The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-05
CANALS AND NAVAL DOCKS.
Capt Menocai Talks Interestingly on
some Live Topics.


some Live Topics.
Capt. A. C. MenocaI, p G. Assersin and
f. c. Prindle, the United States civil en-
gineers who came here from Washington
City to inspect the construction of the
naval dry dock at Port Orchard, will CON-
plete their task in day or two and depart
for the East about Wednesday. They
have been very busily engaged in their
work every day for the past week and their
examination has been an exhaustive one.
They will make their report to the secre-
tary of the navy upon their return and it
will embrace criticism OF the plans and
quality of the work already accomplished.
together with suggestions for carrying on
the remainder of the work.
Capt. Menocal has for so many years
devoted his mind to the great Nicaragua
canal question that the mere mention of
ship canal attracts his attention, and he
evinces great interest in the proposed
Lake Washington canal project. To a
reporter he said last night. "This is my
first visit to Puget sound and / am very
much pleased with my trip, although
close application to the work assigned me
at Port Orchard has prevented my seeing
much of the country away from this city.
south of this city and filling up the tide
fats with the earth is very interesting
enterprise. and if the conditions warrant
the expense it would prove benefit to
this city.
Although l was never here before l
had the pleasure OF examining tho Lake
Washington canal project on paper. and,
to be frank, advised the government
against it. AT that time it was proposed
10 locate the naval station and dry dock.
afterwards located at Port Orchard. on
Lake Washington. and it was entirely
in reference to this scheme and emitting
all consideration of the commercial fea-
lures of the canal that we viewed the
proposition. The question OF dig ging the
canal simply as u means of furnishing ac-
cess 10 an ideal site for dry dock aud
naval station was the only one considered
and we concluded that there was TOO much
hazard of the canal being easily DESTROYED
by an enemy in case of war. which would
bottle up any vessels at the station and
render it unavailable for making repairs
10 ships.
Al still have hopes that the present con-
gress will do something toward making an
appropriation for the Nicaragua canal.
have been before both the house and sen.
ate committees. and believe that they are
friendly 10 the enterprise Yes, | think
the sentiment of the country Is against
any governmental subsidy TO a private
company or any partnership between pri-
rate persons and the government In the
ownership, management or control OF the
canal. But think the government will
eventually purchase the concessions and
rights of the Nicaragua Maritime Canal
Company. which represent an outlay OF fully
81. So. 900, and then build the canal and
own and operate IL practically alone. IL
could do so absolutely if the concession
did not require that certain percentage
of the stock in the canal shall go to the
governments of Nicaragua and Costa Riea
The <t.5d0,0oo which the canal com pany
asks for It's rights embraces falsy 81, 900 oO0
spent for exhaustive surveys the building
Of a railroad twelve miles long out Of
Greytown.. the clearing of twenty miles o.
right-of-way for the canal, tue dredging OF
about three-quarters of 3 mile in the har-
Dor. the building of breakwaler at GREY
toxn, hospitals, machine shops and other
buildings. and vast tracts OF land aggre-
eating over I.0oo.0ao acres, mostly along
the route OF the canal