The herald., 1897-12-25
Under Consideration by
Private Parties
AN EXPLORING EXPEDITION
TO EXAMINE THE NICARAGUA
ROUTE
Russia Is Planning Waterway
Which Makes the Isthmus
Scheme Look Small
Press Special Wire

CHICAGO, Dec 24-A special to the
Record from Washington says: The
steamer Finance, which sails from New
York next Thursday, carries an import
ant delegation of engineers and contrac-
tors who propose to look over the route
of the Nicaraguan canal without wait
ing for the report OF the commission
which the government recently sent to
revise the surveys and estimates here
tofore submitted to Congress. AS far
as can be learned this party has no con-
nection with and has asked no assist
ance from the government, although
Senator 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 appeared
The Senator understands that the party
will be composed of some of the heavi-
est contractors now engaged in the con-
struction Of the Chicago drainage canal
and that they will be accompanied by
consulting engineers of their own choice,
who will assist them in making prac-
| tical examination of the several routes
that have been recommended and pre-
pairing estimates of the cost of construc-
ton. 1t is understood that Mr.. Lyman
f. Cooley. the well-known engineer. who
was offered place upon the Nicaraguan
Canal Commission and is a member of
the International Deep Waterways
Commission, has been invited to accom-
pany the party, and that Mr.. f. F. Cra-
gin of Chicago, who has been associated
with the Nicaragua Maritime Company
for some months. will go as the repre-
sentative of that corporation. Senator
Morgan has not been furnished with the
names of the other gentlemen.
1t is understood that the contractors
on the drainage canal are taking this
step with a view to utilizing their ma
chinery and force of employees when their
present contracts are completed, and If
they find things to their satisfaction
they propose either to purchase the con-
cession of the Maritime Company or to
enter into contract to complete the
canal, taking a certain amount of stock
and bonds in the corporation as their
compensation. They propose, it is said
to accept as a basis of their examina-
tions the survey made under the direc-
ton of Engineer Menocal in 1856, which
has been indorsed by a committee of the
most competent experts in this country
selected by the American Institution of
Engineers. The original estimate of the
outside cost of construction was $685.
$1,000, including interest and contin-
gencies of every sort, although Mr.. Men
ocal always insisted that the canal could
be dug on that route. according to his
plans, for S65, ,000.00 and after examin-
ing the improved machinery and eco
nomical methods which the construction
of the drainage canal in Illinois has de-
veloped, he claims that the work can
be done now for s5O,OO0000.
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.
Il rejoice to see such men taking an
interest in the enterprise said Mr.. Nor
gan. "They are the best men in the
world to assist us in its promotion. They
are practical men of affairs. They have
experience and knowledge and reputa-
ton that will make their testimony of
the highest value and am glad they are
going"
A RUSSIAN CANAL
NEW YORK, Dec. PA special to
the Herald from Washington says: The
Russian government will begin next
spring upon stupendous piece Of engi-
neering work which, like the transit
berian railway, will lie of great strategic
and commercial value to her when CON-
pleted.
The project contemplates the con-
structiOn of a canal connecting the Bal
tic and Black seas which can be trav-
ersed by battleships of the heaviest ton
mage at six knots per hour.
BY means of this canal Russia will be
able to mobilize huge fleet in the Bal
tic in 1877 hours by bringing to that sea
the Black Sea squadron, or can collect
in the Black Sea in the same time as
the Baltic and Black Sea fleets. In case
of a general European war over the div
ision of China at the time of the compile
ton of the canal it would not be difficult
for Russia to send her fleet through the
BosphOrus, the Sea of Marmora and The
Dardanelles into the Mediterranean
and down the Suez Canal across the In
dian Ocean to China while she could util-
ize the transsiberian railway to trans
port troops. The canal will remove the
necessity of sending fleet across the
North Sea and down the Atlantic in or
der to reach the Mediterranean and
through that sea reach the Suez Canal
and China, and it was pointed out that
in case of war. Great Britain and
Germany would take measures to see
that the Russian fleet did not pass
through their waters without hard
struggle.
It is officially stated here that the canal
when completed will connect the city OF
Riga, on the Baltic, and Cherson. on the
Black Sea. Advantage will be taken of
Dwina River lat the mouth of which Riga
Is located and of the Dnieper River,
which flows into the Black Sea and at the
mouth Of which Cherson sits.
1t is frankly admitted by the Russian
authorities that the canal is being built
for military purposes, just as the trans
siberian railway is being constructed.
but they say that the water way will be
oF hon ef7t coy,1 n, arcia1Iv