The Portland daily press., 1885-01-26
The Panama Canal.
Nathaniel Mckay Reports Upon its Prog
reRs.
IN. Y. Evening Post.1

lN- 4. Evening Fostl
Nathaniel Mckay, formerly one of the
leading shipbuilders of the country, has re-
Gently visited Panama. Talking of the Pan
anna Canal, Mr.. Mckay said:
81 stopped some time last November to in
spect the Panama Canal, and was amazed
at the character and progress of the work.
There is the greatest activity manifested on
the part of the officials to complete the canal
and have no doubt that in five years it will
be completed. They are importing laborers
in large numbers from all the islands Of the
West Indies. and large quantities of ma
chinery froU Scotland for digging the canal
after it is brought down to the water level.
1t is the most interesting piece of engineer
ing have ever seen. The deepest cut is be-
tween 200 and 300 feet. They are now get
ling to the level of the water-line. The
earth which they are excavating has to be
carried behind the mountains, and hundreds
of miles Of railroad have been built for that
purpose. 1t is impossible to deposit the dirt
by The side of the canal. The banks of the
canal have to be terraced up. The engi-
neering work is very remarkable"
'Does the management of The canal an
pear to be we'll supplied with funds?,
"There seems to be an unlimited supply
OF money. There would appear to be waste
OF money in the purchase of some rather oh.
solete machinery, but most of the appliances
are of the nsost approved modern design.
The laoorers are paid in solas, which are
waTth about 70 cents. The wages are from
$l5O 40 81 per day, and American gold ia
from 25 to 27 per cent. premium. The com
paDy has good deal of trouble with It's la
boring men, particularly with the negroes.
for when they are paid off they are likely
to be dissipated. 1t really tires ones ewes
TO look at the magnitude of this work.
There appears to he more machinery than is
necessary to run the Pennsylvania railroad
system. Their large machines excavate
about 5000 cubic metres per day.
What per cent. OF the work has been
completed?"
About 30 per cent. They are laborina nm
der great difficulties, as they have to import
most of their machinery flom Europe. and
are far from their base of supplies. Every
thing has to be carried to Panama that they
use, even what they drink, eat and wear.
Beef is almost the only food product thew
obtain there. The completion of the canal
seems 10 depend only on length of time
and sufficient money. Its construction will
depehu upon Lne endurance and power of
men. Their arrangements for their work
ingmen are excellent. Their hospitals for
taking care of the sick are not surpassed in
any country in the world"
do they have much need for hospitals2''
"The hospitals are nearly all full; 1t is a
very hard climate for a white man to live
inn
ibid you hear much talk there about the
Nicaragua Canals"
"The subject had not been broached when
left Panama. There seems to be no inme-
date use TO" two canals. If there are two
canals there will be small dividends. The
French people are building their canal.
while the others are making a canal on pa
per only. 1t is doubtful if any country ex-
cepi FraLce would have undertaken the con-
sruclion OF this canal, because no other peo-
pie would place such implicit confidence in
one man as the French do in NJ. de Les
seps."
'Who has direct charge of the construc-
tion OF the Panama Canal?n
Director General Dingler. He is a very
energetic Frenehman, who does not speak a
word of EUgish. His salary is $50,OO0 a
year. He supervises every detail of the
work. He lives at Panama. He s a strong,
hearty mao, and seems to be thoroughly ac-
climated. He has about 10000 men under
him, including large corps of experts, en-
gineers and draughtsmen."