Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-06-10

1t Will be remembered that when NJ De
Lesseps and his party inspected the Pan
anna Canal, in February, they were accom-
panied by Mr.. John Bigelow as the renre
sentative of the New York Chamber of
Commerce. He was by request guest of
the Canal Company and went with the
special mission of preparing report up
on the present condition of the work for
American publication. Mr.. Bigelow has
now returned, and the report which he has
presented to the Chamber of Commerce
furnishes a trustworthy account of the
present prospects of the Interoceanic Can
al. The total length of the projected
canal is 46l1 miles. The depth of navig-
able water will be about % feet. Its
course is for the greater part of the way
through the valley of the Chagres. A ba-
sin 1,6OO yards long and 10 yards wide
will be necessary at Panama for the ac-
commodation of vessels, and another one
about three miles long, at Tavernilla, to
permit vessels to pass each other. The
total excavation necessary to accomplish
this result is 100000 cubic meters
The excavations made up to Dec. 81, 1885
amounted, by contract, to II, 400, 1876 cubic
meters, and by the company to 1,520,837
cubic meters. During January, 1886, /
O67, 1923 cubic meters were excavated, Civ
ing total up to Feb. L of IA, SIS, $50 cubic
meters. This left 105,S21, IA cubic met
ers still to be removed These figures
make any comment unnecessary. Mr.. Big
Glow states that tits impossible to say what
the final cost of the work will be or when
1T can be com pleted. There were at the
time of his visit 1900 men employed. AT
the present speed this force can probably
excavate 100000 cubic meters a year
Could the force and machinery be trebIed
1t would probably be possible to finish the
work IN 1889. The report mentions as
some of the disadvantages to be encoun-
tered that the work is in a foreign state
under weak and unsettled government, in
one of the most unhealthy regions on the
continent, subject to earthquakes, within
450 miles of the equator, and under trop-
1cal sun, where acclimated labor only is of
any service. Everything for the prosecu-
ton of the work has to be imported. The
country itself supplies absolutely nothing
but the site for the canal. Somuch of the
work is experimental that it is believed to
be impossible for even the most eminent
engineers to make estimates which have
greater value than mere conjectures. The
most serious difficulties to be overcome
may be enumerated under four heads:
First, the control of the waters of the
Chagres river, which, in the rainy season,
If unrestrained, is liable to flood the larg-
er part of the canal every year. 1t would
be possible to control the river by the con-
structlon of an immense dam or by the en-
largement of the derivative channels by
which the flood could be carried off, but
either would be very costly.
Second, the cut through the Andes at
Culebra. The removal of some %, 100000
cubic meters of earth and rock at this cut
through the Cordilleras has been confded
under contract to an Anglo-Dutch Com
pany, which engages to finish the work by
Jnly l, 1889. The contractors are to be
paid $32,O0O,00O. But they have not per-
formed their contract more than one-sixth
as rapidly as they agreed to, and at the
present rate it will take them fifteen years
to finish.
Third, keeping that section of the canal
which runs from La Boca toward the Is
land of Perico, in Panama Bay, from be-
ing filled in by the ocean and the Rio
Grande. The obstacles to be overcome
in effecting this result are regarded as
very serious though not insurmountable.
Fourth securing the amount of labor re-
CURED at practical rates. The climate is
described as one where 'life dies and death
lives" The natives, having no wants be-
yond those supplied by nature, will not
work, and the difficulty Of securing enough
men is tremendous. To supply the def
cheney, M. De Lesseps has invented a great
many machines, SO as to do away with
hand labor as far as possible.
In conclusion, Mr.. Bigelow regards the
canal as an undoubted possibility if suffi-
cient funds be provided, but he ventures
opinion as to whether they will be, or what
sum or what amount of time would be nee
essary to complete the work. The report
shows that from all sources S11O,OO0OOO
have been received but not how much has
already been expended. The International
Congress Of 1870, which was the parent of
the present Panama Canal Company, es-
timated the total cost at $213, 100000. It
would seem from the data at hand that at
least half of the estimated will have been
expended by the end Of the present year,
at which time four-fiths of the excavation.
not to speak of the supplementary or pre-
cautionary work, will still remain to be
accom- lished.
Americans will do well and wisely if thew
refuse to invest in Panama Canal bonds
The desperation Of the scheme is evident
from the proposition of Mr.. De Lesseps
to raise funds in France by 'lottery."
Resort to the gambling instincts of the
French is quackish procedure entirely
out of proportion to the dignity of the ca
nal scheme and a confession that the ap-
parent folly Of the scheme makes Iegiti-
mate tinanciering impossible. When these
seductive lottery blanks came floating
through the United States, let them be re-
ceived at their true value-zero!
As to Woerishoffer's gambling habits
toere had never been any secrecy. He
1riSitad fnlaln