The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-19
Work ON Panama Canal; What Has
Been Done BY the French Engineers

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE)
point near the confluence of the Catun and
the canal proper TO the Bay OF Msnzanilla,
between the site OF Colon and the mainland,
and. under American direction the dredges
can quickly make 10 efficiently serviceable.
The railroad feeder is, however, of the hrst
Importance.
THE RAILWAY FEEDER.
The grant Of the canal concession 10
Wyse raised a conflict with the railway
franchise. for it overlapped the railroads
monopoly Of transit across the isthmus.
One Of De Desseps's first acts was 10 recon-
Gle that conflict by buying for the French
Canal Company a majority Of the stock OF
the railroad company.
This gives to those who may acquire the
canal rights possession Of this railroad,
with its docks and terminals at either side
or the isthmus, rolling stock and all the
1aclnties for delivering wherever needed
all the Implements, machinery and supplies
needed for canal construction purposes. The
railroad practically parallels the entire
route or the canal, and from IL, into each
section Of the canal, where there is surface
excavations, run spurs. The rails on these
spurs have rusted and worn until they will
have 10 be relaid will the crOssties; out
the roadbed is in fair state OF preServa-
ton, so that with a correction of that de-
terioration which time has caused, steam
and begin with little delay the real task of
constructing the canal
Adding To these details of the preliminary
work done by the French the fact that the
line Is dotted with hundreds Of houses
which, after disinfection and the introduce
ton OF sanitary conditions and regulations,
can De used 10 shelter the canal labOrers;
that there are the ground immense
stores Of machinery that can be turned TO
account, it will be seen that the French,
with all their thieving and general ras-
cality. did 2 work OF paramount Importance.
This work, even though IL is but One-fifth
Oh the "hOls, Is OF a character too impor-
tant 10 be lightly regarded in measuring
the relative merits of the Panama and
Nicaragua routes. In Nicaragua there is
not in existence one item Of what / have
detailed as existing at Panama. In Mica
ragua we should have to begin just where
the French began on the sthmus more
nous task OF clearing the jungle and re-
moving the OVERLAPPING mold Of decayed
vegetation-at cost of countless lives
which the French have already done here
We should have 10 do in Nicaragua. Be-
side this We should have to build at Mica
ragua the railway feeder: safe haFbors at
either end and deliver to the work every
foot and every pound of timber supplies
and machinery needed
COST OFFSETS GAIN.
1t Is true that are to pay the New
Panama Company, present owners Of the
4 concession here. 100000 in hard cash for
the franchise. and additional $4,000, 600
10 the republic of Panama for the transfer
to the United States Of the concession, but
that $5O.COO.OOO is a fair estimate Of the
value of what We shall secure is most am
ply attested. The amount 10 be paid to the
French concern is the amount fixed by the
Walker commission In return for it we
shall secure, beside the French rights on
the isthmus, a canal one-ffth completed
that One-ffth representing the most deadly
or al the work TO be done: revenue-pro-
duclng railroad, and an almost inestimable
amount OF machinery. The latter we get
practically without payment, for the
Walker commission refused 10 accord il any
value, holding that 1t will cost as much TO
overhaul, mOdernizs and make il service
able as il is worth.
The item Of machinery the ground is
not a small one, however. and we shall
probably discover before we are through
with the job Of making it serviceable that
in getting IL for the expense of overhaulfng
we have driven good bargain with the
French owners. That part Of this machin-
cry which now lies in the water OF tn ~
cavated portion or the sea-leveI sections of
the canal will doubtless prove utterly val
Geless- 1t has lain IN its present position
for fourteen years, settling slowly in the
silt that has filled these portions of the
proposed waterway. Tusting and rotting
until 10 repair IL would be almost impos-
slble. OF thIs machinery there are lining
the canal on either side of the isthmus
countless dredges, monster machines that
originally cost hundreds of thousands of
dollars each; steam, acknowledging scows
that came from the yards of their builders
under their own power; steam launches and
inspection and Darrack boats, many of
which nave neeu sunk 10 preserve them.
In their day these vessels composed as fine
and perfect a floating equipment as could
be prOcured-certainly there was more Of il
than could possibly have been required had
the French plans been wholly Intelligent
and the management entirely honest.
OF other machinery there is an infinite
variety From Colon to Panama the land
IS literally encountered with il; the railroad
runs through an avenue of frame and cor
rugated iron magazines where it is stored
on Cristobal Colon Point there are millions
of tons Of II that have never been taken
from the crates and packing cases; along