The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1894-09-28
COST AND VALUE OF CANALS.
The Nicaragua Cut Likely to- BE an Enor-
mously Profitable Enterprise.

m0uely frOutnDpe EIntofprise~
The Suez canal, with almost hum
dred miles of continuous digging, cost
about S1OO, 100000; Of this sum $50, O0O,-
900 was wasted in interest, commits
sions, changes of location and bad
management, That canal has now
traffic of nearly nine million tons an
nually, and, according to the North
American Review, it must be speedily
enlarged to accommodate the COM
merce that is crowding through it to
the western coast of the Pacific ocean.
The Nicaragua canal has twenty-nine
and half miles of canal prism, or
axial line. OF this one-third is very
light dredging. The total length of
this transit from sea to sea is 1e915
miles; of this line 1854 miles is slack
water navigation at an elevation of
ITO feet above the level of the sea.
This small lifts overcome by six locks
three on either side of the lake. The
entire cost of the canal ready for use,
as estimated by Mr.. Menocal, allowing
25 per cent. for contingencies, is $685.
OS4, 176. A board of five other great
engineers went over Mr.. Menocals
measurements and estimates with
great care, and out of abundant eau
tion, and not because of any suhstan-
tfal change in his figures, they added
to his estimate another 20 per cent. for
contingencies, and so changed his esti-
mate as to make the total cost of the
canal, ready for service, $S7, ,799,570.
1t seems that this may be reasona.
bly, accepted as the outside cost of the
canal But, if we run up the coniec-
tural cost TO 100000, 900, if built for
that sum, it must be the most valuable
property in the world of it's magpi-
tude. The tonnage, annually, can
scarcely fall below that of the Suez
canal. 1t will gradually exceed that
amount. If it is two-thirds as great as
that which passes through the st,
Mary's canal on the lakes it will equal
100000 tons. Who does not know
that it must be greater than the traffic
supplied by so small an area of inland
country? A just estimate would be
fixed, confidently, by the most careful
and hesitating persons at 100000
tons per annum, to say nothing of in
come from passengers, of whom
swarms will emigrate to the Pacific
coast. OF this estimate we could
place the tolls at the rate of 81 per ton,
and realize $9,OOO,OOO per annum> Take
So, 1000, 900 of this sum for maintenance
of the canal, which will not exceed
half that sum; $3,OOO,OOO for interest
on the bonded debt, and $3,O00,000 for
the stockholders, and we will have a
result that should excite the cupidity
of the most grasping speculator. But
the true friend of the Industrial and
commercial people win see in this re-
suit saving to industry and COM
merce of more than one-half the
charges for tonnage that are now
paid to the Suez canal. If the United
States are the owners of $4,000, 900 of
the $100,000,O00 of the stock in this
canal, and if it is to cost 500, 900, 900
to build it, the dividends on that
$50, 100000 of stock, employed in
sinking fund and invested in the bonds
of the company, would pay the entire
co; of construction and the interest of
the bonds in less than fifty years,