New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-15
The PANAMA CANAL.
COMMANDER wYsE DEFENDS 1T.
REPLIES TO RECENT CRIIICIsM-PoINTs AGAINS


hEPLlES ~ RECEN1 ChlliCibM-POlNlS AGAlNSI
OTHER SCHEMES.
Commander L. N. Bonaparte Wyse arrived from
Paris with his family Thursday. and is at the Hotel
Brunswick. He has been interested in interOceanc
canal projects since 1868. and obtained the conces-
sion from the Colombian Government to open an
interoceanc canal across the Colombian territory.
He told TRIBUNE reporter yesterday that while
in command of two expeditions he obtained the con-
cession in the name of international society with
which at the time De Lesseps had nothing to do.
After he had surveyed four routes, completing the
surveys made by order of the United States Govern
ment he decided that level canal the most de-
sirable, and that between Aspinwall and Panama
the best route. An International Congress in
Paris examined the different surveys that had been
made, and seventy-eight members advocated the
Panama route only eight being opposed to 1t. con-
tract was afterward made, he SAID with De Lesseps
to take of the financial part of the scheme. and
when De Lesseps and the company had executed
the conditions of the contract they would become
the proprietors of the grant.
The reporter asked Commander WYse for his opin-
ion of General Grants argument in favor of the
Nicaragua route.
e am verv glad" was the reply, :" that General
Grant is in favor of an interoceanc canal. As to
his objection to the Panama route that floods visit
that region, they quite frequent in Nicaragua
We have done all that is necessary. how
ever, to prevent any bad effects
from them. We have only seven miles
of swamps in the Panama route, while there are ten
times as many in the Nicaragua route. | consider
that objection therefore, very strong against
the Nicaragua route. The distance between New
York and Aspnwall. which is a good harbOr, is sew
eral miles shorter than the distance beyween
New-YOrk and GreytOwn, where it Is impossible Ia
make, a good haIbor. The cost of the Panama
Canal. which is four tunes shorter than the
Nicaragua would be only $11OO00,0OO and
De Lesseps has arranged with contractors to build
it tor that sum- think the investment will be a
very good one. The same objections that are made
now against the Panama Canal were made
twenty-five years ago against the Suez Canal
and now the shares OF that company
pay per cent, and each share of 800 has value
of 1865. So am entirely without anxiety about
the financial success of the Panama Canal scheme.
One point OF importance against tSe Nicaragua
been obtained, there must be another concession OBJ
tanned from the Republic of Costa Rca. because the
projectors of that route will have some difficulty in
putting the two Governments into perfect accord on
that question.
oceanic canal 1 think that in a private inter-
national company, like the Company of Panama,
there IS nothing which could hurt American senti-
ment. The grant that obtained forbade the In .er-
ference OF any other nation whatever 1t states that
the Government of the Colombian Republic declares
neutral at all times the ports OF both extremtes OF
the canal, and the waters OF the latter from one
ocean to the other and consequently in case of
war between other nations, the transit through the
canal will not be interrupted. The mercantile
marine and the people OF all nations will be per-
united to enter the ports mentioned without being
disturbed or detained. Those excepted are the for
eign troops which cannot pass without the permis,
war with The United States of Colombia which
have not acquired the right of passage at all times
by treaties. In fact, the only Government that now
possesses privilege in regard to the canal is that
of the United States, which IN 1916 made treaty
with the Colombian Government So that II the
o,nI 10, flat nhotf altVa -
the world could pass through 1t. but only the mem
of-war of the United States. am accordingly con-
WINGED that IN the Panama route not only would
The commercial interests of the United States be
greatly improved by it, but the political influence
of the United States would be greater than ever"
the manner in which the raising OF subscriptions for
the Panama scheme had been conducted.
For tho present" he replied, " have nothing to
do with the financial management of the project.
think. however. that the subscriptions have been
made in the usual way, a. the scheme has been
officially declared to have no protection from the
principally due to the great success OF the Suez
Canal, which is now paying so we'll The trathc has
so increased that the dividends will be large and the
value of the shares has attained, as have said,
very high figure. Last year was not 80 confident
of the Panama scheme; but when arrived in Paris
from the lsthmus in March the Suez shares were
quoted ct $780, and ct once became moro conf
dent of the financial success OF similar enterprise
like tho Panama Canal. l think the true interests
OF this country are so intimately connected with
this enterprise that t is impossible that Americans
who are proverbially shrewd, should be against It,
speak of the business men and the great majority
of the nation and am confident that very soon the
enemies of the Panama Canal scheme will DO con-
verted by seeing that there are no political or other
reasons against it. England was opposed to the
Suez Canal some years ago, but now ID i'll favor OF
it because OF the great benefits that accrue to
English commerce. The Sues Canal has also boon OF
great value in the with India IN tho transporta-
ton of troops"
Commander Wyse said he knew Captain Eads per-
sonaljv as skilul engineer but his plan OF a ship
railroad across the Isthmus was not new. lie re-
membered that several years ago another engineer
submitted somewhat similar plans TO him, but he
did not think they were practical. Moreover Cap
tain lads had not obtained any concession from the
Government, and he thought it would be very diff
cult for him to obtain IL.
Lieutenant Wyse will 90 to Panama sometime next
month 10 see the beginning of the work. There was
much preparatory work. of course. to be done, he
said and not much Of Importance would probably he
there before the next dry season which
would 10 in November.