The state chronicle., 1893-02-10
General Grant on the Nicaragua Canal.

General Grant on the Nicaragua Canal.
During his trip around the world
General Grant had many converse
tions with John Russell Young, and in
one of them he spoke as follows con-
cerning the Nicaragua Canal.
Being a West Pointer, and there
fore acquainted with engineering, hav-
ing visited the locality in person and
having studied public questions very
closely, no doubt his opinion will re-
ceive much attention:
81 gave much thought, when was
President, to the subject of a canal
across Central America, a ship canal
connecting the two oceans.
But somehow l had not influence
enough with the administration to
make it an administration measure. l
did all l could to pave the way for it.
My old friend, Admiral Ammen, did
some admirable work. Mr.. Fish did
not feel the same interest, but he did
all that was necessary. There are
several routes for such canal, but the
best one is through Nicaragua.
The Lesseps plan cannot succeed.
In view of recent events this is a
wonder prophecy. l studied the
question thoroughly and read all the
reports. As young officer / crossed
the continent on the Nicaragua route,
and l have no doubt it is the true one
may not live 20 see it done, but it
must be some day. The route throug h
Columbia is expensive and difficult on
account of the rocks and streams. The
Panama route would be difficult and
expensive.
Nature seems to have made the
route through Nicaragua.
Admiral Ammen collected an i'm
mense mass of information on the
subject, which is now in the Navy De.
partment.
1t will be found of inc ,timable
value, when the time comes. Ammen
showed great ability and industry in
doing this work for another generation
After Mr.. Hayes came in / called
on Mr.. Evarts, and spent an hou,
with him, going over the whole sub
ject, telling him what we bad done
and explaining the exact position in
which l had left the question
l urged upon him the value of th'
work. l suppose, however, Mr. Haye
finds the same difficulty that en-
countered, the difficulty of interesting
people in the subject.
But it ,ciH come, it must come.
If we do not do it, our children will
The governments of Costa Rica arr
Nicaragua are favorable. They woul'
be the gamers. Our capital, our en-.
terprise, our industry, would 60 il
and make garden on the banks Q
the canal, garden from sea to sea
Coffee would be raised, and othe
tropical crops, enough for our ow
use, and to supply other nations. ]
would be great gain to the Pacifi
coast. When l talked to Stanford {
the Pacific road in the anticipatio
that his railroad interests would max
him inimical to another transpol
route, found that he favored it.
1t would divert the tea trade frol
t China. Ammen made a calculatio
2 showing that in the carrying of whe,
alone, enough would be saved to pa
the interest on the eighty millions
dollars necessary to build the cana
And wheat is only one of the mar
d products that would be benefited
= estimated eighty millions as Il
& maximum figure. l counted the COZ
Then added twenty-five per cent.
L the cost to cover waste and prof
then hundred per cent. to allow f
n the unusual difficulties in the way
ia labor in the tropics.
. 1t would aid in solving the Chine
question. California would find
# place for the Chinese laborers vi
n are now worrying her.
le The more the question is studi
u the more our people will see its W
dom. Public opinion should be ed
Gated so as to press the subject up
a Congressman. The press could do
a better work than to agitate the qu
At ton. The only people who would
injured would be some Of the Sou
American States.
I" alMy opinion is, it would add large
le to the wealth of the Pacific coast, a
perhaps change the whole current
O. the trade of the world"