The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-30
PANAMA ISTHMUS CANAL
DIRECTOR GENERAL HUTIN Elk
PLAINS WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.
Eighteen Miles OF the Big Ditch Com
pIeted-Wanfs to Know What the
United States Intends 10 DO.

NEW YORK, Nov 29-M. Hutin, director
general of the new Panama Canal Company,
has come over from Paris to see what this
government thinks about the water route
between the Atlantic and the Pacific He
protests that there is no intention on the
part Of the French company to sell the
canal, and says that it has only one pur-'
pose In view, and that is to cut the big
ditch at once. When asked If the published
reports that his company wanted to sell out
TO the government were true NJ. Hutin said:
Absolutely no. Selling out is the last thing
we should think of. We want to cut the
canal, and we are ready to do it; what is
more, we are doing it, We have kept from
800 TO 1900 men constantly employed in
digging the canal, and force of 5000 is
now at work onethe ditch. Much has been
accomplished. We have actually dug
eighteen miles OF the total forty-six. Of
these vessels are navigating twelve
miles on the Atlantic and six miles on the
Pacific side. The canals depth is twenty
eight feet. though in some places silt has
made bars that would have to be removed,
and can be removed easily. Our company
which is the successor. by purchase, of the
De Lesseps company has, in assets, reck-
oning the machinery and accomplished
work. at least $75.OOO.0OO These assets have
been appraised at $95, 100000. We have gone
far enough to learn that the Panama canal
IS entirely practicable, and is the shortest,
cheapest and best water route between the
two oceans.
There were formerly thought to be two
insuperable Obstacles-the Chagres river and
the Culebra cut. Both of these difficulties
have disappeared before engineering science.
The Chagres river can be readily mastered,
ard tba xrlio oh,
was once thought impracticable because OF
the sliding earth that filled the ditch as
fast it could be dug, has turned out to be
"a comparatively simple problem. 1t has
been found that there is a rock substratum
through which the canal may be cut so
that it cannot be disturbed by sliding earth
An International technical commission
has recently examined the route of our
cahal, ana VIII, think, pronounce it en-
krely feasible: On that commission Cen
Sral II. J. Abbott represented the United
States. and England and Germany were
represented by engineers who had expert
ence in digging the great Manchester and
kiei canals. General Abbott has given his
views In several articles in the periodicals.
lie calls attention to these two facts: The
Panama canal would be forty-six miles long
and the Nicaragua canal would be 176 miles
the Panama would cost 5000 600, while
the Nicaragua would cost 49,. 900 600 / may
add TO these facts given by General Abbott
the important one that the Panama canal
can be completed in less than half the time
4 would take to cut the water way across
Nicaragua.
When asked about his object in going to
Washington NJ Hutin said: I'VE want to
know just what interest the United States
VIII take in the canal. We are not trying to
get the government to buy us out but il is
natural that the United States being most
deeply affected by the canal, would feel
natural that we should want to learn just
what the extent Of that interest may be-"
days