The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-01

on paper-the amount of work to be done, was
confessedly increasing. At first he announced
that there were only 100000 cubic yards
to be excavated; then he said it would be So 000.
600 cubic yards then he admitted it would be
140 DOC, 000
In spite of his fantastic conduct De Lesseps
now appealed successfully for money. In De-
cember, 1880, he procured $50, 900, 900, and "out
of that sum-" saws Rodrgues '$9, 400, 900 went at
once into the pockets of the promoters. In Sep
TENDER. 1882, he raised 500, 600; in October.
1888 $34 300 900: in September 1884 $21. 1913, 900
in all, $107. 270. 900. Besides this $50. 900
has since been called in.
De Lesseps constantly promised from year to
year, that the canal would be finished in 1883,
when he must have known the utter impossible
ity of it-ndeed, believe he still refuses to ex-
tend the time. In every annual report, he has
alleged that arrangements had been completed
to take out 2, OOO 900 cubic yards month; but no
month yet has exhibited a removal of over $780,
900 yards, and the total excavation for the three
years of active work is not yet a. 600 900 yards.
In other words. only one-tenth of the excavation
has been made in three years, and only very
small fraction of it is rock.
With onetenth of the work done--or nclud-
ing tie plant, let US say oneeighth, the canal
company is nearly out of money. More must be
had at once-a good deal more. Already two
thirds of the whole sum which De Lesseps as
sured the world the canal would cost, has been
spent, and most of tho way the surface of the
ground has been merely scratched. while the
tremendous lnSoluoie problem OF the ChagreS
has not even been attacked.
At first De Lesseps assured the stockholders that
there were 80, 100000 cubic yards of excavation,
then he discovered that there would be over
so, 000 900 of cubic yards; then he thought there
might possibly be 140, 900 900; and in estimate
published.a year ago this month, he said; 1.-THE
cavatons necessary to complete the canal will be
cubic measurement of 156, 900, 900 cubic yards, |"
which, added to the earth already taken out,
makes an aggregate of ITO, 600, OO0-nearly four
times his original estimate What will the next
estimate be9
Rodrlgues gives figures to show that there
must still be raised the enormous sum of $780,
900, 600, and adds ''even il the canal could be
ready in nine years more and should start in
business with 100000 tons to carry annually.
instead of $500, 900 as calculated in the United
States for the Nicaragua canal) the outlook of
the company with capital in shares and bonds
of $3.50 900 O00 would be an annual deficiency of
$l6 500, O0O"
Rodrigues declares that the three large bank
ing houses Of this city, who have never done
anything for the company except let its sub
scription- books lie on their counters. have had
an immense sum of money for an improper pur-
pose. Iquote: LAS to the American syndicate it
one of the most shameful corruption funds ever
recorded in the history of financial enterprises.
Imagine this expenditure of So 40 900 so that a
few men in New York might represent the
company in America ard cooperate with it
when required" 1 will add again that no proof
is offered of the charges of corruption.
There are SO. 982 stockholders of the Panama
canal, 10000 OF them women. These are all
asking to-day, with pathetic unanimity, whether
they have bought cat in bag. or a pig in
poke or what they have bought anyhow, aud
whether they their descendants will ever
again see their money while the world stands.
In conclusion, let me say that don't know
what Rodriguez's motive is in making this ex-
posture, whether it is good or bad or colorless
and don't care. Most of the important figures
have taken pains to verify from the publica-
tons of the company, and these speak for them
selves W. A. CRoFFUT.