Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-12-24
.NICARAGUA'S BIG DITCH.
Chicago Drainage Canal Contractors May In
dertake It.
DELEGATION or ENGINEERS TO INQUIRE.
VIII Leave Soon to Make an Examination
of tue Route-Unitcd states
Must Act Soon.

Chicago, Dec. PA special TO the
Record from Washington, d. c., says:
The steamer Finance, which sails from
New York next Thursday, carries an
important delegation of engineers and
contractors who propose to look over
the route of the Nicaraguan canal on
their own hook, without waiting for the
report of the commission which the
government recently sent to revise the
surveys and estimates heretofore sub
nitted to Congress. As far as can he
with and has asked no assistance
from the government, although SEN
ator Morgan, who has always taken
the leading part In legislation relating
to the canal. has encouraged the jour-
ney, and thinks that the interest which
has inspired the enterprise is the most
favorable sign that has lately APP
peared.
The senator understands that the
party will be composed of some of the
heaviest contractors now engaged in
the construction OF the Chicago drain
age canal, and that they will be ac-
companied by consulting engineers of
their own choice. who Will assist them
in making a practical examination of
the several routes that have been
recommended and preparing estimates
of the cost of construction 1t is I'M
derstood that Mr.. Lyman Il. Cooley
the well-known engineer, who was of
fered place upon the Nicaragua
commission and is n member of the
International Deep Waterways COM
mission, has been invited 60 accompa-
ny the party, and that Mr.. u. f.
afrf,, Of Nt.1,A taA,
ISOLATED with the Nicaragua Maritime
company for some months, will go as
the representative of that corporation.
Senator Morgan has not been furnished
with the names of the other gentle
men.
1t Is understood here that the con-
tractors on the drainage canal are
taking this step with view to utiliz-
ing their machinery and force OF en-
ployes when their present contracts
are completed, and If they find things
to their satisfaction they propose either
to purchase the concession of the Mari
time company or to enter into a con-
tract to complete the canal, taking n
certain amount of stock and bonds in
the corporation as their compensation.
They propose, II is said, to accept as
a basis of their examinations the sur
vey made under the direction of Engi-
neer Menocal in 1886, which has been
Endorsed by committee of the most
competent experts in this country,
selected by the American Institute of
Engineers. The original estimate Of
the outside cost of construction was
sS5,000,000, including interest and con-
tingencies of every sort, although Mr..
Menocal always insisted that the canal
could be dug on that route according
to his plans, for S65 600, 900, and after ex-
aiming the improved machinery and
economical methods which the con-
t..
linois has developed, he claims that the
work can be done now for S50,00000O.
Not long ago Senator Morgan invited
the contractors on the drainage canal
TO visit Washington and give their
views to the committee on foreign
affairs. While none of them had ever
made an examination of the route,
they all agreed that Mr.. Menocal's es-
Inmates and computations were reas-
enable and that the cost of such eN-
cavation as will he required along the
line selected by him in Nicaragua can
be reduced at least 30 per cent by the
use of improved machinery and pro-
cesses they have used upon the drain
age canal.
The present situation in Nicaragua
requires that some action shall be
taken by the United States immedi-
ately TO preserve our rights under the
existing treaty and concessions. The
Menocal concession, upon which the
present company is working, and upon
which the legislation now pending in
Congress is based, expires in 1899.
Senator Morgan does not think Great
Britain will ever attempt to maintain
the petty concessions that interfere
with the right OF the canal company.
although such an interference would
be the cause of irritation and delay.
81 rejoice to see such men taking an
interest In the enterprise" said Mr..
Morgan. They are the hest men in
the world to assist us In its promotion.
They are practical men of affairs
They have experience and knowledge
and reputation that viii make their
testimony of the highest value and
an, plad they nrp going