San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-02-15
NICARAGUA CANAL.

Nicaragua canal. The former In an
interview to the New Orleans Tim es
Democrat, and the latter in COM
munication to the state department
at Washington. Consul Morlan
speaks very enthusiastically of the
country through which the canal is
to run, and of the San Juan river
which connects Lake Nicaragua with
the Atlantic ocean and forms very
important link in the chain of con-
nection between the two oceans. he
reports the river about 800 feet wide,
flowing with q strong deep curren
towards the Atlantic and affording
water ample for half dozen canals.
He pictures the rapid of the river as
very swift and that here will be en-
countered the heavy work of con-
struction. The range of hills, over
which the river plunges, or through
which it cuts its way and which
must be blasted through for the
canal bed, is about two hundred feet
high, or higher, and about two miles
long. The hills are OF solid rock and
would necessitate cut between two
and three miles long and from two
hundred to two hundred and fifty
feet deep. The only advantage in the
situation Is that the hills are solid
rock and would afford solid side walls
and foundations for the locks. The
elevation to be reached here is about
one hundred aud ten feet and it is
the opinion of the engin GERS that
three locks would be sufficient.
To raise the water to . level with
Lake Nicaragua dam will be
thrown across the narrow valley near
CASTILLO, an old portage. now town
where transhipments are made OH
account Oh the impossible ra ids.
This dam will raise the water fifty
two feet, and fill in the valley down
to within about ten miles of Grey town,
the A tlantic end of the canal. The
lay of the land is quito favorable for
the construction of this dam. There
will be slack water navigation from
the dam into lake Nicaragua for the
largest vessels afloat. At Greytown
on the beach, so situated ss to secure
a clear sweep Of the winds from the
Caribbean sea, are the houses and
hospitals of the company. One of the
houses is l0OX25 feeI, two stories; the
lower one for offices and store room
the upper for lodging. The other
building is for the chief engineer who
is expected to arrive some time this
month. The material for houses and
hospital was sent out from New York
ready to be put together. There are
five hundred persons At work.
Right of way for telegraph has been
cleared, poles set sud wires strung,
and telegraph communication estab-
lished for ten miles of this distance.
The preliminary work undertaken
has been very carefully executed and
there will be no difficulty in giving
exact information to bidders for con-
tract. The money expended since
1887 has not much less than three
quarters of a million dollars, 500, 100
OF which has been deposited with the
government OF Nicaragua as n guaran-
tee OF good faith. The Belize con-
sui expresses the fullest conf
dence IN the successful prOseCu-
tion of the work. and considers that
the money would be we'll expended
did tho cost OF construction run as
high as 500, 900 900 or even $780, 900
900. The estimates of the cost how
ever are not more than from forty to
forty-five per cent OF these figures
so far as may be judged rare good
judgment and practical sense has
been exercised i'm the work 80 far as
The design appears t.
be to make through preparation. have
a full understanding Of the work in
all its details and all accumulation
of material sufficient 10 insure against
delay before undertaking the renl
work of construction, and then when
an actual beginning is made push
the work to its completion as rapidly
as possible. The commerce of the
nations will hail the completion Of
this canal as an event in the history