Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-10-31
Prog ress of the Panama Canal.

All tue ldL6I dCCOGutS lTOLu iAO istu-
mus agree in saying tina. if the money
is forthcoming the Panama Canal can
in all probability be completed in
1888. The most difficult part of the
undertaking, and the most expensive,
has been the preliminary work. The
progress in this respect has been slow,
for in the course of the survey and in
marking out the lines, preparatory to
building harbors at both ends of the
canal, new problems arose. One OF
the most Important of these was the
diversion of the Chagres river and the
disposition of its waters, which, if not
damned out and carried off by ample
sluices, would devastate and destroy
the canal during the terrible floods to
which that river is subject. Another
problem to be settled WIS the dis
position of the immense amount
of soil to be taken from the
canal and deposited at a safe
distance elsewhere, as we'll as the
many thousands of tons of rock
thrown out in the process of blasting
a passage for the giant water waJ.
The immense depth of the cuttings
at different points required also
special studies for lifting the debris or
for removing it to the place where 1t
would not incommode the working OF
the canal. 1t should be rendered that
the plan of the canal calls for no
locks in any part of its course except
a tide lock on the Pacific side, so that
vessels entering the canal from either
sea will have free course for the
whole of its length, The construc-
ton of the great dam to intercept
the Chagres river, and OF slulces
sufficiently capacious to carry off It's
waters even in times of highest flood,
is of itself a work of magnitude.
But, with these provisions decided on,
it is the opinion of American engl-
neers, who have studied on the
ground the progress already made
that the work of cutting the canal,
if the money holds out,
can be pushed forward with great
rapidly. 1t is altogether question
of money, as Admiral Cooper report
ed in 1888, for the cutting of the canal
offers, he says, no insuperable engi-
neering difficulties. Lieut. Rogers re-
ported to the same effect as late as last
January. But in none of the reports
from independent sources IS the belief
expressed that the canal can be com
pleted within the estimate of one hun
bred and twenty millions OF dollars:
1t will probably very largely exceed
the estimates, as was the case with the
Suez canal, the cost of which greatly
exceeded the original estimates. But
there is this thing to be said: however
costly the work may be. the canal is
too far advanced to admit of its being
abandoned. The latest call made by
M. De Lesseps was issued few weeks
ago, AID it net from the French in
vestors with ready response. Wheth-
err, when the original fund is exhaust
ed, they will consent to put more
money into the canal is question that
can not now be answered; but II
the original investors get disheartened
and sell out their shares at long fig
ures, there will be others who will
come in aud take them up, as has so
often been the case in the railroad ex-
perience of this country, and these
new buyers would be in condition to
answer fresh calls. Very few shares
in the Panama Canal have been taken
in the United States, but Professor
Nourse, who has made close study
of the operations of the Suez Canal,
and who regards the Panama Canal
as fixed fact, now suggests that the
time has come whea American CAPT
talists should decide between engag-
ing in a rival canal by Nicaragua and
the Panama Canal now under con-
struction. If, as he says, "the Amer
lean Canal will take its place IN his
tory" it is obvioas that two canals
across the isthmus would double, or
nearly double the cost of con-
struction. while if they were com
pleted and in operation they would
neutralize each other b. dividing the
travel ard traffic. The Panama canal,
though originating with French
company, would be essentially an
American canal, for of all maritime
nations we, from our proximity to 1t,
and because OF our trade with the Ia
cific and our possessions on the shores
of that sea, would derive the most ad-
vantage from it. Whether, therefore,
it would be better to wait until the
completion of the canal and then take
a sufficient number of shares In 1t to
give us an influence in its control, as
England did with Suez, or whether 1t
would be more advisable TO take meas
ures to share in its completion, as the
New York Times suggests, lis ques-
tion," as our contemporary remarks,
hot he hnfnrn