New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-27
WASHINGTON.
A CANAL ACROSS THE IsTHMUs.

A CANAL ACROSS THE ISTHMUS.
DpvsrDrNT's COMMISSION FAVOR THE MICA
pIGuA RoUTE-EsTIMATED COST OF $1OO,OoO-
oo0-A CORRESPONDENCE WITH FOREIGN POW
YRs-FAvoRABLE REPIIKs.
lBr TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRIBuNl
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-The President some
..onths AGO appointed commission to examine the
.veral reports of surveys which have been made at
.ha expense of the United States to ascertain the
Ur.cticabity of an interoceanic canal across the
ygtbmus This commission having completed Its
-sorl has made the following report to the Presi-
dent:
~ Ae President Of the United States The Commission
M the United States appointed by you TO consider the
,niec Of communication by canal between the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans, across over, or near the isthmus
connecting North and South America, have the honor In
avanee of their more elaborate and final report con-
,une the data for their conclusions, after careful ana
minute study Of the several surveys OF the various
rou,es across the continent unanimously to report;
First: That the route known as the Ncaragnan ronte'
begnnng on the Atlantic side at or near Greytown run
IT, nv canal TO the San Juan River, following 1t by
ack water navigation TO Lake Nicaragua, across the
lake to the Rio del Medic and thence by canal TO the ko
del ro in the Pacific coast possesses both for the con-
truction and maintenance of canal great ADVANTAGES
and offers fewer difficulties from engineering CONNER
aI and economic points of view than any one OF the
routes shown 10 DC piaCdChpio w oui'NJ 'Ni'
eently in detail to enable judgment to be formed oil
their relative merits
Second The summit level Of thsr route Lake Nicaragua
r. designed to be kept permanent hight OF lOS rect
above the level of the This hight is to be overcome
in the Atlantic slope with four dams in the San Juan
River and ten lift locks and in the Pacific slope Wl'h tcn
lift locks The total distance from the Grey town END 10
that AT Btc ia 1s1 miles, OF this distance the At
lanc slope division from Greytown to San carlos AT
Lake Nicaragua comprises 1Os5lO miles, OF which 6S
miles are by slack water navigation ana 1920 mics oy
canal The summit level division comprises 56olo miles
nv Lake Nicaragua San Carlos, at the head OF the
San JUAN TO the Rio del Medic. The Pacific slope V-
sion COMPRISES 16ssoo miles by canal from the mouth OF
he P,o del Medic TO the mouth of the Rio del Bto The
dimensions of the locks proposed are 400x7O rect with
OF feet depth of water Artificial harbors must be con-
structed at BritO and GreytOwn; and, although
that at GreytOwn presents unusual features requiring
careful study and skilful treatment tnere Is h0 q"SO
Of its practicsbillty.
Ths That the cost Of construction OF this canal and
habors with all the necessary aduncts will be at least
sooOOOOO0 and that the cost by any other route viii
ereatly exceed the cost by this route.
Fourth: That all preliminary arrangements, having
been made the time required tor actual eOnsHuo'ion
should not exceed 10 years.
RttA That interoceanic canal across the CONT
nt should be under the protection Of all the nations in
trsted and that they should guarantee not only the
neutrality of canal and its works. but also OF con
Oos strip territory each side OF not less IMAM on
es in breadth and of the approaches TOR dis
c Of not less than 100 nautical miles in any direction
along the coast aud out seward from each end.
Very respectfully your obedient servants,
A. A. HUMPHREYS, Brgadier-General, Chief OF
Engineers,
C. p PATERSON superintendent Coast Survey,
DANIEL AuMEN Chief Bureau of Navigation,
Navy Department.
The President believes that the prospect OF an
early beginning of work on this canal is very
favorable. Under his direction communications
have been sent to the principal powers u Europe III
regard TO the subject directing attention to the sat
isfactory results of the surveys which have been
made and TO the views set forth in the above report
As to the best route. Replies have been received
from several of the Governments thus addressed,
in which they express themselves IA
vorabls to an early beginning OF
the work, and seem to approve the wisdom OF max
ing it international in its character by an equal par
ticipation of the great commercial Powers in Its
construction and the maintenance for it OF an III
violate neutrality When replies have been received
from the other nations communicated with, the
President intends to submit all the papers and cor
resp0ndence to Congress with special message, In
which he will urge that the United States take steps
necessary to the beginning of this great enterprise