The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-20

now the range is pierced with a gigantic cut more than 200 feet deep, bringing the altitude on the bottom of the work down to less than 163 feet, and leaving only about 100 feet still to be excavated This has been the work of more than a score of years, for 1t has progressed almost without Interruption during the trials and tribulations of the French companies. More than 43,0O0000 cubic meters of earth remain to be taken out before the Culebra cut can be said to be complete; but this gigantic undertaking is slmplified by the fact that the French have at culebra a plant-steam exeavators dumping cars, locomotives and trackage--which, with careful overhauling and modern additions, can be utilized in prosecuting the un- dertaking. The only objection to what the French have done at that point Is an engineering one-the slopes are somewhat tco precipitate to justify belief in the absolute security of the work when 1t shall have been completed.
 The other great preliminary task per- formed by the French companies was in providing a railway feeder for the entire canal work, and in actually constructing the canals to divert the flow of the Mindi and Gatun rivers. The latter is of lit- tie account in its present condition, for it runs through such low land that 1t has been almost entirely filled with silt and will have to be almost wholly re- dredged. The line of it exists, however, flowing from a point near the confluence of the Gatun and the canal proper to the Bay of Manzailla, between the site of Colon and the mainland. and. under American direction. the dredges can quickly make 1t efficiently serviceable. The railroad feeder is, however, of the first importance.
 The Railway Feeder.
 The grant of the canal concession to Wyse raised conflict with the railway franchise, for it overlapped the railroads monopoly of transit across the isthmus. One of De Lesseps' first acts was to re- concile that conflict by buying for the French Canal Company a majority of the stock of the railroad company.
 Fms gives to those who may acquire the canal rights possession of this rail- road, with its docks and terminals at either side of the isthmus. rolling stock and all the facilities for delivering wher- ever needed, all the implements, machin- cry and supplies needed for canal con struction purposes. The railroad prac- tically parallels the entire route of the canal, and from it. into each section of the canal where there Is surface exca- vations, run spurs. The rails on these
 
 will all have to be relaid, as will the crossties; but the roadbed is in a fair state of preservation. so that with a cor rection of that deterioration which time has caused steam shovels can go into the various cuttings and begin with It. tie delay the real task of constructing the canal.
 Adding to these details of the prelimi- nary work done by the French the fact that the line Is dotted with hundreds of houses which, after disinfection and the introduction of sanitary conditions and regulations, can be used to shelter the canal laborers; that there are on 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 rascality. did a work of par amount importance, This work. even though it is but One-ffth of the whole, iS of a character too important to be lightly regarded in measuring the rela- tive merits of the Panama and Nicara- qua routes. In Nicaragua there is not in existence one item of what I have de- tailed as existing at Panama. In Nica- ragua we should have to begin just where the French began on the isthrnus more than a score of years ago. All of that enormous task of clearing the jungle and removing the overlaying mold or uecayed vegetation at cost of count less lives-which the French have af- ready done here we should have to do in Nicaragua. Beside this we should have to build at Nicaragua the railway feeder; safe harbors at either end, and deliver to the work every foot and every pound of timber, supplies and machinery needed.
 Cost Offsets Gain.
 It is true that we are to pay the New Panama Company, present owners of the concession here, $4O000,OOO in hard cash for the franchise, and an additional slO,- 00000O to the Republic of Panama for the transfer to the United States of the concession; but that s50.0O0.OOO is a fair estimate of the value of what we shall secure is most amply attested The amount to be paid to the French concern is the amount fixed by the Walker Com mission. In return for It we shall secure. beside the French rights on the isth-