The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-17
ROUTE OF NICARAGUA CANAL.
Locks, Rivers and Lakes-Gts Effect Upon
Commences.
Manufacturers and RufIdpY

Manufacturer and Builder.
Eighteen years ago congress appointed .
commission of inquiry as to the best route
for an inter-oceanic canal. In 1876, out OF
nine teen proposed locations, the results OF
numerous Investigations and publications
upon this interesting subject, since Column
bus sought the western approach to Asia,
the Nicaragua route was chosen by con-
gress for an American canal. In 1887 the
adoption of the system OF locks by the
Panama Canal Company removed the only
objection TO the Nicaragua route, which
was in every other respect more advan-
tageous than the one selected by the French
company. Construction was actually be-
gun June g. 1859, on this American canal
by company organized with capital OF
00,000, 600. which may be doubled II the
necessities of the company require.
The Nicaragua canal will traverse from
ocean to ocean the southern part of the re-
public of Nicaragua at the lowest elevation
OF the isthmus which connect the two
Americas. 1t will follow course of 1921
miles in which navigation by canals and
locks will be less than twenty-seven miles,
the rest being free through basins, rivers
and lakes. From breakwater and deep
the San Juan river is to be dredged nine
and quarter miles to the first lock, which
has a lift of thirty feet second and
third lock will raise the level seventy feet,
and, with dam, give five miles OF naviga-
ton in small stream. A rock cut OF two
and three-quarters miles is followed by
twelve miles of open sailing through
the valleys of two small rivers, the San
Francisco and Machado. By dams and
- & ~
raised TO the level of the San Juan river
and thence connected with Lake Nicaragua.
giving additional waterway of sixty-fOur
and one half miles in the river and fifty-six
and one half miles across the lake. from
its western shore cut of slight depth
in earth ard rock for nine miles will lead
the water of the canal into the lola basin,
where, by damming the Rio Grande, fve
and one-nan miles OF free navigation will
be afforded. At this dam, by series of
locks. it is to be lowered eighty-five feet,
and the canal excavated iii the valley of
the Rio Grande for two miles will reach
the last lock of thirty feet and the tide
water of the harbor of Brito, one and one
half miles from the Pacific ocean.
Nicaragua has Pacific coast line of 200
miles. It's area is eqiial to that of New
York, or one-fourth of France. /. has fine
harbors on the Pacific, but on the Carrib
bean coasting vessels and steamers have to
find shelter in lagoons, bights and river
mouths. The Cordilieras of the isthmus
sink to low peaks and ridges in the center
of Nicaragua. The divide. to which the
canal gradually rises through the rivers.
where il is crossed, is not 1000 feet above
the oceans level. On the east, toward the
Caribbean. forests drained by several large
rivers cover the low and level country. To-
ward the west, plains and rolling fields,
richly cultivated, twelve to thirty miles in
width, stretch to the Pacific. Leon, city
OF 10000; Rivas, with 5000 people, and quite
the beauty of this country, whose health
fulness and comfort under cloudless skies
for great portion of the year are most in
viting. Near the coast the hills break into
sharper peaks. from 500 to / 200 feet high.
The trade winds here rush through the low
est pass on the continent, opposite the
head of the San Jaun river. 1t is made by
a depression between the ranges of Hon.
duras on the north and the mountains of
Costa RIGA on the south. These strong
breezes sweep from the Caribbean, over
Lake Nicaragua, into this salu5rious and
delightful section of country, so that the
range of temperature does not exceed %
degrees, and lies between 20 and 90 de-
grees f.
West of Nicaragua there is scarcely any
rain from November TO May, when the
nights are cool and the winds chilling.
This season corresponds to the winters of
the North in its effect. On the Caribbean
the abundant moisture of the rainy season
give luxur:ance to the vegetation. The
western section of the canal commands
grand and varied scenery in the blue
ranges on the north and Costa RIGA volca-
noes on the south. The great variety of
forest vegetation adds to the rich coloring
of the country. Rubber, cedar, mahogany
and dye woods and a hundred plants
of medical and commercial value vie with
the brighter hues of orange and banana
groves and lime trees along the river banks.
The capacity of the Nicaragua canal will
greatly exceed that of the Suez, on account
of its free navigation, great depth and the
extent of its locks. 1t is estimated that
thirty-two vessels can pass daily, or IL $50
in year, affording traffic of 20 1000. 900
tons. The lake supply of water alone is
ten times that required for the operation OF
the canal.
BY the substitution of steam for sail
since 1870 the commerce of the world has
increased threefold. The tonnage from the
countries using the canal, estimated from
the data of 1887, will give 4,507. 044 tons.
This will inevitably increase from various
causes, which have been distinctly enumer-
ated, 10 the proportions of the entire ca
pacty of the canal Ii is of great i'm
portance to all civilized nations. 1t
from Auckland, New Zealand, to
Liverpool, or 400 miles from Melbourne,
Australia, and of 3 900 miles from Yoko-
hama. 1t will make an almost continuous
coast line to the United States from Maine
to Alaska. and will bring the rich trade of
the Pacific TO our ports thousands of miles
nearer those of Europe. San Francisco on
the Pacific and New York on the Atlantic
will become. by this American canal, the
markets OF the world, and make the United
States, central IL the mid continent, the
commercial center of the globe.