Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-04-13
iENIGARAGUAN CANAL,
DclnN.

[washlng,on Correspondence Boston Herdld.l
The Ncaraguan Canal Company, tired of
waiting for action by Congress, aud alarmed
by the activity manifested by the Panama
Company is taking active steps in the dlrcc-
ton of beginning work ON IFS pro-
posed canal across Nicaragua The
necessary Conccs sinns from the Nca-
raguan government have already been
secured. and with them very valuable land
grants, and, if the expectations Of the gentle
men who are pushing the work are realized
they will be able to begin operations in Mica
ragua us soon as the hot season, now APP
preaching there, is rast-pcrliaps sooner.
Anccito G. Menocal, the eminent engineer
who surveyed the routes for both canals,
and who represented the American govern
ment at the canal conference in Paris, is now
at the Washington navy yard in charge of
work in progress there. lie was, it VIII he
remembered, opposed to the Panama project
when The subject was discussed AT the canal
| conference in Paris, considering it imprac-
| tcablc, or, at least, 50 much more expensive
| and difficult than the Nicaragua route that
| its adoption would be unwise. Ills views on
thi. subject have net changed, and he is
earnestly favoring the Nicaragua route-so
much so that he is an active member of the
company which is preparing TO under
| take the work, and is to take personal
supervision of operations there when begun,
YES" said Mr.. Menocal, in response to
| an inquiry, 'thc Nicaragua company has
grown tired of waiting for Congress 10 do
| the little in its behalf that it asked and has
determined 10 go on at once with the work
which, it has delayed three years for this pur-
pose. All we asked in our last bill was
merely the recognition Of an Incorporation by
| Congress guarantee of interest or bonds
or anything more than mere incorporation
but even that was denied us, and the mana
gers Of the company have decided to 90 on
without further delay
| GLOW about finances? The construction
of an lsthmus canal is supposed 10 mean n
/! large sum of money"
| 'y,s. it does, but not nearly as much in
our case I'd ia the Panama canal, for firmly
| believe that will cost ten imes as much
as ours, if De Lcsseps's plans arc car
red ont. But our own must cost a
large sum of money 81, 900, 600 is
my estimate OF the cost. As to the rails
ing of this sum, that is the task upon which
our financial managers are now eng lgcd,
aud, while am not a. liberty 10 enter INTO
details, | may, with proprletY think, say
that the reports from those who have this
work in hand, give assurance that We shall
have no occasion for delay on that account,
This work will be completed within the
next ten days, aIi we shall be able to begin
active operations very sopH.'
care your relations with the Nicaraguan
government such that you will he able to g.
on with the work as soon us yOu like
"Ycs. we have the right of way, and val
liable land grants beside, and all complete
and in order. Indeed, they have been so for
some time and our delay has heretofore
been in awaiting action by Congress
"Durng which time tho De Lcsseps poo
pile have gotten the start of your
| Somewhat, but not 50 much but that we
may not easily oycrakc and distance them.
| do not think the Panama canal can possibly
be cut 10 the depth that DE Lesscps proposes,
making it sea level throughout, in less than
twelve or fifteen years lie promised il in
eight years and two of them have already
! gong by and no active work has been lesun
there thai IL, no Sctual work of constructing
the canal. We have very accent gepCrte from
there which show that nothing has been done
except in "a preliminary way, such as making
surveys. building houses and hospitals, buy
ing the Panama railroad and work Of this
| kind-al necessary work, of course but
showing that the enterprise is a very large
one, and cant be completed in year or
two"
Glow long do you think it will take 10
construct your canal 2"
at can be completed and in operation in
! five years"