New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-10
OPPRESSIVE TOLLS LOOKED FOR.

II had without careful computation put II rs
high as 80 francs go per ton actual carrying ca
pscity OF vessel. but the above quotation pnts IT,
as stated at 40 francs, or SIS. Then their figures
grow gorgeously when treating of rates and vol
umes of business as when referring to receipts, or.
let us say, to erpesdiars for machinery {" this oo"n-
.rv We may inquire what such toll means TO the
grower Of the Pacific coast, who must add II
10 the charges for freight insurance, etc. This -
toll alone would be- just about % cents per bashel
AT that rate there would be 40 maIgiu for the
farmer ."
NO The next article in order treats TO
statement of the cost of the canal which is set down
at 600 OOO. 900 francs. in which included . pr
cent interest 10 shareholders during construction,
and 10000 900 francs for the purchase of the con-
cesson. To understand the true uwardness OF tins
estir,ated cost of the canal we must refer 10 the
statement published by De Lesseps his
arrival at New-York from Panama. state
meut signed by no less than nine engineers
IN his employ. The actual excavation. as then
stated amounts to 100000 cubic metres. or
eS 100 900 cubic yards. OF which about one-hai is
assumed TO be rock and the stated cost for excava
sion is $40 900 900 francs. But the engineers shield
themselves from the absurdty of the low prices as
suned in their estimates for work 10 be done IN
ditch occupying the narrow valley OF araFld ana
powerful river subject to Iises OF forty feet few
onO to 500 feet deep, and far below the
rver level. by stating that the prices are
those fixed by the Paris Congress Tor
tie various items. The rate for earth excavations
for example is about thirty-hve cents per cubic
wand The rainfall in eight or line months in each
wear is from $50 to 40 inches. bile The vast
of material excavated must be haulel away from
the narrow river valley TO q place of deposit"
Would this not involve an enormous e1pendi-
ture ~ asked the correspondent.
~Tbe baulpe would cost much more than the exca-
vation and the river in foods fills the valley TO
many fee. in depth. the current being then very
strong At any rate the excavation at the low prices
aouted is sestimated to cost $40 600 900 francs then
the dam regulating the ChagreS RIVER. the tdc-lock
and break waters are set down at l9',ooO.oOO
francs, making the engineering work to cost
$4,000 COO francs Taking into view what have
just said about the difficulties and also the deadly
character of the climate, can We assume iess than
100 ter cent for engineers contingencies Bnt we
will pot it st SO per cent. or 3o3.5oO,OOO irdncs
thus making the total estimate for engineers Work
l,I50 500 600 francs. say $3.50, 100000 quote
fsom the engineers report: The Commission is of
opinion that with good and judieious manage
veas she work can be completed in eight years
10 we cannot accept Mr. De Lesseps's prctenoe now
hat be can complete the canal IN five years, and
must charge the interest on iustalments at Per
cent, which he provides for during eight years " .
have then
Y,snsr,nr e,,, ...-.-........ $50, 10000
Intce-i lnetalme5ts. say SSS6.t01O0l-. e'tSoeVO
CoEEsSoh aad expenses VI ptsni AK >SSo+o'-
ee1 sspsiAl aad tcE contingent ncnss no. eo
Eaeerl1k cent 4o,e..V'VyyII
rlrshaSs ~ oSne~sxioa ................ .U0J,VV0
Private lzaas De Puydts quota;-ca - -. 49,.
81 DE Lesepss 10 EpElsh c&pi A4siS' .VVVHVIV
tssss. sossvas4 - - -. -. ...-.... 30 G0oooo
fcts ss ttss ]. 90A an
cr al IN rosnd numbers SSsoOVV'V1o
You mako the fsures large" said the core
epoHaeai
True COST or CONTRACTION.
Yes, and will not take time here 70 explain
vhy they are not nearly large enough. They suffice
te show that De Lesseps's own figures and declara-
hens place the cost certainly AZ three tises TIE
aassnt Ae now assxzaes. In this paper appears the
Z ssasEmcns that the Panama Railway Company had
sgssed to accept an annuity OF 4.SlS.000 francs.
1hen. in order, comes . statement Of working ex-
teuses, in which maintenance and operating
- canal are put down at 5.so00cO
nAA Five per cent On the capital shares