The herald., 1895-03-17
TWO SEPARATE Continents
The Nicaragua Canal Will B
ITO Miles Long
FINISHED IN FOUR YEARS
Estimated Cost Of the Great Watcrws
Is SIS, 10000
Rcar-Admirai Ammen Talks Of the Big Canal,
for Which lie fias Worked for Many
fears--Services Rendered

10 June. 1862, and he has number Of
acquaintance here among residents who
knew him then.
He gives an interesting account OF ,he
Nicaragua canal project He saws: .It
is interesting to notice that as long ago
as 1924, Won Humboldt, inviting on the
subject OF canal to connect the two
oceans. advocated exactly the rout,
which has been adopted by the engineers
of this perfect. In the North American
Review of January, $780, DeLcsscps wrote
an article on the Panama canal, and in the
February number gave my ideas, which
were quite opposed to his.
''In the records OF the franklin Insti.
tute Tor 1889 you will find that referred
to the writing of Humboldt. and discussed
his ideas as the probable methods which
would be adopted in the n icaragua Canal
from the resem blances of the San Juan
River to the River Ness. which was
availed of in the Caledonian Canal of
Scotland. In 1881 De Lesseps provided
fund which was to purchase American
neutrality, or rather American inactivity
in any canal projects, and for five years
he gave each year to syndicate of bank
ers $500, 900 to preserve this neutrality.
About the year 1881 legislation was
almost impossible on account of the
methods prevailing in Congress, and
think the country owes Thomas B. Reed
a large debt of gratitude for the stand
which he took in making it possible to
do business in our national Legislature.
This lack OF legislation greatly DELAYED
the possibility of this canal construction.
The best engineers say that no great
investigation of the physical conditions
of the country, nor so careful an estimate
of the cost, as this Nicaragua project. The
route chosen is 40 miles from ocean to
ocean. Its great merit is in shortening
the length of the cuts which will have
to be made. These are only. twenty. seven
and quarter miles long in the aggregate.
The route also lies through Lake Mica.
ragua and effects large part of the saw
ing. This lake has an area of about $500
square miles. Its surface is now 1O5 feet
above the level of the ocean. and bv tbe
feet higher. This great area, by its very
size, will be proof against sudden rising
and floods. The present outlet of the
lake is the San Juan river, and its dis.
charge, which represents the surplus
waters of the lake, as measured by the en-.
gineers insures supply of water which
is twenty times as much as will be re-
quired 10 feed the canal and locks OF
course there is large amount of dredg-
ing to be done in the bed of the San Juan
river and in the lake along the route of
the canal through it. There will also be
The level of the lake will be held UP to
within four miles of Brito, the Pacific
terminus of the canal. The Atlantic end
will be at Greytown. The canal does not
follow the course of the San Juan river
along it's whole length. This same lake
miles of the Atlantic by means of the
dam at Ochoa and weirs extending above
1.-The work OF completing this canal can
be accomplished within four years after
the plant for constructing it is estab-
lished. believe that the cost OF the work
$s5, O00 900. This will include the interest
on the bonds, superintendent. admins
tration and all work of construction
Menocal's original estimate was consider
ably increased as the experience has been
in undertakings of this kind that many
been ruined by the original underesti-
mates. The Morgan bill providing for
national interest in this work has passed
the United States Senate by vote of 81
to 90. The bill cannot be considered by
the House of Representatives this year.
but when it does come up, have no doubt
but that it will pass.
IAN act of incorporation has been
granted under the laws of the state of Yer
mont which will be availed of in the re-
organization OF the Maritime Canal Com
pany. The National Government will
own nine-twelfths of the stock as an in
dividual. The Government, as a private
stakeholder, would have control of the
management. holding the majority of the
stock, and this would prevent any stock
jobbing manipulation:
1.-The advantages of the completion of
the canal would be manifold. There
would be no surplus OF cotton produced
-, I, (tanpraI Grant said IN
me eighteen years ago, By the time the
| Nicaragua Canal shall be completed the
| Chinese and the Japanese will have estab-
| lished mills of their own, and will require
more cotton than this country now pro.
| duces, which at that time was about $780,,
600 bales annually. The California wheat
| and other products could be carried more
cheaply, and it would revolutionize the
| commerce of the world. After commerce
shall be fully established through this
route, say in five years from its compile
| ton, one half the toll rates now charged
by the Suez Canal would produce fund
| in excess Of the amount required to pay
| the interest authorized on the stock,
which is Is per cent. The Government,
after repaying its investment, could then
| make rebate to its vessels engaged in
| the coasting trade, ana thus encourage
| it's merchant marine.
~ have lust received from the Chamber
of Commerce of San Francisco the first
public recognition of my services for
| twenty -five years in behalf OF this pro-
! iecth Admiral Ammen produced the
letter, of which the following is copy:
| "San Francisco, CAL, Feb. IL, 1855.
! Rear-Admiral Daniel Ammen, United States
Navy:
| DEAR SiR;-The Chamberof Commerce OF San
Francisco, the Oldest commercial! organization
| on the Pacific Coast, in recognition OF your
| eminent public services, and especially your
active efforts to secure the construction OF an
| American canal under American control,
| uniting the oceans through the Republic OF
! Nicaragua. has unanimously voted you its
| honorary membership OF which IL respectfully
| invites your acceptance.
al have the pleasure of forwarding by this
| mail the certificate OF honorary membership,
OF which only two are permitted yearly. The
| names of honorary members are forever main
tanned on the roll.
"In the name OF the Chamber OF Commerce,
permit me to express our appreciation OF your
| friendly interest on behalf of the Nicaragua
Canal and to express the hope that you may
| live to meet committee OF the chamber in
| Nicaragua on the suspicious day which shall
| see it open to the commerce OF the world
| "Yours respectfully,
Nv. H. Dimond, President"
| Admiral Ammen is the designer of the
| United States ram Katahdin, which has
| been built in Bath, Me. He said that the
| ram is now in the dock at Boston, Mass.
and would leave there in about ten days
| for Bath. 1t is now arranged for her to
have her trial trip for speed early in April
| over the course at New London, Conn.
Newly Married My mother-i n-law is
e. e., "a b.