Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-08-07
The Inter-Oceanic Canal.
LETTER FROM ADMIRAL AMMKN-KNGINYE9
MRNOCALs MISsION-ROUTEs COMPARED.

A LEffBh FkUM AUMfRAL AMMkN-KN0INEGS
MENOCALS MISSION COMPARED.
Secretary Thompson has received from Ad.
miral Ammen letter concerning Civil Engineer
Menocal's proposed visit to Nicaragua and
other matters connected with inter- Oceanic
Canal communication. The following is an ex-
tract from the letter: 'Should the department
grant the request Of the Nicaragua govern
ment, to permit Civil Engineer A. g. Menocal,
U. 8. navy, to 60 TO that country for the pur
pose OF improving the n mitigation Of the San
Juan river, In the Vicinity OF the Costello Rapids
l would suggest that he he informed that 1t is
desirable to re-examine the region Of the Latas
route, which lies between Lake Nicaragua and
its junction with the Rio Del Medic route the
object being to ascertain whether consider
able amount Of the surface drainage now falling
into the Pacific cannot be diverted into Lake
Nicaragua, at a reasonable cost.
II this should prove to be practicable 1t will
allow safe location OF a ship canal through a
summit level OF only forty-three feet above
Lake Nicaragua, with an increase of length,
however, Of 149 miles, in lieu OF deep cut of
1873 feet by the Rio del Medic route now pre-
ferred on account OF better conditions Of perma-
neIcy SO far as now known. An object never
d1sregarded In our Inter oceanic canal surveys
was to secure the element OF permanency espe-
ctaly from floods, in as great degree as possible,
hence the RIO del Medic route was preferred.
S65.22, l47, and OF the Lajas route 500, 1872 1871,
making difference in the estimates of g.
369364, with the disadvantage Of troublesome
surface water Oh the Lajas route. 1t was not
ton Of the works when the construction was
made, might not end In a preference for that
route. In my report to the Secretary of the
Navy as Chief OF Bureau Of Navigation In 1875,
will be found the following:
''It Is proper to add that the most careful
and elaborate surveys would necessarily have
to be made in advance at any point heretofore
examined before commencing the construction
OF the inter- oceanic ship canal, and that these
surveys could only ameliorate the labor and
cost OF construction, lnaSmuch as the locations
as given are actual throughout their length,
and would only be changed when advantage
would be gained by doing So"
Whilst company organized for the purpose
OF constructing ship canal would not fail to
relocate every part OF the route, prelimt-
may show In advance that the surface drainage
above alluded to may adyantageously be thrown
into Lake Nicaragua with a considerable de-
crease in the aggregate estimate for labor In
the substitution Of the lower lines of levels of
the LaJaS route, and without any sacrifice OF
conditions OF fpermanency."
SINGULAR ACCIDENT AT A 'HAUNTED House."
A dispatch to the Baltimore Sun says that an
excitement, caused by a haunted house mystery
in Portsmouth, on Middle street, last night
resulted in very serious and exciting accident.
An immense thrOng gathered In front OF the
building, and large crowd mounted the porch
to the second story to gain admlttance. The
porch suddenly gave way with the weight
upon 1t, and the whole crowd was thrown In q
confused heap to the pavement beneath, a dis
tance Of ten feet. Mr.. Virginius Weston had
several ribs broken, and Is pronounced fatally
injured internally. Capt. A. T. Culpeper, Capt
John w. Young, F. j. Nicholson, Samuel Arm
Irving and Edward Arlington had limbs dis
located, fractured or sprained, and bodies cut
and bruised. All were speedily In the hands of
the doctors.