Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-20

CHICAGO, February 19.-Four bright
looking men with bronzed faces registered
at the Palmer House last evening. After
the leader had written the names he placed
heavy bundle on the counter. He would
not allow the clerks to handle the package,
and asked that he might place it in the safe
himself
''Contains jewels?" asked the clerk.
Nothing but papers; but never let any
one touch them"
The request was granted and the package
placed in the safe. The exterior of the
bundle had the appearance of nothing valu-
able, yet its contents are eagerly watched for
by all France.
The arrivals were MN. German, Cousin,
Lagoul and Du Chatenet, celebrated French
engineers; and it virtually rests upon their
decision whether or not the Panama Canal
will ever be finished by French enterprise.
Shortly after the De Lesseps company was
dissolved, NM. German, Cousin, Lagoul
and Du Chatenet were sent to the isthmus
for the purpose of thoroughly inspecting the
line, and to present their opinion as to
whether it would be practicable to raise
more money and dig the ditch or give it up.
DOUBTFUL OF SUCCESS.
The engineers have gone over every foot of
the proposed route, and in a few weeks their
report will be presented to M. Brunei, liqui-
dateur of the company. They came here
direct from San Francisco, and remained
but few hours. They will sail from New
York Saturday. The bundle that the en-
gineers were so careful of contained the
notes of their report. NJ. Germain, who Is
called the president of the quartet, was re-
served about talking of his report, but
reporter had the following conversation with
him:
How can tell anyone about our opinion
when it interests all France? IT stated that
we were to make favorable report spectators
would have all the shares of canal stock before
we reached France. 1t would be equal to your
Gould telling about railroad deal he expected
to make.
II your report is unfavorable, will any syn
dicate of fnanciers take up the enterprise
That has been proposed, but 1t seems hard
that all money now invested should be lost.
Although the present outlook has seemed like
a failure for some time, the people can't be
reconciled TO IT, and they will cling to the last
straw. ! will say that the outlook is rather
dubious.
GONE TO WORK FOR AMERICANS.
From Colon to Panama you can scarcely find
a settlement where a little world existed not
many months ago. Many have gone over to
Nicaragua to work on the American canal.
Will that be successful
That is not for me to say, for our people are
only interested in the Panama. We were on
the work but few days when we found ma
chinery thrown away that would invoice
thousands OF dollars. The line looks as though
it hSd been left for dinner and the workmen
had forgotten to return.
Here NJ. German shrugged his shoulders
and walked away. The younger members
of the quartet were not so polite as their
President. While they did not state posi-
lively that the report would be unfavorable,
their declarations were equivalent to that.
NJ. Lagoul said: "The Panama Canal is
but bad dream. So much money has been
wasted that don't believe the enterprise
will ever be revived
M. Cousin said: eff the canal is finished
1 am to be engaged in the work, but don't
think will ever see the day. The people
have not the confidence 10 raise the vast
amount of money required to finish the
work"