Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-02-13


Canal.
HOW 1T Is INTENDED TO CONSTRUCT THE
cANAL-UTILIZINe BOTH RIVER AND
LAKE-sAv1NG TIME-ExCAvATIoN AND
LocKs-yARIoUs SCHEMES CONSIDERED.
Six years from now, according to the
rose colored expectations of the projectors
of the Nicaragua canal, says the Washing
ton Star, large merchant vessels will be
seen sailing through from the Atlantic to
the Pacific, between the two continents of
this hemisphere. After this the imagina-
ton can hardly compass the possibilities
for commercial development. The Mica
ragua canal company are getting ready to
begin work very soon, as the bill incor-
porating the company has become law. 1t
will take about a year to lay everything
out and to get through all the preliminary
part of the work, and then five years more,
according to expectation, to get the canal
cut through and the whole work completed,
SO that the largest merchant vessels can
pass through from the Atlantic into the
Pacific by a short cut. The cost OF the
work is estimated at $64, 900, 900, and En-
gineer Menocal, of the navy, who has made
the surveys and estimates, says it will not
cost more than that sum. It is tremen-
dous undertaking, as it appears to the pop
ular conception of the work, but Mr.. Men,
ocal says there are no very difficult engi-
neering problems to be encountered, and,
IS every part of the ground has been care
fully surveyed, it is held that nothing has
been left to guessing. The work is to be
undertaken by private parties, without
government aid, the government having
nothing more to do with the enterprise than
merely the duty it always has, to protect
the rights of its citizens wherever they may
be. 1t has not been asked in this connec-
ton to give any financial assistance, and by
direct expression Congress has disclaimed
any financial responsibility. 1t is to be an
American work, however, controlled by
citizens Of the United States.
VARIOUS SCHEMES.
The project has been discussed for many
years, and various schemes for getting
through Or over the narrow neck of land
that unites the two continents and separates
the two great oceans have been suggested.
At one time, not long ago, it vas proposed
that the Nicaragua canal should be con-
structed by the United States government
under the terms of a treaty between the
United States and Nicaragua that was sub
mitted to the Ssnate for approval, but this
idea was abandoned, and the treaty with
drawn by President Cleveland. 1t was
then left to private enterprise through the
expenditure Of private capital, suitable
concessions being made By the Nicaraguan
government. Engineer Menocal has been
on the ground for about sixteen years sur
veying and making study Of the topog-
raphy aud physical features of the country
through which it is proposed to construct
the canal, and surveys have been mads by
several others. Capt. Menocal has LAID out
the course for the capal by the most direct
route possible, SO that the natural water
ways will be utilizsdj:and3 expended, and
the actual car. y cutting will be, it is Calm.
ed, very little. The canal will put the
Atlantic aud P ,cifc oceans in connection
right in the direct line Of the worlds trade,
and cut thous aids Of miles of distance aud
weeks and months IF time. The route of
the clnal begins at Greytown, on the At
lantic, Or mme properly on the Caribbean
sea, running through cut, basins, river, and
lake 10 the Pacific at Brito.
THE DISTANCE.
The distance from ocean to ocean is 169
miles. by the latest survey the canal prop.
er will be but little more than % miles,
all the rest of the distauce-141 miles
being made by utilizing the natural water
ways-the San Francisco and Rio San Juan
rivers and Lake Nicaragua. The number
OF locks is reduced to six, three near either
end. From Greytown there ia q distance
Of about 10 miles at sea level. Then with
in the space of 4 miles there are THEE
looks. Then are entered the baths, broad
aud deep, formed by the construction Of
dams, SO as to confne the water within nat
ural reservoirs and raise it to the level Of
the lake. From there on through the Rio
San Juan and Lake Nicaragua there is clear
navigation for 1875, the basin adding about
16 miles of clear waterway to this. After
crossing Lake Nicaragua to Rio Lafas there
is cut of about ~ or IA miles, part Of
which is through rock, three not difficult
iocks, and the Pacific ocean is reached.
For the greater part of this distance the
sailing is expected to be almost as free as
high sea navigation. The eaual will open
up, direct line of Communication aud au
active trade between New York, Boston,
Philadelphia. Baltimore, New Orleans,
Galveston and all the Atlantic ports, and
all the Pacific ports of South America aud
orr own coast that are now accessible only
after long, tedious and dangerous voyag e
The distances are correspondiDgly shorten
ed for not only ali the American ports, but
fer the European and Asiatic as we'll.
THIS SAVING OF TIAE
and distance will, it ID held, bring the
commerce Of the Pacific ports to the great
ceuters on The Atlantic seaboard and devel.
op trade and industry in all directions.
More especially is it expected to develop
our trade with South America. At pres
eut vessels coming from the Pacific ports
of South America find it just as convenient
to go to Liverpool as to New York after
they have doubled the Horn, and they gen.
orally select that market. By the new
route any Of the American ports would be
almost at hand after passing through the
Nicaragut caHal.