Year: 1879

| -
public who made the demand through NJ. de Lesseps
| to have canal nireau should not desert him SO
| cruelty he has met them fully half way i'll reduc-
ing the cost of construction one-halt, as given by
the Congress- aud is still further shortening the time
for construction OF tho work given in his pro-
yinciai tours. beyond that assigned by him in the
! commission the Goth. AS shown in the appendix.
do not propose to discuss tha terms OF the con-
cesson fully found on page 2sl OF the report of
Lieutenant Wyse. Will point out some features
| that TO me Objectionable in the extreme.
The canal company agrees TO transport. gratui-
tously all persons in the civil and military service of
| Colombia. their baggage. arms and ammunition.
| and II the company is not provided with vessels
suitable for their transportation to pay their pas
sages. and for the transportation of armaments and
| The government of Colombia is to receive semi
annually five per cent OF the gross receipts OF the
Tor the second twenty-five years. per cent
tho third twenty 1--we years AMI for tho remaining
o ss psr hs S ens
| ernment. "ftr
the benefit Of the founders and aiders
| of the enterprise"


| Tho only hope for . stockholder would to be
in extraordinary impost OF ten francs per cubic
metre not ON the gross tonnage weight or the
sci and cargo. but upon the cubical contents of
| and draueht of the vessel! Lieutenant Wyso sup
posed that this measurement might amount to thirty
francs per ton, which. If imposed on ordinary car
goes ut ordinary prices as wheat. would make voy.
age from San Francisco around Cape horn preferable


Looking ut the terms of the "concession. as it 10
called. and the whole matter from beginning to end.
the wonder is that the subscriptions large
| rather than that they insufficient for the
| purpose OF constructing canal
When Lieutenant wyse was before Q commission
in the Congress lie was questioned as to the Panama
Railroad and its franchises and replied that he had
made satisfactory cement by which the canal
! further explanation as to the arrangement.
So far, in general. have been regarding the
poets of tho tsroceanic canal question from other
points OF view than own. with occasional objec-
| tions remarks thereon, Let now look ut the
| question from our point of view.


fha adj i0Ilr n fla mad
| to me that its high authority and that OF M. de
Lesseps, who does not in the interview overstats
the confidence with which he has been regarded in
France, would deprive many peasants of their hard
| earnings-what kind angel protected them Heaven
| men concerned, the decision OF the Congress
did not seem to me likely to intiict injury other
| than delay and an uncertainty to the time of
| commencement OF q great work.


In my report to the Secretary Of State. which
| many OF you have doubtless read, made the fol-
| lowing deductions relating to the Congress:-


That personal interests, arising from concession
for the construction OF canal are unfavorable to
relative consideration Of natural advantages US be-
| tween two more routes; that such personal in
terests aid exist was quite apparent from first to
| last, and concession" frequently partially
discussed or alluded to. especially III the committees
| or sub-committees.


That the discussion in Paris has shown that here
after in the examination OF the question only the
Nicaragua and Panama routes need critical examine
tion and that sufficient information exists as to all


That the canal d niveau by the Isthmus of Panama,
either with or without tunnel. has been shown to





mercia question.


That general and special knowledge now exists
among European engineers relative to the subject of
| q ship canal across the American continent which
did exist prior to the assemblage OF the Congress
| in Paris.


| In view Of actualities it seems proper that the
government the United States should consider the
determined. Notwithstanding the report OF its COM
mission on the subject, which has received accep-
by the people OF the United States and by our
able civil engineers inasmuch as 1t has not received
| criticism.


| Should this be regarded advisable it would
seem necessary to form q commission Of the ablest
engineers Of army and to invite the ablest civil
engineers of country. and we'll invite all the
| governments who represented at the Congress
IN Paris send their engineers, all to join in full
discussion, and having equal powers. with the Wow
OF remoxmg IRON al as t OF
tion of the construction of ship cahal this
continent capable OF fulfilling the demands Of the
worlds commerce under the most economic con-
ditions.


have learned that the suggestion as to a commits
sion was maturely considered by our government.
and regarded unnecessary. i'll view of sup
posed unanimty Of the people of the United States
| in favor OF the Nicaragua route.


It seems to me. however. that this fact. which
think undoubted, does not do away with the great
abest engineers. especially il. after close study Of
the Nicarauga and Panama routes as presented by
the they should visit both localities for the
purpose OF verifying any part OF the work desired.
and OF tho existence nonexisence OF material for
construction. aud the methods which could best be
employed in the execution OF the work. This done,
tar as human action can go. the question will be
presented with the least possible condition OF error
| the locality where the canal should be made,
| whether o canal should be made ut ALL


When /. seemed to mo that our government
was not disposed to call commission. wrote:
at the suggestion Of gentleman Of position aud
influence. to Sir John Hawkshaw, presenting
the advantage that the subject would derive
and Panama routes. either by him or some able
engineer appointed by the Society of Civil En-
gineers Of Great Britain, accompanied by another
appointed by the Society of Civil Engineers OF
France. and also another by society, If
weitzel. United States Engineers. any other
petent officer who had large experience in hydraulic
works. As yet have received no reply.


The public is of the Willingness of General
Grant to assist in this great work under such cond-
cession as would enable it to be visor
ousy and effectively. He has given the subject his
careful attention for years; IL well satisfied as to
tho route which possesses certainty Of realization
by development; he appreciates fully the great i'm
portance OF the construction of tho ship canal for
the commerce of the world. and especially for the
full development Of our west coast.


1t gratifying to observe that there ISL universal
expression OF opinion 20 the advantage which the
construction OF the canal would derive from having
General Grant at Its head The expression is
imous that it would insure economical. intelli-
gent and vigorous prosecution of the work. ana its
completion within the shortest tiine and that IT
would have all OF the conditions OF practical utility
and permanency that could be secured.


Recent information from the most reliable
sources gives the assurance that the intelligent
people aud government OF Nicaragua are in entire
accord with this movement. and, instead Of mbar-
RAISING the question with impossible conditions.
Will 90 al III power 10 tne SEcbt


To sum up the whole matter. we may well desire
that our countrymen should know what canal route
will best serve the commerce OF the world in which
our countrymen largely Interested. This IL
cminently question for the ablcst engineers to
pronounce upon Exact information will be pre-
sented in prepared form by Civil Engineer Menocal.
United States Navy. for discussion by the Society OF
Civil Engineers OF the United States. showing tho
quantity of work that will be found necessary on
the Panama route ut tho level and also by way
of Nicaragua with loctage of lo7 feet above tho
ocean level. 1t is really not question of what
may desire, but actually only of what
nature, whose forces ceaseless and tire
less will permit. To enter into iladvsed struggle
with them Is to DO defeated in the end at whatever
cost continued effort. The labor and expense OF
constructing ship canal. under the most favorable
conditions granted by nature, will be great but tho
result attained will be- the grandest that man is
capable achieving for the convenience and extern
sion OF the commerce OF the world.


Through this discussion We may hope that all the
advantages well the difficulties. positive aud
relative. those routes, will be fairly developed