New-York tribune., 1902-02-17
CARNEGIE FAVORS PANAMA
HIS LETTERS TO SENATOR PLATT, AND
SENATOR HARRIS'S REPLY.

ten a letter to Senator PIatt Of New-York point
ing out the disadvantages Of the Nicaragua plan
IoT canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific and
a-VocatInS the adoption of the Panama route
senator Harris, Of Kansas. in a letter to Senator
F'att' replied TO Mr.. Carnegies criticisms. Both
senators are members Of the Committee on Inter
oceanic Canals. The letters are subjoined:
s.-.- New-York. January I3, 1902.
senator T 9. Piatt. WASHINGTON. d. {.
Ny Dear Senator. The senior Senator from New
IIork should have a commanding voice in regard TO
Ne lsthmlan canal subscribed $4,000 TO test the
NIcaIagua scheme, but General Ludows 4eport
Sa,ls1ed me that il was not 70 be thought OF as
ay ey59Gaf5e undertaking think that have read
49, Il-ISdt report published since then. and all
goegl it will cost &iO5O0o0o0 ana will not be a
1910 feet radius the Manchester Canal has nothing
~ oVn Ieet, ana yet tugs are required fore and
an uI every vessel that tries to around these
L understand that Senator Morgan and South
shorter than the Panama but in this think them
Fls'ahen ms The commission gives thirty three hours
tbroa sh9 Pass4ge this means daylight 91ly.realy
through night
May suggest to you that it would be well to call
TC'e s} .1e committee the members OF the coInmls-
rr sIU dHa cross-examine them about their prefer
There is another point which you. as represent
i5 u9 d great c9mmercial city, think should con
% g aPP22nfsd to report upon the tTae @ tri6usgX
so much during the last years that the best in
formed believe that instead of 100000 tons Of
that. Railroads will reduce their rates TO a very
low point when it becomes question of taking ad-
obtain much trafic as expected 1t will of course
have good effect by reducing rates; but the Pana-
ma costing S13ooOcO per year less to work becomes
/ The commission estimates the increased cost Of
! operating the Nicaraguan Canal at only 81 5000
| operating but what of maintenance? This is far
more important point and the longer distance OF
placement and repairs and liability 10 disaster
| As you know. have had considerable experience
in navigating canals in handling our ore shipments,
Morgan and his Te2ds % F Of the south s Well as tRe
/ SSorth, t3at Jhey VIII be more oenented oy the
/ I am sure Senator that this is matter which
/ deserves a great deal more consideration than has
/ within reach I beg YOU to exert your influence to
have the question thrashed out before the commit
With the greetings Of the season. very truly
yours ANDF'E" OAFNEN 1oIIE'
Senator Harris replied follows:
United States Senate
Washington February u, 1902
HS Nv Dear @ enaoT United RseSns sa5ss 10 Be letter of
Carnegie 10 you. dated January l3 last. would say
a tPS fe na dGe @ bS the @ tse
PraetiSa ,, cGnt[qctors haye examined the uni unit
they entirely high. that the cost of the
% tFan over The Manchester canal has Curves
little under 2,0O0 feet. with bottom width con-
56 9eTs re are no S that t are % not S %
increased proportionateIy to the reduction OF
radius The members Of the com, commission miss. STATE 5
OF the Curves With their own steam Sailing YES
/ across the seventy miles OH lake
/ The commission's estimate OF thirty-three hours
means eQngGGs % PaTSsgg and il .65 5 that the
gable night There difficulties IN the
way whatever Of this being done
tee the members Of the Canal Commission Is now
The matter Of traffic tributary to the canal has
been the subject Of a great deal ~ investigation
dreo@tidn @ Vt" Professor Emory Johns Of the m com tt
mission had that matter especially In charge; and
available. the completion Of the canal from
The fsures given. which Mr. carnegie quotes for
operating IN each case are expressly stated by the
and that point the cost Of the harbors. with their
siderabiS 1 % greater ' tRan at Gre reyto%n and Brito
\ short time ago Mr.. Carnegie was quoted as
ment should construct any canal; that double
is, 70 say the least. singular coincidence that
one er or 80 vsSn has IS n5ndssS tb
canal idea entirely is now advocating the Panama
route. To nv mind the advantages which Near
First-A shorter total voyage and a gain in time
America which IS less than . per cent Of the total
second Cand most important--Along the Nicaragua
route the work Is al we'll distributed and easily
and the auxiliary works, including the locks involve
says no engineer VIII undertake in advance TO say
adjacent works viii cost more Than four times as
much, if ever successfully built by the commission
estimates, as any corresponding feature the
The great cut at Culebra is nearly four times as
great anything on the other route and. from It's
character and partial history. is a problem OF the
first magnitude. Besides these physical objections
there are legal hnancal and diplomatic difficulties
years and years or delay and international com
plicatOnS that believe will forever prevent the
/ government of the United States from
meucing the work of construction, If It should
desire 10
| think my dear Senator that YOU having taken
an active and constant interest I'm the work the
| committee, viii recognize the facts that / have
". A HARRIS.
The second letter Of Mr.. Carnegie to Senator
Platt follows
New-York February II, 1902.
Senator T. {. Platt, Washington. d. &.
Ny Dear Senator: 1 have no objection to the
publication of the letters. There is statement
Of fact. however in Mr.. Harris's which might
be noticed. There is one curve on the Manchester
and over Tugs required for big ships for the
latter and would be required likewise the Mica
ragua Canal But the time Is passed for dis
cussing various points Of difference between the
against the other. and the judgment of the engi-
neers should be taken by all laymeu the only
guide. I reached their conclusion years when
I read General Ludlow's report though I had $1,000
in the Panama. / have other desire than 20
obtain for the country the best canal at the least
cost. and especially that which involves the least
possibility OF disappointment in construction
He would be a bold who voted for the
Nicaragua Canal against the judgment Of those
especially qualified TO form opinion, and who
have personally investigated the subject none
ANDREW CARNEGIE.
ONE MURDER; THIRTEEN GUILTY.