The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-11
THE NICIRIGU.I C-tNAL.
\ solid Argument for Its Construction by
he nited states Government.

he l nIteu states Governments
To the Editor Of the New York sun:
Sir,-Noticing that several OF the New
York papers are now discussing the Mica
ragua Canal Enterprise, and That one ia
particular has criticised its leading fed-
lures adversely. / beg leave TO submit 10
the sun the following.
one Of the first points Of interest con-
nected with this great work is naturally
its cost. The cost OF the canal Is based
upon the quantity of rock, earth &c,
to be removed expressed In cubic yards
and the unit price OF same. 10 which Is
added the cost OF docks, dams, embank-
ments. harbor. and other auxiliary works.
In regard 10 the quantities involved IN
these several items there can be no very
great difference OF opinion, as IL Is simply
"a question Of fact, which can readily DE
determined by an inspection of the canal
cOmpany's surveys. These surveys wege
conducted by as trustworthy and COM
petent men as there are In this country
and the figures upon which they are
based. even TO the field notebooks, are.
/ understand, open 10 the inspection OF
any interested person. They have been
verified by able engineers. among others.
by a representative of the great English
contractors Messrs. Walker x CO.. who
spent several months In Nicaragua for
any. question as TO their being substa.-
TALLY correct.
In regard to the unit prices there is
room. | admit. for difference of opin-
ion but not FOR such a difference as
would double the cost OF the work. one
can understand difference OF opinion In
regard TO the cost OF excavating material
I'm the United States and the cost of do
ing the same work In Nicaragua, but IL
a.. .lft
ence should amount TO as much as 20
per cent, certainly not more. The argu-
ment has been advanced that men in
tropical country cannot accomplish as
much as men working in a temperate
climate, which Is, / dare say, true: but
this difference largely vanishes from the
fact that the greater part Of the work
on the canal will be done by machinery.
competent contractors are quite satisfied
with the unit price as given i'm the canal
companys estimate, and they are willing
and anxious 10 do the work on the basis
of these estimates. no stronger testimony
than this fact can be needed. even by the
most skeptical, that the estimates are
substantially correct, and that they are
not. as has been asserted unduly small.
Other evidence on this point is shown
by the fact that the work performed by
the canal company itself was done al
less cost than its own estimate. ana.
finally it is a well-known fact that. ow-
ing to the constant improvements in all
machines. appliances. and methods used
In such work. its cost is constantly de-
creasing, and as the estimates for the
canal were made seven or eight years
ago. there Is every reason 10 believe that
they will now be ample.
The question has been raised that the
Nicaragua canal will affect. as dan
gerous competitor. our trans-cOntinental
railroads. that II will work TO their in
jury as common carriers. and hence that
IN should not be constructed. ! do not
hesitate TO deny that the canal Will affect
adversely the railroads terminating on
our Pacific coast: on the contrary there
is every reason 10 believe that the rail-
roads referred to will be benefited by the
canal. and why these roads should ever
have opposed the construction OF the canal
IL perfectly ineXplicable.
Let ne briefly review this question. as
Il Il one Of importance. involving large
interests. not only TO the railroads. hut
to every person living In our three Pacific
States. The moment the canal is COM
pieted the condition OF the grain pro-
ducer Of the Pacific States 10 at once