Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-26
THE CANAL NO GOOD.
Colonel Andrews Says It Would De-
stroy American Commerce.
ANEW POINT AGAINST BUILDINGIT
Our Sailing Vessels Could Not Go Through
Like Steamships.
Rain STORMS WOULD OVERFLOW IT

Colonel james Andrews, of the Tehuan-
tepec Ship Railway scheme, was in the city
yesterday, and left last night tor New York
to see some of the stockholders of the COM
pany. While at the Union station he talked
freely of the scheme and the success it is
meeting with. He brought out a new point
that has never been mentioned before in con-
nection with the Nicaraguan Canal scheme.
He thinks the canal can be constructed. but
the trouble will be to maintain it, and make
it work successfully. If it does work it will
have the effect of destroying what little
American shipping there now is. Colonel
Andrews said:
"If the canal is constructed and it is
worked successfully it will put an end to
American ships. 1t is not a question of
whether the canal can be constructed or not
or what the expense will be. but the matter
will resolve itself into the question of whether
it can be maintained or not
MIGHT SHAKE THEM OUT.
sowing to the peculiarities of nature in that
country such as floods. earthquakes, eruPtions,
etc. the canal could be destroyed in a very few
minutes. =
'I can remember when we had the Pennsyl-
vania canal between this city and Johnstown,
and how hard it was to keep it in repair. When
little storm would come up the water would
overflow the banks and they would cave in.
Imagine what would happen to a canal in
country where the rainfall is from II to 16 feet
in IL months.
"When the model of the canal was being ex-
hibited at the Chamber of Commerce in this
city the scheme looked to be entirely feasible,
but the people who viewed it never for mo-
ment stopped to consider whether it would
work or not. The idea is to make the dams
about lGG feet high This is about the height
rainfall would shudder for the safety of the
mechanical appliances supposed to hold the
water in the different basins. What will be
used to keep the dirt from being washed into
the canal? Why, couple of cart loads Of mud
would impede the progress of vessel through
it
A PERTINENT QUESTION.
ibid people ever stop to consider how the
American shipping interests are to be de-
stroyed by the canal? Most of the vessels used
by the English companies are steamers, while
those belonging to Americans are sailing ves-
sells. What chance would sailing vessel have
for getting through the canal? There would
be no winds to drive it through, and to estab-
lish special power would cost too much money.
I have it from reliable authority that there has
been but two sailing vessels that have passed
through the Suez Canal since it has
been The English vessels
If they could get through the Nlcaraguan Ca
nal and the American vessels were shut out,
they would still have a greater advantage over
US. The consequence is that what few Amer
ican vessels there are now would soon be driven
out of the carrying trade entirely. There is an
organization here called the American Shipping
League that has for its object the advancement
of the American maritime commerce. They
had better take hold of this matter and nip it
In the bud"