The San Francisco call., 1898-01-21
Nicaraguan Commission Wants to Retain En-
 qineer MenOca.
Requests That He Be Permitted to Remain at Least
 Five Weeks.
MucH Valuable Data Now Being Se- cured by the Parties In
 the Field.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK. Jan. 20.-The Herald's correspondent with the United States Nicaraguan Canal Commission in a dispatch from Managua, says: The ca nal commission desires to request the authorities in Washington through the Herald to allow Civil Engineer Meno- cal, who has been ordered to return to the United States in connection with defects in dry dock No. at Brooklyn, to remain with the party for at least five weeks. The commission points out that this is most important in order to continue the work, as MT. Menocal's s presence is necessary. It is asserted that British influence has been thrown against the canal project by the direc- tors of the London Bank of Central America, because of a difference be- tween the bank and Government, grow ing out of the contract. Congress has declared as illegal the change of name of the bank in Nicaragua to the Lon don Bank of Central America
 The Herald's correspondence from Greytown, Nicaragua, dated January f. says: The work of the canal com mission is proceeding slowly. The party to be disbursed and provisioned and assigned to various features of the work and stations on the canal line is far larger than that of any previous commission. This part of the work has been accomplished, however, and the delay of the present and past few days has been caused principally by conditions of the weather. The New port has forty laborers obtained at Port Iin1On As landed by means of a surf tug the commission will procure a steamer and begin its journey to points up the river, distributing laborerS along the canal route, where they are much needed for the purpose of clearing the line that the Photographic and topographic work may be expedited.
 Ruined machinery near the mouth of the canal still lies where the last commission found it. Big Panama dredges lie in the water looking fully their age. The canal opening is in very good condition. The width has been maintained and the banks show nothing but stability. The rainfall has been almost incessant, and this coupled with the rise of the San Juan put Grey town nearly under water for a few days. Parties in camps have been having wet work, with the exception of those whieh are working on the line of the canal between Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific. They sleep under matched roofs in the camps, construct ed by laborers. Many of the parties are miles from each other, and some are In places where life is not very pleasant. One engineer, for instance. Is in a spot where he can be reached only by boat, attended only by a cook and laborer. Eleven parties will secure a vast amount of data in the way of gauging of streams and rivers. observations of rainfall, borings, etc, and their findings added to the data of the canal company will give the commission material for a more satis- factory report on the feasibility and practicability of the canal than has ever been made. A satisfactory re- port as to the proposed works leading up to. the summit level of the canal can only be made by having complete data as to action of all waters. and by which missing material will be ob- tained. Unless all signs fail the com mission will have this.