Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-27
THE IsTHMUS CANAL.

Since De Lesseps was in this country
opinion as 10 a canal across the isthmus has
made great strides. Then the leading COM
nercial papers built up columns Of figures
to show that there was not commerce enough
passing between the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans to pay for or maintain a canal. Now.
SO sure are capitalists that there is sufficient
making, before the Panama canal is COM
pleted, to obtain the means of building, with
locks, canal across Nicaragua, and also a
railway at Tehsuntepec, 30 arranged as 10
carry ships with their cargoes aboard, across
land from one ocean to the other. Now the
country has arrived st the conclusion that a
canal across the isthmus will pay, it is becom-
ing necessary to understand where the best
crossing place is and what sort of canal should
be constructed. On this latter subject we
think all readers will be of opinion that a
canal from sea to sea without locks will be
preferable to any other. The only place
where such q canal can be constructed
when all the circumstances are considered
Is across the isthmus at Panama, and this
makes il desirable to know what advantages
on the whole that route offers to make De
Lesseps prefer it. With the exception of the
impossible San Bias route il ia the shortest;
the distance is forty-six miles. 1t is the only
practicable route without tunnel or Locke.
It has harbors at each terminus. It has the
Panama railroad, which the company has
purchased, aiiordiug means 10 transport Ia
borers, implements and supplies where
wanted. lowed at the rate of five miles
an hour the shipping could pass from sea
TO sea in ten hours; at Nicaragua forty
five hours would be required. These
are heavy advantages in favor of Panama.
There are serious difficulties of construction,
as there will be, let the canal be dug where
il may. The principal one is that offered
by the Chagres river crossing the route Of
the canal. Notwithstanding occasional diff
icul.ies with the lsboreIs, such as so much
was heard about when the Panama railroad
was in course Of construction, and other i'm
pediments incident 10 such work, the ardu-
GUS preliminary work ia proceeding steadily.
The forest for 800 yards in width along the
route of the canal has been cleared away,
and the plans for the canal staked out.
Along this distance, houses, stations, hos
pitfalls, ETC., have been constructed for the
needs Of the laborers, and others for Offices
and for storage. Sidings and narrow-gaugs
railroads. have been laid down to carry of
and dump the excavated material. Ada
cent valleys and streams have been sur
veyed and gagged. The earth and
rock on the canal route have been
bored and tested. Within the next
FIVE or ak years, unforeseen occurrences not
interfering, the work will be completed.
Two American companies with dredging ma
chimes of great power and capacity for rapid
working have taken earth contracts at from
twenty-five to thirty-fve cents, cubic yard.
These contracts extend over the sixteen miles
beyond Aspinwan, and soon the entire dis
lance will be let, probably 10 American con-
tractors. The rock work will be done by the
company itself. The cost of the entire work
Ii estimated at Sl07, 475,000, bHt.ifAit reach
$200o00,000 the stock will pay COED divi-
dends. The work is in progress, and when
completed ne canal having locks can COM