The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-12
COST OF NlCARAGUAS CANAL.
MENOCAL INSISTS THAT 1T NEED
NOT EXCEED s05,OOO,OOO.

The Canal COmpany's Engineer
Criticises the Inspection Made by
the Commission sent TO the Isth-
mus by This Government as su-
perhcIaI-He Contends That the
Commissions Estimate of the Cost
Is Altogether Too High.
Washington. April i1.-Chlef Engineer
A. G.. Menocal OF the Nicaragua Canal
Company reviewed before the House COM
merce committee this morning the report
of the board of engineers who investigated
last summer the Nicaragua canal project.
Mr.. Menocal said that the only point upon
which there is an agreement between the
Maritime Canal Company and the board
was the entire feasibility Of the project.
As to this. the claims OF the company
were conceded, and any difference that
exists as to the method OF work was
measurably by increased cost of construc-
tion.
He contended that the numerous charges
proposed by the engineer board resulted
from their insufficient observations made
on hasty trip through the territory tra-
versed by the canal, which touched
the canal route here and there only, and
the consequent imperfect knowledge OF
and character of the work previously per-
formed. Mr.. Menocal quoted figures to
show that the canal would be sufficiently
large for all practical purposes, and so
economically constructed as to pay rea-
sonable dividends sH the capital invested.
There was marked distinction. he said.
between such waterway and an ideal
canal, of ideal proportions, built regard-
less of cost. He thought II remarkabie
that In the numerous changes proposed by
the board, there is not one on the line of
economy or In the interest of a 2etter
canal.
Referring to the criticism OF the board
that the hydraulic and geological data
collected by the company was insufficient.
Mr. Menocal stated that the Importance
OF such information was fully recognized,
but that the securing OF such information
must be the result OF many years OF care
ful Investigation, and that in a country
IKE Central America, where the range
OF rainfall varied as much as 100 inches
from one year to another, theories based
upon such observations were practically
useless.
Mr.. Menocal took up and answered spe-
cihcally number of criticisms upon the
plans of the canal company made by the
government commission, defending and af-
hrming the advantages of the company'a
plans.
Mr.. Menocal stated that he had accom3
panied the government commission on it's
trip over the canal route and at tho re-
quest of Representative Patterson gave a
brief description OF the trip. The COM
mission was in Nicaragua about forty
days, and Of this time about two weeks
| were devoted to examination of parts of
| the route. When the lake was reached
the commission had taken steamer and
gone out some six or eight
miles, making few soundinga
They made no borfngs along the line OF
the canal, although Instruments and as
sistants we're furnished. They made no sur
veys, except near Greytown. The com-
mission could have taken the surveys.
borings and other data furnished by the
company, examined them in an office and
expressed an opinion as easily as could
be done by the examination made
The commission admitted the practica-
bility of the canal; but to make an exarn-
ination as thorough as he had made
would require years The commission
| passed the site of the Ochoa dam without
making any examination OF the site OF
the dam itself. This was an important
work and he had a camp prepared near
| the dam and provisions for six days plac-
| ed there The commission made a two
| days examination of the country near
| Ochoa, but the site of the dam was noe
| inspected. The construction of the Ochoa
| dam, he did not consider a very great ems
| gineering feat, for larger rock-f1lled dams
| than that had been built.
Since his estimates OF the cost of the
canal had been made, improved machinery
| and appliances for such work had been
| be much less. He firmly believed tho
| canal could be constructed and put in op>
Grafton for S65,O00,O00. This would give the
widest and deepest canal in the world.
| followed Mr. Menocal He condemned tho
canal project entirely and made an argus
ment In favor OF the Tehuantepec Shiu
Railway as the proper thing 70 build.