The herald., 1898-01-27
Will Cost Less Than the
Estimates
HALF A MILLION LAB0RERS
WILL DO THE WORK IN ABOUT
SIX YEARS
Thirteen Syndicates, Each Anxious
to Undertake the Contract and
Ready to Begin

Associated Press Special Wire
NEW YORK, Jan. 26.-The Herald,s
correspondent with the Nicaraguan
Canal Commission advices under date OF
Managua, January 18th, says:
The Canal Commission here cabled to
Washington two days ago as follows:
'The canal of Nicaragua is practicable
for less that three-quarters of the origi-
nal estimate. Four and half to six and
half years are required to build it.
Four thousand eight hundred laborers
are needed to commence work. These
should be divided into four groups-1OOO
to 2600 between Rio San Juan and Castil-
10 and 400 between Corinto and Momo-
tombo and 800 in Managua. This num-
ber of men should be doubled within
three months"
This reply was received by the COM
mission: "A company in Ohio and New
York has been duly formed to engage
men from Puerto Barrios, Jamaica, Be-
lie and Nicaragua"
The Heralds correspondent adds that
each of the thirteen engineers with the
commission represents big syndicate.
each one fighting to get the contract, but
the Ohio and New York mllionaires
have secured it.
The Chicago contractors and engineers
are satisfied with the facilities for work
in the western division. These facilities
are beyond their expectations.
The party leaves for Ichoa on January
25th.
The Washington correspondent Of the
Herald says that the above cablegram
is interpreted there to mean that the
Maritime Canal Company, anticipating
favorable report from the Walker COM
mission as to the feasibility of the
project and of subsequent favorable
action by Congress has men on the
ground prepared to begin the work OF
construction Immediately Under terms
of it's concession from the Nicaraguan
government the canal was to have been
completed next fall. otherwise the con-
cession would be forfeited unless the
company had expended large sum Of
money.
In fact, it is the contention of the
Nicaraguan government that the con-
cession has already been forfeited, but
the company or the administration. The
preliminary report which the commits
sion will make will be submitted to Con-
gress with a view to getting favorable
action upon the bill.
1t has been anticipated that the report
would be favorable both as regards the
feasibility and cost of the canal. The
estimate made by Civil Engineer A. G.
Menocal for the company in 1895 for the
construction of a canal following the
Tola basin line puts the cost of the work
at $50. .466, $50, and a second estimate, the
canal to follow a low level line, fixed the
cost at s6S. .S93.66O
The Ludlow commission estimated
that a canal built along the low level
line would cost $133, ,472, 1893. If the Walker
commission estimated that the cost will
be three -fourths Of Mr.. Menocal's origi-
nal estimate, $66. 466. $50, then it fixes the
figures at $49.S55. 100.
Experts. especially the friends of the
members Of the Ludlow commission, say
the estimate made by the Walker COM
mission is extremely low, being some-
what less than third of the estimate
made by the Ludlow commission.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, via Calves
ton, Jan. 26.-L. Wichmann, agent Of
the English corporation, the Atlas
Steamship, limited, offers the Nicar-
aguan government a large sum in sill
yer pesos, advanced from London
sources. for Nicaraguas railway and
steamship system from ocean to ocean,
with a view of obtaining for the COM
pany connected interocean transporta-
ton across the country, including the
canal route. The government is con-
sidering the offer