New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-18
CAPTAIN EADS'S RAILWAY.

| HOPING THAT CONGRESS WILL PASS A BILL con
| CEENING The sHIP-RAILwAY Al THIS SESSION.
| CAPTAIN James b. Eads who was at the Fifth
| Avenue Rotel recently, IN conversation with
a TRIBUNE reporter spoke very confidently OF the
success OF his proposed ship railway across the
isthmus. When asked if he thought Congress
would take any action on the matter at this session.
he replied
"Yes, am confident that the bill granting the aid
I ask will be passed 1t has been introduced in the
Senate by Mr.. Vest, and in the House by Mr.
Buckner. | only ask a guarantee from the Govern
ment when the feasibility of the project has been
tested The first ten miles offer to build without
Government aid, and when that work has been
tested by the transportation of vessel over 1t, then
the Government is to give guarantee OF 50, 100000
and so on as each section is built, the whole sum
not to be guaranteed until the road is completed.
The Government will be paid back any money it
advances principal and interest
"What will be the cost OF your road, as compared
with that of De Lessepss canal
The cost of the railway will be S75,00O,0O0, and
il will only take four years to build it, The cost of
the De Lesseps canal will not be less than
$500 OaD, 900, land it will take twenty 10 twenty
five wears to build it. The railway will be POO
miles nearer the United States than the canal, and
it will escape all the effects of the deadly climate
of the isthlnus proper where 1t rams SIX months IN
NJ.
he were not dong everything possible to forward
the canal. At the same time DON'T think IL VIII
ever be built"
lis there any probability of diplomatic cOmplica-
tions in case your ship railway is builtT
"None whatever. 1t will prove solution Of the
whole political =, problem growing out OF the
CLAYTON. Buwer Treaty, and that alone Is an i'm
portant point in its favor 1t will be built on Next
can territory. Ny grant from Mexico allows me 10
the Joint interest o OF o any other aton IN the
dom from taxation. etc. offer TO Transport Amerl-
can shipping at one-half the cost of that OF any
other nation excepting Mexico. 1t rs merely n
0uestion whether the road will be buiIt in the in
terest of the of the United States or that
of some other country"
You expect aid from abroad. thcn, III case 1t is
nOU granted here Y
~ Yes, and | will getit could have had it before
this | will not wait longer for Congress to act
tuan this session In fact II the committee decides
to report unfavOrably, then | intend TO accept and
from England at once, which has been promised.
have here with me letters commencing the project
from Nathaniel Barnaby, Chief Constructor OF the
British Navy, Sir Edward Reed. late Chief Con
structor of the British Navy, William John builder
proprietor of the John Elder Works, and builder of
the steamships Arizona Elbe and Alaska. i. +.
yster chief engineer of the Liverpool Docks. John
Fowler builder Of the Metropolitan Underground
Railway. and other eminent shp-builders and engl-
nse wher vii, Won heoo workm
s"If tho bill should pass this session will begin
work very sOon If Congress does not act, | will
begin as soon rs have perfected my arrangements
routes proposed, 40 miles and the other 10
miles long The latter ends in Lake Superior the
Pacific coast and would require considerable work
to perfect the harbOr. The longer route ends in "A
good harbOr the Pacific coast. Until fuller
veys have been completed, IT will not be decided
which route to build on. English capitalists have
offered to construct the first ten miles which will
be built TO the satisfaction of the Government he
fore it's guarantee becomes operative"
Referring TO the Mississippi jetties. the reporter
inquired If the result of his work there had been
entirely satisfactory
ayes fully go At no time in the last two years
and n half has there been less than thirty feet of
water in the channel. The Government engineers
make examinations every few days, and If they
found less than thirty feet of water at any time my
nav would he stopped by the Government. False
re1orts about the jetties are being constantly cir
cnIoted by certain Western papers, which have
hern hostile TO the work from It's inception. There
is not an honest intelligent journalist In the United
States who does not know that the work at the
ietties has been successfully cOmplel cd. There is no
waiting for the tides at New Orleans as there IL
here because there is always thirty feet OF water
IN the channel there" -, .,
How long are you TO maintain that depthT
aTwepty years The Government pays me
800. 600 year during that time for that purpose
There is besides = 100000 due me which the Gov
ernn ent holds to do the work with If lall tn do IT,
ON this 81 900 900 get per cent interest until
the principal 10 paid over 10 me'