Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1891-04-09
Aberdeen herald.
CANAL ENTERPRISES.

CANAL ENTERPRISES.
Up to December last over 100000
had been expended on the Manchester
ship canal, TO provide an adequate water
wav to the ocean from this great manu-
featuring center of the north of England.
1t is now found that about 20,0OO,0OO
more will be required to complete the
work, which is good deal larger sum
than the canal company can command,
and the city of Manchester has been
asked to extend its credit to the enter
prise to the amount of $4,000, 900, the
outside public having failed to subscribe
for debentures TO form a first charge on
the property. The work has somewhat
intcrfered with during the winter. but is
now being energetically pushed forward
at many points. committee of the
Manchester corporation has advised the
giving of the required assistance to the
enterprise.
The contractors of the ship canal across
the Isthmus of Corinth appear to have
met unexpected difficulties. This COM
panv was organized in 1899, and great
preparations were then made for push
ing the work, workshops being erected
along the line and an adequate plant pro-
yided. 1t is now stated, however, that
sufficient slope was not given to the
argilaceous banks, and that it has been
- lnr.,a caofinnc With
solid masonry. The section to be cut be-
ing frequently as much as $50 feet verti-
caly, it is no " apparent that the amount
Of earth to be removed will be enormously
in excess of what had been contemplated,
or the canal will have to be protected
Throughout its whole length with solid
masonry-in either case greatly increas-
ing the cost.
Although it would geem that the Pana
ma canal is now quite dead, there yet
appear to be people in France who enter
tain hope of a revival of the project in
some form. One scheme to this end is
that of NJ. Amedee Lebillot, who pro-
poses to connect the two unfinished por-
tions Of the canal by means Of q ship
railway, the work to be completed in
three years at a cost of $50,0o0,000. The
locomotive it is proposed to use on this
railway is in the form Of a ships cradle
having propelling mechanism in the in
terror, the cradle to be sunk under the
vessel, draw it out of water, make the
Journey overland in two hours, and as
promptly float the ship in the other
section of the canal.
In spite of the disaster that has over
taken the work at Panama, there is every
reason to feel encouraged by the progress
that mas been made at Nicaragus. The
route was equally open to the French
engineers, and it is safe to say that, with
half of the money which has been ire
trievahly SUM- at Panama, they might
by this time have had in successful oper-
alton practical ship canal for the larg
est vessels through Lake Nicaragua to
the Pacific ocean. Ex-senator Warner
Miller, president of the Nicaragua Canal
Construction Co., with several engineers
and other assistants, sailed from New
Yorl for Nicaragua on March IA. Only
abou. four million dollars have now been
expended upon the work, but very sub
stantial results are apparent in the open
ing of safe harbor at Greytown, the
clearing away of the route and the con-
struction of railway on the line to the
principal divide" with the erection of
workshops and the providing of all
necessary facilities for an energetic attack
upon the main difficulties OF the under
taking.
The engineers estimate the cost OF the
whole work at sos 900 900, but Mr. Miller
places it at about 800, O0O, 900, with in
terest accruing during construction. The
projectors hope, as do the Foreign Affairs
Committee of the United States senate,
that the government will become inter
ested to the extent of guaranteeing the
bonds of the company at a low rate of
interest, thus keeping the control of the
canal in American hands, but they have
no dlstrust OF their own ability to provide
all the funds necessary, and are not de-
laying the construction to wait for gov
eminent assistance Mr.. Miller has
high reputation as a capable and success
full business man, and he has entered
upon this enterprise as practical pro-
jet, to be worked out by dollars and
and cents, in the full confidence that the
investment will be good paving one TO
all who put money in it, as well as OF
high importance in the development of
American commerce.
Among other important canal projects,
one which OF late attracted considerable
local attention, is the plan for the water
connection of Pittsburg with Lake Erie.