The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1835.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3425, 19 September 1885, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1835.

Foil some time past we have had none of tbe horrifying stories from America with which we used to be favored regarding the wholesale ravages of disease among tbe laborers engaged m making the Panama Canal, the stupendous difficulties of the undertaking, and generally the utter hopelessness of expecting that it will ever be carried to a conclusion. Perhaps the Yankees are getting tired of reiterating a tbvice-told tale, or it may be that they now realise the mere fact of decrying the work will not prevent it from being carried out. The annual meeting of the shareholders m tbe Company was held m Paris on the 27th July, and a report was presented which put a very different complexion on the affair from tbat with which we have been favored by the ingenious American writers and engineers. It is admitted that there have been losses both of life and money, but the latter, it is said, have not been serious, aud the mortality among the laborers has been less than might have beeu reckoned upon considering the character of the climate during part of the year, and the large number of meu employed. M. de Lesseps intends carrying out his original plan, and is still m the highest degree sanguine of success. That plan is to dig a canal from Colon, on the Atlantic, to Panama, on the Pacific. 3H feet deeper tban the average height of the water m the two oceans, and 71-J feet broad at the bottom. It is to be an open cutting throughout its entire length. One of the difficulties m connection with the work is that at Panama the tide rises and falls 27 feet, whilst m the Atlantic the difference between high and low water is only 9 inches. To deal with this problem, a loci is to be constructed at Panama, aud m the middle of the canal a long siding will be provided. Part of tbe scheme involves tbe complete diversion of a river — the Chagres — which is to be turned into anothei conrse at La Gamboa by means of an immense dam. More than 20.00 C laborers are engaged m the work, and so rapidly is it progressing that M. de Lesßeps is confident that at the very latest the canal will be open for traffic on the first day of 1888. As to the sinister prophecies which have Wen indulged m, the bold engineer declares that they are nothing compared with the croakings to which he had to listen m regard to the Suez Canal, and'he assures shareholders who may be growing a little timid that they will yet see their 000 franc shares eagerly bought up at 2200. The canal will not only be successful, he asserts, but even more successful than the Suez Canal. The cost ia estimated at twentyeight millions sterling, and one of the proposals for raising funds is a lottery loan amounting to 2± millions. The shareholders appear to have been greatly cheered by the statements made by tbe great projector of whom Frenchmen have so much reason to feel prond, and they adopted the report amid considerable enthusiasm. It was also unanimously resolved to apply to the French Government for permission to issue tbe lottery loan. We m New Zealand have the strongest reasons for most heartily wishing the canal every success. It will at least be as important to us as the Suez Canul has been to Australia, and cannot fail to have a wonderful influence m stimulating our trade.