The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-12-21

WARRINGTON. ID. O.. Nov IL. 1874.
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GENTLEMEN: have the honor 70 present
herewith my rsnort upon the exa m II
y .oS..
tween the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans known
k: III foss and "s % s' x sss: Ss .d
SPR soma! y Hs TSed
i'm Under specIAl Order No. 81. War Department
kd{ntant,,s aensral's once. dated Wnshington
% report 70 H. prcsidens OF the United States
neciion with the. examination Of proposed
.na ey sn
r. Heuor. Corps OF Engineers, was directed to
report to me temporarily for the ammo service;
nh .r re Si to y9a In Wth
letter OF instructions. OF which the following
10 copy:
u',0 s'''t' ls,. .asssos g. ct.t oG7.sr
K.j", w.,Irx McFA.LASo, to'ps Of Engineers. u s. A.
sir y. tn. conn,.on In s:s"s for ne Re
q ne upon % and
ss.s.on q q. two rS",ss a: w9al% enable ,hr% 70
ssh,,y. snd the s@;! q each ,...,., o., .,.....
and directed Cap, Heuer Of the Engineers to re-
Tho sssreSry Navy hA. directed every arrange
r. sS ss md H I to .nnS yss to s
; 'sa for For
meet X. assy.tnrs witch vii iasys there on w aSsG
u.pi ~; rhy A,s,iin, rayma.'cf q. = Eastman Of
Upon H. completion Of the examinations you will pro,
e.sa TO Nj. Giass ad ,nn'i your feror. ~ DIVA 90,
detailed n'ruuions relative 10 the proposed cHninn'
s g Any t.S
az the AZ iva t.c s" S s "' and "s. q"
ras.ns H. Tie 'oply of mate-. ant finally. the cost OF
o ss s,ns, are Ssssd rs
ssS to . ,f e.. ~ y" MN ola.r re-
dues the e.tnnated cost Of construction
The Limitations of time Very respectfully }1nr "nedsnt
BlrIut Major General L 5 A for the Conmi,,iou
THE NICARAGUA ROUTE.
Tho scheme for opening this route to navi-
cation provides for harbor at Brito on
tho Pacific coast n canal 16'. miles
long thonco to Lake Nicaragua with q
rise OF l0I feet which Is to be overcome by ten
locks; an open passage through Lake Mica
ragua So miles In length 63 miles
OF slack. water navigation in the San Juan
River. secured by the construction OF 4
dams at Castillo. Balas and Machuca rapids.
and at the mouth OF tho San Carlos. respective
ly. around tho uppor three Of which are to be
constructed short sections OF canal whose
united length Is 81 miles u canal about AZ
miles in lcHg:h leading from the basin formed
by the lower dam directly to Greytown; and
lustly the foruation of q harbor at that place.
SUMMARY
---Hi,t of-
caad,. LAKE. Stack.
wder. Total
fsciae to Lax. Nicaragua 1888 ,sa iSss
San Jan River to ore, town 90 49,. ..,'. 4iso
sl74 $3.50 63Oa 1871 ~
Tho general design of this route. which is es-
sentinlly the same as that adorted by o. w.
Childs in his survey OF 1857. seemed to be
good. The lake and tho river are both made
use OF as far as possible and where the latter
becomes too much INSTRUCTED by sand deposits
TO admit of its further use. which occurs at the
mouth OF the San Carlos. the first large tribu-
tary received after leaving tho lake 1t 10 boldly
abandoned and canal Is run through the
valley. tho swamps and the lowlands by the
most direct route to Greytown. So far there
seems to be no choice. nature having marked
the route which must be pursued.
Between the lake and the Pacific coast. how
ever the route to DO followed has not been so
easily deterininod. Examinations OF routes
to the sea by the valleys OF the Lapoa Lajas.
Del Medic. Gonzalez. and Ochomongo Rivers.
show that the choice lay between the route by
tho Eio l.plas and that by tho Rio Del Medic
feet aeyc R eXs Of LAX Lake on
feet higher than on the La(as route, being 1874
feet above tho levol OF the lake; but. notwith-
mander Lull for tho reasons mentioned in his
roport. viz; that; although the cutting on this
route would be deeper than, on the other, the
water would be found nearer its lake terminus
than on thS other line. and the crossing Of
many troublesome streams would be ayoded.
the route By the valley Of tho Rio Dol Mcdio
yet dlssosorsi Ss lax and and tho "P aGs
Th h,, level Of Lake Nicarngua,, At its high
level hs sSsi Is ,apen Is S7 's ee s abave
moan lido 10 either OCEAN and the level is to
BE- , kept at the height by means Of the dam
ises in the lake level Which usually y occurs Gu
to. tho sea; those on tho Pacific side being dis
the lake and the ocean with IA tile lock in al.
dition at Brito; and those on the Atlantic side
dams, and the remaining seven distributed
over the AZ miles OF canal which would be be.
tween sn ths san n Carlos ar 81, and Greytown,
slack water navigation In the San Juan ' .ap,
pear to be well placed and ID are calculated to
will vary from twenty;,one to tnirty-four feet
depending upon the depth Of water in which
The question yet to be determined in respect
TO these dams is whether there are any outlets
In the banks through which the water which is
to be backed up might escape. There appear
to DO no dlnlcultos In the way OF constructing
any part OF this proposed canal which the ro-
sources Of engineering skill may not readily
overcome, and tho Whole project seems to have
been we'll considered.
The survey. from its extent and from the
limited time which could DO given to IL, was
something in the nature Of a preliminary one
and some points Yet remain to be determined
rs. for instance. the nature o! the material to
be excavated. the exact locations OF locks, &c
which subsequent examinations will fix.
HARBoRs
As was anticipated the most serious uues-
ton to be encountered In making project for
shin canal by this route Is that OF tho furina-
ton Of suitable harbors at its sNtremities.
The Pacific terminus Of the projected canal is
ut Brlto. called by courtesy a harbor. although
1t Possesses none of the characteristics OF one.
and H. In TACT, nothing moro than a slight in
Donation in the shore line.
1t Is proposed TO form harbor here by the
construction OF breakwaters or jetties. which.
In connection with the excavation OF a basin in
tho sandy deposit along the shore, would give
an enclosed area Of siNty-seven acres. as esti.
I'M Ia Nlt.a KtEaaa