addition to the within cited letters, / have
Others, to which alluded In my letter of the 21st
from Harlem. Hollingsworth & Co., and Pusey,
Jones & Co., of Wilmington, Del; the Continental
Works ofNew York, and from James Parker, esq.
of the American Ship-masters' Association of New
York all of which will be submitted to the inspec
ton of your committee if desired Very respect
fully, DANIEL AMMEN,
Rear Admiral United States Navy.