The New York herald., 1879-08-31
NICARAGUA AND PANAMA.
COMMANDER LULL's IDEAS ON THE RIVAL
ROUTES FOR AN INTERoCEANIc CANAL.
SApAvOcA Auguck On 1870

COMMANDER LUIL's IDEAS ON THE RIVAL
ROUTES FOR AN INTERoCEANIc CANAL.
SARATOGA. N. Y, August 80 1879.
At tho general meeting Of the Association for the
Advancement Of Science eighteen new members
were elected.
After the adjournment of the general session Sec
ton b called to order by Major Powell vice
president. and Commander E. P. Luli United States
Navy. read paper "The Interoceanic Canal
Problem" giving an account Of the explora-
tions for connecting the Atlantic and Pa
cihc oceans. in which he had been engaged
with others. singular fact stated Ia that
almost all the explorations have been made
by United States army naval officers. commits
sion, with General IL. II. Humphreys. United States
Engineers; Admiral Daniel Ammon, United States
Navy and Dr. C. Patterson. of tho Coast Survey. had
examined all the reports and found only two practi-
cable routes, one through Nicaragua and another
by Panama.
THE NICARAGUA ROUTE.
That through Nicaragua includes as an essential
feature the of Lake Nicaragua. situated ton
miles from the Pacific coast, but with surface 1O7
feet above mean tide on each side It is 119 miles
from the Caribbean Sea to tho lake by tho River San
Juan the outlet of tho lake on this side. canal
from the lake to the Pacific Ocean would be
sixteen and three-tenths miles long. only
excavation would average "a fee and 10 locks Of 10
feet lift each would bo required. with tide lock Of
feet at the shore. The canal would follow tho
Of Tho Rio Grande substantially. but not its
bed. An artificial harbor would bo required on tho
Pacific side with broakwater, Tor which tho ma
tcrials are easy to be obtained.
WORK 10 BE DONE.
There are fifty-two miles OF navigation on Lake
Nicaragua, which will need little work. except at the
There would be slack water navigation from tho
Lake to the Caribbean Soa. on the line OF the San
Juan River most OF the way. to the old harbor OF
Greytown which has been nearly filed up by silt
broug ght down from the River San Carlos q branch
OF the San Juan. There are four rapids in the San
JUAN and 1t would require four dams with locks to
get around them Some rocks will have to be- removed
from the bed to make safe navigation. From tho
last dam an independent canal would be advisable
the shortest and best route to Grey town. Seven
locks would be needed in tho independent canal.
Greytown harbor, whore Cyane lay to lombard the
float canoes. Besides the silt. every gallo from the
north shifts the bars ut the Of the harbor
DISTANCE AND COST.
The total length from tho Caribbean Sea to the
Pacific Is 1907 miles-57 on tho lake. G1.7 on the
canal and 90 slackwator. The estimate makes tho
bottom of the canal ~ feet wide and gives ~ feet
depth OF water. The locks to bo Az feet long.
Estimated cost. Sd6.oooooO. and 1t may come to
S100. 1900 rs tho outside cost.
THE PANAMA ROUTE.
Tho Panama route. near the line of tho Panama
Raiiroad, would require feeder near tho summit,
which can DO had. The highest place would put the
bottom of the canal seventy eight feet above mean
tide. and the surface OF tho water in the canal
miles, with twelve lit locks each side Of the
summit. The heaviest cut would be ITO feet. The
feeder would require $1,000 feet of tunnel and two
aqueducts; the breakwater and sea wall at Aspin-
wall, 500 feet, cost estimated at $94 100000 Ma
terials are moro accossitls in Nicaragua and the
country is more healthy The Nicaragua line enters
the ut much less distance from tho United
States each side than the Panama route.
TIE PLAN.
He criticised tho plans or tho Fronch Congress
Gently held, and did not regard level canal AZ
practicable. In place the cost Of the ex-
ha
$40 and FOR the French plan the sea level
S40,O ,UUO lie did not believe this generation
would ever u sea level canal.
General Alvord. United States Army. said, in dis
cuasion. that the United states government had had
tho matter under consideration tor thirty years. and
has sent its best officers to examine and survey
routes,