Year: 1879

as nearly possible any expense that might occur
in it's construction rt-


"Do you think 1t feasible to make tunnel the
size You proposeY


..To have attempted a tunnel of that magnitude
twenty-five thirty years ago, with the ordinary
old style of hand drilling then in use would indeed
have been very tedious aud expensive work; but
in these days OF steam drills, compressed air ma
chinery. improved explosives. electric light and
other appliances which will be brought into use
do not think it at all difficult and believe the work
be done for the sum which have given you.
The tunnel can be worked at both ends and also
from shafts. about two and one-half miles apart.
which practically would give three tunnels OF not
over two and onehalf miles long EACH and thus It
could be completed in short space of time
for the sum before mentioned. The heading which
have assumed Is nearly as large single track
railroad tunnel. and the part remaining below can
be worked in terraces with several breasts. having
tramways to carry oil the material at the ends. In
my opinion the cost of this would not be greater
than il in an open cutting at the same depth. In
fact. the tnnne would serve as protection 70 the
length Of the tunnel would say that longer ones
already in operation. viz. :---St. Gothard. 10h
miles long; Mont Cenis 794 miles. and Marseilles,


..How DO you explain the difference between your
estimated cost of the San Bias Canal and that given
by the Paris Congress.


.'They doubtless estimated for q canal. including
the tunnel wide enough for two ships to pass each
other. Now, as this route is so very short that is
needed, far as the tunnel is concerned not
more than ten hours would be required to pass a
vessel from ocean to ocean, and not more than two
hours to pass through the tunnel Therefore it
would seem an unnecessary expense to provide for
more than the passage OF one ship at time on this
distance of seven miles. Now, to compare the time
in transit with that of the Nicaragua route. There
would be on that line distance OF lS1 miles and
twenty locks WHICH together with the short levels.
would consume over five days in time from either
ocean to the other


.sDo You think additional surveys should be made
before deciding the question Of which is the best
routoY


f II think in view of the San Bias route having
goou natural harbors, and the only practicable sea
level route, and being much shorter than any
other proposed it is Of the highest Importance that
the entire route should be most thoroughly and
exhaustively examined by corps of able army en-
gineers, under direction of the War Department.
by means OF TINS desired goverhmMensai M survey =
might be found. and the length OF tunnel materially
reduced. You must remember that our instruc-
tions from Mr.. Kelley confined us to one single line
between the two oceans, leaving us no option to
make transverse surveys by which lower and
spent nearly thirty years and in striving
find feasible route without locks, between the two
oceans and tho sacrifices that he has made to this
end have been greater than the combined Efforts Of
private enterprises in this country and Europe, and
hence he most thoroughly understands the subject.
He is decidedly in favor OF the San Bias route over
all others


''Does De Lesseps prefer level routey'


"Certainly.' He is in favor Of the Panama route;
but there the Chagres River. which rises and falls
from fifteen to fifty feet in night. You can per-
haps imagine the effect on a canal


How do the naval officers feel about it?"


"What nonsense 1t is to expect naval officers to
know anything about canal They built q
mile OF canal, and arc absolutely ignorant Of the
necessities Of the case. None but practical civil
engineer practically handle q work Of that
kind


Have you any sympathy with the adverse criti-
csm made on the integrity Of the Paris CongressY'


mot tho least. Menocal and Admiral Ammen
went there hoping to capture De Lesseps, his money
and the Congress in the interest of the Nicaragua
route. Had they succeeded, there would have been
no complaint OF unfairness. They failed hence they
growl confess that think the Congress, whose
head clear on the point of level route, was
wrong when it pronounced in favor of Panama, but
you must not forget that De Lesseps who genius,
and who has accomplished wonders for the COM
merce OF the globe has yet to personally examine
that route, and he may be able to suggest plans to
overcome its difficulties If not believe tho weight
will Ee in favor Of the San Bias route, which is but
thirty miles in length from ocean to ocean, and
the level"