The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-19

hauling and modern additions, can be
utilized in prosecuting the undertaking.
The only objection to what the French
have done at that point Is an engineering
one-the slopes are somewhat too precipi-
tate to Justify belief In the absolute Sc
cvurity OF the work when It shali 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 Mind
and Gntun Rivers. The latter Is of little
a ccount In it's present condition, for 1t
runs through such low land that IT has
hecn Almost entirely filled with silt, and
will haye TO be almost wholly re-dredged.
rho limo OF 1t exists, however, flowing
from point near the confluence OF the
Gatun aud the canal proper to the Bay OF
Manzanilla, between the site OF Colon
and tho mainland. and, under American
direction, the dredges can quickly make
It efficiently servlceable, The railroad
fsedcr Is, however,, Of the first impor-
ttancc.
THE RAILWAY FEEDER.
The grant Of the canal concession to
Iyyse raised a conflict with tho railway
franchise, for It overlnpped the railroads
IN onOpOly OF Siooo Wv AosAAAHHNS'
Ono OF De Lesseps' first acts was TO
reconcile that conflict by buying for the
Fronch Canal Company a majority OF the
stock OF the railroad company.
This gives to those who may acquire
the cana! rights possession Of this rail-
road with It's docks and terminals At
either side OF the Isthmus, ROLLING stock
and all tho facilities for delivering wher'
ever headed all tho implements, machine
ry and supplies needed for canal construc-
+ ton purposes. The railroad practically
parallels the entire route OF the cannl,
and from It, into each section 2t the
canal where tlr,re Is surface excavations,
run spurs. The rails on these spurs have
rusted and worn until they Will all
have to be relaid. as will the cross-ties;
hut the roadbed Ia In q fair state OF
preservation, so that with correction
OF that deterioration which time has
caused steam sliovels can 50 INTO the
various cuttings and begin With little
de,ry tho real task OF constructing the
canal.
nary work done by the French the fact
that tbs line is dotted with hundreds OF
houses which, after drsinfectIoM and tho
introduction of sanitary conditions ana
regulations, can be used to shelter tho
canal Iaborers; that there arc on the
ground immense stores Of machinery
that can be turned to account, 1t VIII
be seen that the French, With all their
thievgng and general rascallty, did
work of paramount Importance, This
work, even though 1t is but. one-hfth
OF the Whoa is of a character too ms
portant to be lightly regarded In n'easurr.
ing the relative merits Of the Panama
and Nicaragua routes, ~ Nicaragua.
there is not in existence one Item OF
what T have detailed as existing at Pan,
ana. III Nicaragua wa should have TO-
begin Just where the French began on
the Isthmus more than q score Of years
ago. All of that enormous task OF clear
ing the Jungle md removing the oyerr
laying mold of decayed yegetatlon-at
cost OF countless lives-rwhich ths French
hayo already done here, We should have
to do Ia Nicaragua, Beside this We
should have to build at Nicaragua the
railway feeder; safe harbors at either,
md, and deliver to the work every foot
and every pound az timber, supplies and
machinery needed
COST OFFSETS GAIN
a It Is true that we nre to pay the M ~
Panama Company, present oWnars oga the
Concession here, Mo, 90 900 ia hardl cash
Tor X TIN franchise, ana " ~. add tse1pls