The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-03-16
THE PANAMA CANAL.
Estimated Cost of Three Hun
dred Millions.
ExrRAvAeANT pEsolArioN.
Descrfptscn 81 the Deserted Works
Millions OF DoisArs worth OF Ma
ehsnery Lying Idle.

PANAMA, Feb. ei--The commission sent
ont from France BY the Panama Canal
Company 20 investigate and report upon
the possibility al completing the canal. has
returned 70 France. after remaining in
Panama and on the isthmus for three
weeks. The commission consisted Ct
twelve French and Belgian engineers.
They declined to express their views until
they had made formal report upon their
return TO France.
was coming, few hundred lahorers were
employed. machinery was painted and
everything pat in - presentahle condi-
ton IS possible for their inspection. The
visiting engineers examined all works care
fully. made plans and prepared extended
written reports. During their stay they
were entertained At . series OF banquets but
failed 10 respond to any OF the toasts de-
signed 10 bring out their individual opln-
ions. Nothing will therefore be known as
TO the conclusion reached until the annual
meeting Of the company in April
The general view upon the Isthmus.
however. is that the report viii be favor
able. and recommend completion OF the
canal. During the fourteen months since
active operations ceased upon the canal
little or no work has been done.
About 100 men are still employed along
the line OF the canal TO watch and guard
the machinery. but this force has been too
small to protect the machinery plant be-
longing to the company, and which repre-
sents an original expenditure of $looo.o0-
This has been exposed 10 heavy rains. and
as whole. is in state of ruin.
At the mouth of the canal on the Pacific
side at Tohago there are At present three
dredgers. two of which are dismsntled, but
all are in good condition. From Tohago
across the isthmus the machinery of the
company lies in al directions. Thelargest
amount of machinery is at Caiebra cut.
eighteen miles from Panama
At Colon the canal had been built for
distance of twelve miles, with an average
width OF 400 yards. From Monkey Hill,
three miles from Colon. until the mouth OF
the canal is reached, the banks are COM
pletely covered with unprotected ma
chinery ro,ting away under the action OF
water and sun, while the canal itself is
flied With small fleet of tugs, steam
launches and small steamboats,.
The American Dredging Company still
AccfS keS otASS opSil NJ Ntt&oas ak4H tht
Panama Company still keeps its Offices
open here and at Colon. Apart from this
and . small guard maintained along the
canal. there is no sign OF life.
In case the commission reports fayora-
bly, for prosecution OF the work il is be.
lieved that they viii recommend the build-
ing Of alsrge lake beyond CAiebra with lock.
The work viii cost $ioo, o0o.0 900, divexting
Chagres river into the LAKE for supply of
water for the canal. bat even this plan in
wolves an overflow of the river in the vet
season and in the dry season there is q lack
of water. This Is the only plan outlined to
divert the Chagres river. all other at
tempts to divert il At the point where it
touches the line Of the canal having failed.
Even should the proposed plan succeed
and an attempt be made TO complete the
canal with this engineering feature added.
the cost of completing the canal is ezti-
mated at $500 600 on0.