New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-05
FOR THE PANAMA CANAL.
THE AMERICAN MINISTER TO COLOMBIA THINKS
1T WOULD BE MORE FEASIBLE TO COMPLETE
THAT THAN TO TRY TO BUILD


THAT THAN TO TRY TO BUILD
THE NICARAGUA.
I. F. Mckinney. Minister Pleniopentiary and En-
voy Extraordinary to Colombia. is at the ST. james
Hotel Mr. Mckinney arrived from Bogota Tues
day on the steamship Finance. He is accompanied
by his wife. In the same party Is j. L. IhorhoAe'
a prominent railroad man and constructor VINO mas
been building railroads In Peru. Mr.. Mckinney mas
suffered recently from South American fevers. and
upon the advice Of his physicians he Is taking
two months vacation. Speaking last evening OF
affairs In South America. he said:
THE predominant question in South America just
now Is the proposed Nicaragua Canal have been all
the ground and have come to the conclusion
that 1t would be much more feasible TO complete
the Panama Canal than to attempt TO build the
Nicaragua Canal. 1t Is said that the Panama
Canal Is a wreck and no good. That Is all wrong.
l all owe: 1t recently and found u" men at
work there. and beside found from fourteen 10
sixteen miles OF good canal already built with
splendid entertainments already overgrown with
tropical vegetation. insuring stability. That leaves
about twenty-four more miles to build. The depth.
as sounded Is from twenty to twenty-four feet.
ITO be sure. could not simply take the canal
without a word TO the French capitalists that have
gone bankrupt In building 1t. But think that II
could be purchased very cheaply II is useless 10
talk authoritatively. commission is now down
there looking the ground and 1t has not made a
programme, l am told that the members Intend 10
visit Panama this month 10 look over the work
that has been done. They may see 1t in another
light after their researches.
"As for the Nicaraguan Canal itself while want
TO 1t built. do think 1t is feasible. talked
with many naval men and eminent contractors one
OF whom have since learned a shareholder In
the Nicaragua Canal and they tell me that har-
Dor never be built at Greytown. The water there
is shallow. and constant dredging and the building
OF a breakwater would have be resorted to in
order 10 keep the channel open That would. 1t seems
to me. kill the thing. am not expert and |
want canal down there. In fact. should have
at any price and will await the report OF the
present commission with great deal Of interest.
Mr.. Mckinney talked about trade relations be-
tween the United States and Colombia and said
that the British and German merchants were maxi
ing inroads the United States traders lie says
that the people In Colombia have many unique ideas
about trade. These don't agree with what American
merchants send down there and the American mer-
chants won't cOncede anything while the English
and German merchants do. and thus secure the
trade For instance. the usual credit time there Is
six months. and the New-York merchant wants his
pay in thirty sixty days. Again. they buy fire.
quently, but in small pieces. American merchants
won't send In the orders desired. and again trade IL
lost. He says the friendship between Colombia and
the United States Is OF the warmest kind. and hc ex
poets trade relations made closer In the near
future.