The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-01
INTER0CEAN SHIP
CANAL.
- Of "A. q. Menocal. Chief civil
Engineer, With the Cost OF FRO
posed Canal, With Other
improvements.

OF the Nicaragua ana dtt "ee "e"'o"'
,be,o ndjnceni lie," have been numerous,
unfortunately many Of them are ufsa1ls-
- A pagsing mention OF few WILL be
liant while we proceed to debate on those
,aered the most practicable. SO varied
heen the opinions promulgated by pro-
anal and dllettanti surveyors anu ques-
,ble projectors, that distrust was caused
s n,blic mind, and thus delayed work
wo,,ld prove interesting, lucrative and Oh
,,tmost Importance to the commerce Of
country.
so,ier has been very diffuse In his de-
{ ntton OF Nicaragua. He has written
interesting book on the subject, but 1t is
oasv to gather scientific information from
brlr evidently intended to be more the
sIna recital OF the tourist, antiquarian
dInlomat, than the elaborate work OF o
ntst.
ia not possible to read his work without
D Interested in the graphic delineations of
character of the people who inhabit those
ons the climatic condition OF the country
the valuable resources OF land almost
,unito to the outside world until 80 pleas
\ portrayed by Mr.. Squier, tho then CON
and official agent OF the United States
ernment.
the several routes suggested for a ship
III through the Nicaragua to the Pacific
ID, we may mention as most favorably
sidered the following
By the Sapoa river to Lake Mica ragua
he Bay of Bolinas or Salinas on the Pacific
an
By the Estero dc Panaloya, extending
n Lake Nicaragua to Lake Managua and,
p1gh IL to the port of Rpaleio on the Pacific,
the Estero direct to the magnificent Gulf
Fonseca.
BY the River Layas into Lake Nicaragua,
/ the city OF Nicaragua. to San Juan del
on the Pacific.
BY canal from Greytown intersecting
San Juan river, thence via Lake Nicara-
and the Rio del Medic to Brito on the
ilic coast.
he routes we have just named are those
scientific men consider more or less
cticable. The reader will understand
% all these routes-and, In fact, all
projected routes from first to last-take
kir departure from the San Juan river.
Ich river debouches into the Caribbean sea,
ming the port OF San Juan de Nicaragua.
he entire neck Of land from the Isthmus
XDarien to that OF Nicaragua and Tehuan-
&c offer tempting attractions to projectors.
like Cortcs, they have not sought "Et Sc
TO del E.streeho," but we're bent on making
open and public highway for the benefit OF
commercial world. The contemplated
ren ship canal which, with all its Import
es to the commerce Of the world, Is Sig
|ly to the advantage Of European govern
hts. The Nicaragua and Tehauntepec are
two cuts above all other considerations
u will tend to the expansion OF the COM
rec of our country.
During Grants administration the subject
an interoceanic canal was quite vigorously
bssed, but failed of results by reason OF a
uctance on the part Of the Nicaraguan
.vernment to make requisite concessions.
When the Darien scheme was inaugurated
y Nicaraguan government took alarm, and
once reopened negotiations with the gov
1hment Of the United States, and has de-
Jared Its willingness to enter into treaty
puations that will promote the construc
|n OF the NcaragUan canal.
The Nicaraguan government has requested
BIT Civil Engineer Menocal, OF the United
ktes navy, be permitted to complete the
fveys or the route via Lake Nicaragua, ant
indications point to the adoption OF wha
known as the Brito route. We, therefore
blish the report OF Mr. Menocal to Conf
II, or the United States navy, as descrip
of the route approved by scientists ant
ored by both the government Of the Unitec
ties and OF Nicaragua.
WASHINGTON D. c.. December ls. 1874
n-I respectfully submit the following re-
e OF the results obtained by the survey:
de in the s. ate of Nicaragua By the eXpeui
n under your command. with the object o
ating u favorable route for the construc
b OF ship canal across the lSthnns, iron
Atlantic to the Pacific ocean. and also al
|lmate ot the cost t the work.
Tour familiarity with the line surveyed vii
der unnecessary any particular description
m me-. further thanisuch as may be I, qnisit
aetine the most prominent features " IN
Eults aimed in the opei atiohs and ne plal
opted for the construction OF the canal upol
7 selected rUu a.
'he Lake If Nicaragua occupies an area O
but Que hundred aud ten miles long BY thirty
b mites wide, of u valley axtendfng north
sterly from the Bay. of Fonseea, On th
rthern boundary OF the Safe OF Nicaragu
fh that of Honduras. t. its southern limit
th Cost l Kica From its southeastern en-
River San Juan. the only outlet to tnt lake
ms thrOGgh An Irregular valley to the Atlantic
closest proximity to the Atlantic is near 10
nthern extremity. where Fort San Carlos.
oriRin of the outlet. is by straight line sixty
miles from tn coast and seventy SIX nile
pm the hafbor of San Juan del Norte or Grey
Tn, the mouth ot the River San Juan. u
arrest proximity to the Pacific is about IN
ddle OF the deuartment of Rtvas and opposlt
The Island Of Omekepet, where tn Wes er
pat Of the lake Is by straight line ton mile
IN the harbor of San Juan del Sur.
from this description and an Inspection Q
map II Will be perceived that the lake ls
eessary and. we may add. favorable eie
snt IN any project for ship canal across tn
antry. The first on account of Ifs position
Roya the sea. affording an extensive alevee
Saving Of distance ia the actual canal TO b
Pllt. and an inexhaustibie supply W water 10
pfSing uf both branches OF he canal star
z from its shores to the Atlan ic Gn,t Pacific
ae hrst object of the expedition under U
mmand was, therefore, 10 look Tor Iavora
route nuon which line could be locate
ON the lake TO the Pacific. and o the Atlanfi
erWard. This could be accom pltsh-d elthe
Iproceeding northWesterly from the Lake {
4aragua up the E,taro OF Pa alaya to LAX
Ghgua. and from the n rihern rxlremi y {
Il after lake across the Valley OF Leon 70 ca
rof Fonseea, ths port of r al.jD. " som
Sef point on the Pacific coast:. Or BY cuttin