Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-27

again broached. Its advantages and dis
advantages are discussed and set forth.
NEW YORK, December 26.-Under date
of the 10th letter from Panama, received
here. says: Now that the technical CON-
mission of inquiry into the bona tides of the
Panama Canal works is actually within
measurable distance Of our shores, it goes
without the saving that expectancy mere
has reached white heat, everyone being
more or less afflicted with the ague of an
ticipatiop as to what will be the outcome OF
the inquiry.
Just at this stage the isthmus is flooded
with copies of pamphlet written by NJ. G.
Sautereau to describe his project for the
completion of the canal by converting the
interior of the isthmus between the present
completed terminl OF the canal into large
navigable inland lake, at the estimated
comparatively low cost of 4O0. .OOO. 900 francs,
and which, moreover, if adopted, could be
carried through in two years time or at
most two and half years.
Before describing this project it may be
here stated that it is by no means a new one
So far as 1 am aware it originated with a
member of the International Survey Com
mission of 1873, who differed from the recon-
mendatiOns of his co-laborers and suggested
instead the project that is now put forward
with certain notifications and elaborated
details, after IL years of fruitless effort to
carry through the original project then
agreed upon.
OUTLINE OF THE PLAN.
About four years ago, when the more fore
sighted of the canal engineers began to real
ize the impracticability of CARRYING out the
adopted project, one of the then leading
spirits, NJ. Hutien, reverted to this scheme
and even drew up plans and estimates en-
bOdying the details, or at least the Prelim-
inaries of the project. The plan
now put forth BY NJ. Sautereau can
not therefore be regarded as an original
one. The outline Of this plan is, first, to
dam the Rio Chagres at Bohio Soldado, to
which point the Atlantic end of the pro-
jected tide level canal has actually been
carried, being about IA miles from the Colon
terminus. This dam to contain high level
dock-christened in advance "Christophe
Colon" On the Panama side the Rio
Grande to be similarly damned and locked
by the Ferdinand de Lesseps." Thus the
valleys of both rivers would be inundated,
their waters being turnel back upon the
land and TRANSFORMED into lake.
But Culebra remains to be dealt with.
This M. Sautereau proposes to cut through
to a width of 90 meters at the floating line.
Thus then, til Panama "Canaf' would really
consist of large havigable lake, entered by
locks situa ed inland, and the approaches to
which would consist of the termini of the
canal already cut The projected locks are
double ani parallel, and are estimated to re-
quire 450, 600 cubic meters of solid masonry,
one TO be filling while the other was being
emptied. This masonry work, it is pro-
posed, would form one compact block in
each case the dimensions of which would
dwarf the great Pyramid.
BIG ENOUGH FOR ALL.
Easily entered and without danger. these
locks could afford passage to 40 ships
daily-or tour times the number the present
arrangements propose providing for. As
both works would be approachable from the
first by water, through the terminal sections
of the canal already navigabie, the trans
port OF material would be an easy matter, |
and as the works on both would proceed |
coueurrently they would be completed with |
in year. The estimated cost of each lock |
is so, ,00O, coo francs. Culebra it is proposed |
to attack from the bottom level, and in such |
u mauuGE bldl illG hdb6E Thai now uOWS on 4
the Atlantic side of the watershed should be |
diverted to the Pacific. This work, it is |
also estimated can be completed in a year,
while the locks are being constructed, and |
at q cost of 200, 600, 600 francs. Other esti- |
mated expenses are: appropriations, 20 |
100000 francs, and railroad deviation, 90 /
900, 600 francs; altogether 40, ,O0O, 600 francs. |
What with deepening channels, etc., the |
whole work Of completion on this plan is
estimated to occupy two years, with an |
additional six months thrown in for con-
tIngencies.
In this plan that has been thus elaborated |
the projectors have only followed the sug-
gestions of nature, as any one can realize |
who has seen the Rio Chagres spread itself |
lar and near over the country when damned |
up and turned back upon itself by the |
furious thrush of the Caribbean Sea up the
channel of its lower reaches The only real
obstacle to the execution of the plan seems
to be the enormous height of the locks-28
meters-and which seem to be altogether out
OF proportion. Doubtless, however, should
the plan be eventually adopted, this part of
It will be modified. OF course, the water
supply-a rather essential requirement. in
the formation of a lake!-will be drawn
from the three great rivers, Chagres, Obispo
aud Grande and which thus, instead of
being perpetual menace to the enterprise,
will become docile auxiliaries of the canal.
QUITE AS IMPORTANT.
Another important feature and not alto
gether beside the question, is that The exist
ence Of such lake right in the center of the
1sthmus would render the whole locality a
healthy one, and around the shores ofwhich |
thriving towns would soon rise, the cen
ters of agricultural and commercial activity.
The project is certainly fascinating one,
and will doubtless receive due attention from
the commission now on its way hither. On
them does its final acceptance or rejection
depend, and after they have visited the !
scene and decided for themselves on the
possibilities, as compared with the mass of
information already in their possession, it
may be regarded as certain that they will
recommend that plan which in their exper.
ience and wisdom commends itself most
highly to their consideration.
Mr.. Sautereau is himself expected to ar.
rive here very shortly.
Supposing the commission to report favor
ably the question will then arise, 'How will
the further work of the enterprise be carried
on? Whence will come the means? This
point Mr.. Brunei will haveto settle with the
shareholders and creditors. Doubtless. as is
only fair, the first chance will be given the
original shareholders to advance the sum
deemed necessary for completion. But if
they should elect to decline the opportunity
then there are several syndicates prepared to
buy ont the whole thing at nominal fig
ure, possibly such as they can arrange for
with the liouidator. and to carry on the
work as an entirely new and independent
enterprise.
A PREPOsTERoUs ACCUSATION.
Our local budget of news contains moth
ing Of very great interest to Northern read
ers. 1 may, however, take advantage of
this opportunity to refute, and on the best
possible authority, a statement recently
made by the Etoile de France, doubtless