New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-29

the scores of bills mentioned The great danger is
that even the appropriation bills and the Refunding
bill will he snrred aud rushed through in the
hury-burly attending the last hours OF the SESSION.
THE TEHUANTEPEC SHIP RAILWAY.
CAPTAIN EADs CONTRADICTs SOME RECENTLY CIR
CCLATED REPORTS REGARDING HIMsELF-A FULL
AND EXPLICIT STATEMENT OF THE CONCESSIONS
MADE TO IIM BY MEXICO-IIS PLANS FOR TIIB
COMPLETION OF HIS GREAT WORK.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-in reply to certain unfa-
vorabe, and as he claims, unustl6able. structures
that have recently been made upon tle bill now be-
fore Congress for Government assistance in the
work of constructing ship railway across the 18TH
mus of Tehuantepec, Captain James b. Eads has to-
day furnished for publication in THE TRIBUNE tho
following personal statement:
desire to correct some errors into which the pull
lie has been led regarding myself and the PROPOSE
tion have made to the United States touching the
ship railway intend to construct across the MeXl-
can isthmus. Among other inaccuracies it has beer
stated that am here with nv attorneys and expert
lobbyists to secure the passage OF my bl; ana that
am heading a powerful lobby and en-
deavoring to work a bill through Con-
semi annual dividend of per cent on
$50 900, 900 The statement that 1 have anyone
here in the lobby or out OF it, to influence members
of Congress or Senators to support my BILL other
than MY legal counsellor and myself. is wholly I'M
true. am not here to plead with Congress or TO
unduly influence it to accept my proposItlon IL is
only necessary for it and the country to fully Under
stand tie subject to insure its acceptance. That
file press and public may hereafter be able to cntI-
else il upon its merits will state the the chief ea-
tures of the concession, the guarantee winch IA
asked, and the consideration offered fof 1t to the
Government.
The concession gives TO me, or to the company
authOizcl TO form, the rlg ht to locate and con-
stIuct ship railway, an auxiliary railway OIL or
dinary gauge, and "A telegraph line, on such route
across the lSthnus as L may select. 1t grants n
right of way from ocean To ocean halt a mile wide,
ani donates million acres OF the public lands IN
Inl opfa palc Ul.prp al
of harur on the Pdciiic. Ii exempt, 10r ninety
nine years from taxation all the Lloperty Of the
company, and permits 1t to import lor ne same
terui free Of dnty, all materials neciei for building
and operating the road. II guaianteeS that Mexico
will protect the works with ITS AIIny and Navy ana
Will keep the ports open TO all nations not al war
with her. Tie ges5eIs mails ard property III transit
are be free from OIL i interference. and from all
rGvenCe drteS Or other taxes IL reserves no inter-
esfs in the profits of the road and exemps all money
ne .ded 10 pay dividends or debts abroad from eX.
port duties and 1t guarantees that the operation OF
the road shall be free from any other Official inter-
ference than what may be absolutely necessary TO
prevent smuggling -
To enable 20 secure the AID OF any foreign Gov
ernent, il gives me the right TO pledge the receipts
of the company to such Government as security Tor
any moneys guarantee 1t NAV give, ami II h1es inc
ma xlmum rates of tolls which mdv be charged and
which are as high as tie traffic will bear; but re-
serves right 10 reduce then. am thus enaped
to give TO such foreign Government as shall ana lie
enterprise the right to reduce the tolls. and To DIS
crimluate favor OF It's commerce ana tliat vi
Mexico 1t gives authority 70 get charter from
aiy State Mexico or elsewhere ana gives tHc
company the right TO enjoy such additional prlVl'
leges under il as are not inconsistent with tue terms
OF the grant or the laws CT Mexico. All that Mexico
demands return for these liberal concessions 10
the right Of free transit for her ships OF war; malls,
troops Government property and telegrams.
have asked that the United States grant char
ter for the company, limiting its canital 10
S75 coo. 600. and that 1t shall gUarant' se'ri-
annual dividends of 3 per cent on two-thi5ds OF
guarantee is however. to attach until ten miles OF
the road are built and the terminal w0rxs com,
plsted, and loaded vessel weighing with her load
at least two thousand tons. Is transported at the
rate of six miles an h0nr over the road and back
again, and is placed in the water without injury TO
the vessel, the railway OF criminal works; "nen
S5. .OGo, 600; and as other sections are completed
and tested III like manner, proportionate amount
of friends of the measure, have since agreed 10 re-
duce the duration of the guarantee to hlteen years
and to increase the tests from two thousand up 10
four thousand tons.
In consideration Of this guarantee offer;
FIrst-To transport the war vessels troops prop
erty and mails of the United States Tree
Se Gnd--To give to Congress- the night TO reduce
the tor provided such reduction shall not prevent
the earning Of per cent selnl-annuaI dividends.
Tbrd-- 10 give Congress the right 10 discriminate
in ia vur of tie commerce of Mexico and the United
StStas when liking the Tolls
. FoYrh-I agree transport no vessels or anything
contrahand OF war belonging to any natlOn at war
with the United states; ana -
Tiuh-To pay back to tho United States every
dollar advanced by her under the guarantee within
ten wears: and TO this end the company is TO pay
over to her all receipts i'll excess of per cent dNl-
dend; the company agreeing III cohiecol Win tIIl1
that one.lalf Uf the gross receipts shall be assumed
ne the amount Of clear profit cut of which dividends
are to be paid. e., ,-...,
Here IL plain business proposition for the United
States to accept reject at Its pleasure anu lcci
sure that an impartial public sentiment VIII be con-
tent to discuss upon ITS merits alone without per
mittug itself to he biased by such erroneous state
ments as have recently been made
Instead of being here, has been charged. during
the present session of Congress- | and my legal
iinr in
of the session. In fact, have been mere scarcely
two weeks and until our arrival there was no one
In the United states representing lie ~ tls matter
While in Mexico asked that the United States
alone be named in my grant as me loicgn
Government to aid the entcrprlse, put put
his was refused, with the statement that
several other foreign Governments were equally
friendly to Mexico. Accordingly the privilege was
inserted the grant by winch tlie ald ol any "tnci
Government may he secured on INC tcrnS ohelIu "
II has been SAID with truth, that if this enter
prise is az sure of success think 1t Is ought to
he able to convince capitalists OF the tact do not
propose however, to avail myself of any 0ther
method oi raising the necessary inLd5 10 Dhih inc
railway until Congress shall have had time 70 CON
sder NV proposition. No intelligent person. thnk
can examine the map or globe. and look at the sla
tstcs OF the foreign GOne'Go hro"aht "t "e resreI
10 the Atlantic and Gulf seaboard than they are TO-
dnv 10 England OF France. when the transit OIL
vessels IS established at aGnua'per, er IN 3c
being convinced that a shIp-rallway there III lno
hands of capitalists can be made the greatest mo
nopoly of modern times. am not WILING 10 DC IN
strI,neDtal IN the establishment OF such mon0p-
DIV without first giving the United states inc oppor
tunty of controlling tue charges which VIII be maze
upon the railway Itis only necessary 70 STATE that
there be 900 900 tons per annum 10 cross the lst
mus, which IS the estimate of the Nicaragua pro)cc-
tors believe, 81 % per ton would be sufficient TO
nroduce gross ept of over So 600, ,000 and when
ever this sum is realized no liability Will rest upon
the Government on account OF its guarantee
| The people Of the United States could well
af,nrd 10 give many millions OF dollars
foday to have the right to regulate the charges of