The Hawaiian gazette., 1889-03-26
INTER-OCEANIC CANAL TRAFFIC.

lNIEh-OOEhNlC ChNhD 1hhFrlC,
Returning to this topic, which we
were unable to treat as fully as we
desired in a previously written arti-
Gle, we Gull from the mass of facts and
figures bearing upon the question, a
few Of the more pertinent and strik-
ing.
The traffic of the Suez Canal in
1885 was 6,9S5,411 tons in 1924 yes
sells A slight falling off in business
and receipts which afterwards oc
Cured has now been recovered from.
It is safe to consider 100000 as the
present annual tonnage. The pre-
sent charges are nine francs per ton.
1t must be remembered that this
canal opens into the Red Sea, which
is almost impossible to sailing ships,
on account of the Gains. Situated
as it is, the Nicaragua Canal route
offers every facility for the passage
to and departure from the termini of
the canal of sailing vessels, for the
trade winds are constant for ten
months in the year, while for the
other two a breeze blows in some
direction, generally southwest, Civ
ing the vessels dependent on their
sails constant opportunity to keep
themselves under control.
A large portion of the traffic on
the Suez Canal is by tramp or freight
steamers, to whom economy in coal
is of the first Importance. Hence,
these vessels, though they may re-
turn by Suez, will be undoubtedly
glad to avail themselves of the favor
ing trades from Europe to Nicara-
qua, and again from Nicaragua to
the Indies or China and Japan and
Australia. It seems reasonable,
therefore, to conclude that a portion
of the tonnage passing through Suez
will find its way to Nicaragua as
soon as that route is opened.
In addition to the charters from
the United States and the State of
Vermont, the Nicaragua company
has obtained from the governments
of Nicaragua and Costa RIGA con-
cessions of great value, which have
been ratified by the Congresses of
those republics. These concessions
bestow all privileges for this canal, |
and railroad and telegraph along
its route, as well as land grants
amounting to about a million and a
quarter acres, most of which is on |
the canal line. The company claims
to have completed the most elabor-
ate and detailed surveys of the loca-
tlon, and to have acquired the most
intimate acquaintance with the work
before it.
The company has shown its good
faith and confidence in the enter
prise by spending some 100000 in
these preliminary investiga-
lions. In addition to this, a large,
amount of work of similar kind has
been done by the United States Gov
on the same ground within
he last twenty years, at probable
actual cost of several millions of
dollars. As result of these pro
racted and costly examinations there
,ught by this time to be full under
tanding of the work to be done, the
difficulties to be encountered and at
east an approximately correct idea
# its probable cost.
The company estimates the cost of
at 100000, and the
inc required at six years. Even
hould the cost reach a figure double
hat named, the business which will ]
,e assured as soon as the canal is
pened will, at the same rates now
harged on the Suez Canal, pay all
expenses and yield handsome in
crest on the investment. From that
lme forward, steady increase of t
usiness and income can be conf
emily relied on