The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1886-11-04
THE PANAMA CANAL.

on the Panama Canal, has made an I'M
portant and hopeful report respecting
thu Canal, which, the New York Herald
says, will be published in the next bulle-
tin OF the American Geographical Society.
Mr.. Appleton says: ''Now comes the
natural question when the canal is likely
to be finished and open for navigation.
While we all hope, to please M. de Les
seps, that it may be done in 1889, should
there be no convulsions of nature or un-
expected hindrances, all the same, look
ing at it philosophically, few years
more or less can be but of little slgnifi-
cance. The canal is to be built for all
the nations of the world, and to last as
long as this planet epdures. As soon as
possible it will be opened for ships of
from 10 to 20 feet draught, and then
with time will be completed to its full
depth of nearly 30 feet. The idea of
this is to lose no time in earning some
revenue from it. Next comes the ques.
tion OF what it will cost. Looking back
at the deliberations of the Paris Congress
of 1879, one is astonished to find how
correct to day was their estimate OF the
expense. 1t was then calculated that
the total cost for, say ten years of con-
struction and maintaining, with interest
on the money, would reach about S240,-
900, 900. In this was not taken into
consideration the purchase of the Panama
Railroad, nor the erection Of hospitals,
habitations and many other necessary
expenses which can not strictly be con-
sidered as part of the digging. but which
run up to some tens Of millions. All
this has been done, aud we'll done. The
work is completely under way, and the
din aud hum of men aud machines re-
sound from one end Of the isthmus to
the other. Steam and human labor to-
day represent there force OF 500,0O0
men. Should the canal cost $500, 0O0,
600, it will easily be worth that to the
world and be fairly paying investment
to the stockholders. In 1879 the traffic
through the Suez Canal amounted to
about 3 $50 O00 tons. 1t is now nearly
100000 The Congress in 1879 estima-
ted, after study and reflection, the pro-
bable traffic at the Panama Canal in 1889
at 1900, 600 tons. do not hesitate to
state as my personal conviction from the
great increase Of trade that 10000, 900
tons at the outset is fairer calculation.
Dues at 50 ton for shipping alone will
give revenue of $50. 00O.0 900. A glance
at the map of the world, or better still
at globe, shows it will cause saving in
distance OF about ten thousand miles be-
tween the great ports OF the different ma
tions or three times across the Atlantic
Ocean from Havre to New York. South
America stretches much further south
than Africa, and the Panama Canal can
be reached in straight line from
almost any direction. An objec-
tion to the Suez Canal is the long
detours ships are compelled to
make at either end. During the last few
months the work on the canal has been
much simpli6ed by giving it to five we'll
known firms of contractors. whereas be-
fore there were not far from thirty in all.
These five syndicates report directly to
the administration of the canal company,
making arrangements with the smaller
contractors for work they may sublet to
them. This has involved some complica-
tions in relation to past agreements, but
they are being straightened out SO that
all shall go smoothly in the future. 1t is
in the interest Of the contractors to
work as fast a. possible, for they are
paid SO much cubic metre for soil ex-
cavated or dredged. 1t is for the advan-
tage of the canal company to have the
canal completed and open as soon as pos
sible, as this means saving OF interest
on the stock and bonds. So increased
activity is the object Of all concerned.
OF the FIVE firms of contractors three are
French. one American from New York,
and one Anglo-Dutch. Their contracts
vary from Is, 600, 900 to 80, 900, 600 cubic