The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-25
FAITH In THE CANAL.
MenocaI on the Great Nicaragua
Project.
INSPECTION OF The DRY DOCK.
Twenty-Five Years Experiences VITA
the Nicaragua Csnal-omesrs 70
visit Port Orchard

The board OF civil engineers OF the
United States navy, which has been sent
20 the Coast to examine and report on the
foundations Of the govern ment dry dock
az Port Orchard, lie nov sscmbled IN 1ne
city. the three members being guests 81
the Rainier hotel. They are A. "
Menocal. OF Washington City: 7. =.
Assersin and +. c. Prindie, Of BROOKLYN.
Mr.. Assersin being accompanied ~ hts
wife, and they will go 70 Port Orchard on
the steamer A Il. Robinson this morning.
Can't. r. ". Custance, who has come rom
Washington City on o similar mission,
went 20 the dry dock on Friday and went
yesterday morning 70 Victoria 70 examine
the dry dock at Esquimalt. The were sent
out at the request of Commandans Man
nirr. of the naval station. who autographed
for then at the instance Of Byron Barlow,
the contractor
The engineers are all men Of note IN
their profession and have had much ex-
perience In the construction OF dry docks
and navy yards. The one best known to
the public Is Mr.. Menocai, who has been
closely Identified with the Nicaragua
canal scheme ever since the first survey
was made In 1s7Z Like most men OF bis
profession, he lie more ready 10 seek than
TO give information about the business he
ms. in hand, and in an interview with
PosT-IHrKLLrsENcKR reporter yesterday ne
inquired about the character of the foun-
dation of the dry dock. and also sought TO
learn ali he could about the proposed
canal to Lake Washington, both the Sal
mon bay route and that from the head OF
the bay. But when the subject OF the
Nicaragua canal was preached, he began
to give instead of seeking information, and
showed as much confidence as ever OF the
early construction of the cut across the
isthmus Speaking of the work. he said
al have been working on the Nicaragua
canal scheme ever since 1872. when / was
sent out by the government rs member
OF q commission of engineers 10 examine
into the practicnbiliIy OF the canal, tina.
being the inception of the scheme, and
have since been on two other commissions
engaged in the same work. The explora-
tions and surveys were begun by the COM
mission of 1872 i have lately appeared
before committee of the house on the
subject, and for my part should be very
glad TO see the government take hold OF
the work and complete IL. i think the
canal company has very good prospect
OF being able 10 raise the money indepcnd-
ent of the government as soon as the
question now is whether IL shall be en-
abled TO raise the money now by the guar
antee Of the government. My opinion is
that the government would never be called
upon to pay a dollar, for the canal would
earn enough for operation, maintenance
and interest charges. There is no prospect
that the Panama canal will ever be fin
ished; do not give the latest move toward
the resumption of work any serious
thought
sThe loss through the suspension of
work will not be over $500 coo and will
consist IN the decay of the temporary
bridges on the railroad. the growing of the
brush on the part Of the line which had
been cleared and the necessary deteriora-
ton of the drsdges and other plant, but at
most tho dredges would want new huils.
These dredges are fire machines and at
the time of the suspension some of them
were digging 1900 cubic yards OF earth "a
day eacn. On the other hand the three
years experience we have had will be very
valuable and am satisfied that the work
can be finished for about SO, 000. 900 in five
10 six years continuous work, provided the
money comes a. fast as il 10 needed, while
ms former estimate was s65. 600, COO. The
difficulties we have experienced were not
nearly rs great as anticipated. liz was
originally expected that trouble would be
found in obtaining labor. but We got all
''The Central American republics are
very friendly TO the enterprise and would
help il financially, but that they are poor,
though they have enormous undeveioped
resources. By the Zavala- Frelinghuyse
treaty between the United States and
Nicaragua, signed in 1854, the United
States was given entire control of the
canal, but this treaty was withdrawn from
the senate by President Cleveland after he
assumed office in 1856, and has never been
returned. But il was ratified by an i'm
manse majority by the Nicaraguan con-
gress, and so far as | know, the feeling
there has not changed since.
"No part of the world would be so bane-
fitted by the building OF the canal as the
Pacific coast states-in fact, il Is n matter
OF life and death to you--for your chief
products are wheat aud lumber and unless
You can carry them cheaply. You will be
In bad position TO compete with other
countries. Australia is competing very se-
sereiy with this country in the matter of
wheat and, when the canal is built. voa
will be several Thousand miles nearer
Liverpool than Australia will be. The
building of the canal would also cause the
development of the Central American
states and thus create market for your
products. Now the west coast OF those
states hss 10 so around by the Horn 10 get
10 the east coast. although they are only
few miles apart, but with the canal IL
would be only ]. 200 miles from New Or
leans. The products of this section and
of Central America are different, go that
thsre is a good basis for exchange OF com
modAtses. Iea need their coffee aud
sugar and, on the other hand, they need
your hour. lumber. fruit and wines"
The engineers will spend sensral days in
examining the dry dock. but their de-
eision on the merits OF the question sub
mitted TO them will not Re made known
until their report has been received and
acted on by the navy department. for il is
contrary 10 90 the navy regulations for