The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-02

activity. ana that. the engineering difficulties hav
lug peen removed, 1t Will become the eastern ter
minus OF the great lnteroceanlc canal
And here may orleny present the main points OF
THE NICARAGUA ROUTE.
as surveyed by Commander Lu, and whose recent
report TO the Navy Department clearly set forth
the resuls OF his Efforts and OF those under ms
command. As the commissioners have vet 10
e examine the Atrato route surveyed by COMMANDER
Selirdge, II would be inyidions at TINS time 10 an
ticipate their conclusions The work OF surveying
the Nicaragua route was divided into three
parts-Testern. middle or lake. and eastern-tne
first extending from Lake Nicaragua TO the faciuc,
the second comprising the lake navigation ana the
third that portion east OF the lake.
THE PROPOSED CANAL ROUTE.
As fs generally known. Lake Nicaragua lies In the
southwest part or the State Is about 100 mics long
and rom tnirty-nve TO forty i've miles wide. II
It's waters through the river san Juan,
which, leaving the lake It's southeast extremity,
fiows IN east and southeast course INTO the Car
nDean the o9rdlera Is s asaea "a ,ae aofehesn
sends Its numerous spurs 70 the coast
and to the banks OF The san Juan while the other,
passing to the westward OF the lake, sinks In some
places Into mere range OF hills. II may be noted
that The bulk OF the population and wealth Of the
country Is in the department bordering upon the
THE SAN JUAN RIVER
Is about 100 miles IN length, the greater portion OF
season TO which l shall have occasion to refer
During the survey last year Commander Lull's
pa anyo examined os mn ma pass leading from ap. the
the narbor OF brito. This line had been surveyed
by Colonel Chlds over thirty years ago, and the
results obtained by HIM were almost the same as
those established by the expedition and were con-
sidered very favorable. A reconnaissance was sub
sequently made ron the mouth OF a small stream,
THE RIO DEL MEDIO
emprying into the lake three miles north OF the
Lagas and connecting vita the line previously sur
OF high lake, II continued, would intersect the
Pacific slope. The total distance rom the shore OF
tae AXE TO Hae end q the tide lock a. the entrance
over sixteen miles. It's highest point Is lS4 ieet
above mean high lake. The engineers report
the line for deposlttng the materials result
Ing from the excavations, the simplicity or
construction. the easy curves when ..s nt tne
length inclined the expedition to favor this route.
Ten locks OF a fraction over ten feet lift, 400 ieet
long and 10 ieet wide each are proposed to over
come the difference OF level-about 1903 teet-be-
tween high water at Brito and mean high lake and
TIDE lock 81 nine ieet lit at tue entrance OF tue
toned, consists OF the navigation across the lake,
distance OF about So miles nom tue mouths OF
the rivers Lagas and Del Medic, TO san Carlos
at the origin OF the san Juan River, the great
outlet OF the lake. The eastern division, which
extends from san Carlos to the harbor OF Grey
town. is about los miles in length OF winch, 1t Is
claimed 90 miles are in SLACK water navigation,
ana Asa miles OF inland canal. IL is proposed to
at Castillo, Bales, the third at the loot OF Machnca
kaplds and the fourth about a mile below
canals round these DAMS with a lock OF ten feet
lift in each. Thus 1t Is proposed by an artificial
channel to divert the river ST. Carlos, which, ike
the Serapiqu., another tributary OF the san Juan,
brings from the highlands across the lake an im-
mense amount OF silt, which IS constantly hlng
the san Juan. Belo the San Carlos River, the
San Juan wldenS considerably as IL approaches
the Colorado, and its channel is constantly
changing on account OF freshets nom It's trbu-
taries. AS the control OF Its regimen by means OF
dams Is involved In some doubt, 1t Is proposed to
take
THE CANAL
from the river about 1900 leet above the fourth
dam, and located with an extension Of fourteen
miles to Greytown Thirty-six miles are to be IN
naming six miles across low hills and
short spurs OF moderate elevation, project
70 e
oil the water In the canal Tor the total distance or
Tour and half miles OF inland canal IN this
Ten locks OF the same dimensions as those pro-
posed IN the western division are here designed
to overcome the difference OF level between the
lake and the mean high tide OF GreytOwn. 1t Is
estimated that the supply OF water from the lake
Will be fourteen times the amount necessary for
the use OF the proposed canal. II is thought that
an artificial harbor can be MADE at Brit0 by means
OIL Dreakwater and dredging. As to the harbor
OF Greytown. 1t is proposed to restore 1t to its
1ormer condition, either by bringing the San
Juan River back into the harbor or by turning 1t
on altogether by the Colorado River, builalng a
breakwater and dredging the present harbor. By
the RIO del Medic line, Isl miles in length,
THE ENTIRE COST OF CONSTRUCTION.
Is esti,nateS At seI aoi p al have omitIea manx
OF the details OF this route, but the foregoing viii
give some idea OF the work entrusted to the Com
mssoners. They viii examine the more minute
points OF the survey and decide to the engi-
Deering points touching the great issues involved
Whatever may be the result or their labors
whether their report Will serve to settle the Ques-
ton involved or OF inducing Congress to take
some action in the matter, there is every reason
to believe that the work entrusted to the Com.
missloners VIII be iearlessly and impartially per-
formed.
LOCATION.
At this writing they are at Colorado with
Commander Lull, having left GreytOwn two days
ago. will probably overtake them by tomorrow,
when, II the opportunity offers, will endeavOr to
in orm you more fully OF the proceedings now TAX
ing place. Commander Sellrldge is expected at
Aspinwall on the 25th inst, when, the Nicar aguan
survey having been examined, the Commissioners
Will examine the Atrato route.