Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-08-21

greatest problems presented to us. We
have harbor, and we have swift and
easy access to the whole of the lagoon
cut by our railroad.
on the west side of tho lake the sur
veys are complete and clearing is under
way. From Greytown the canal runs
through the lag oon to Ochoa. Here it
joins the San Juan River, and there are
sixty-tive miles of river navigation to
Lake Nicaragua, then fifty-fve miles
across the lake to near the mouth of the
BIO Lajas on the west shore. From
there to Brito on the Pacific coast is
seventeen miles, the highest cut being
forty five feet. The harbor Of Brito re-
quires but little and very easy work.
There will be six locks-three on each
side of the lake. They will be of the
Same size as those at the Sault Ste. Marie
Canal, and are not therefore expert
mental. The first lock from Greytown
will be nine and a quarter miles distant,
thirty feet lift; one and one quarter
miles further is the second lock, a thirty
one feet lift. On the Deseado there are
two basins, separated by dam, and tho
third lock of forty five feet lift. West
OF the lake, and fifteen miles from it,
where the Rio Grande enters the south
west corner of the lola Basin, there is a
dam, and the fourth and fifth locks,
lowering the level eighty-five feet. Two
miles further is the sixth and last lock, q
tidal lock of twenty to thirty feet lift
The rock cuts are two and three-quar-
tiers miles on the east side of the lake,
and about six and one-half on the west
side. The canal will be at all points,
except in the rock cuts, wide enough for
two ships to travel in opposite direc.
tons OF course in the basins, in Lake
Nicaragua and the San Juan River, yes.
sells can navigate freely. The time ocl
cupied in making the transit, for steamt
ers, viii " about twenty-eight hours.
OF this time four and one-half hours will
be occupied in passing the six locks, and
one hour and twenty minutes is allowed
for possible detention in the rock cuts.
On this basis 1880 vessels can pass
through the channel in one year; but as
the locks are $50 feet long and seventy
| feet wide, two vessels each of 1000 tons
can be passed at each lockage. greatly
increasing the capacity. The Suez Canal
has present transit Of about $500 YES.
sells. The minimum depth of the canal
anywhere will be thirty feet.
To sum up what we have done: We
| have re-eStablished a harbOr at Grey.
| town, we have built town with houses,
stores, barracks, tool and machine shops,
stations, offices, and quarters. We
have the largest and best dredging plant
in the world. thoroughly equipped
railroad with locomotives and cars, {
line of stations over the route, complet
ed and accurate surveys, and the whole
line cleared of trees and vegetation, {
long line of telegraph and telephone
service. An aqueduct to bring pure
fresh water to Greytown is in construc
tion. There is every reason to suppos
that the canal will be ready for opera
tion in 1897.
When 1t is completed the followin
figures will show the enormous saving i
distance it will be between these points
A very important feature is that 1T wi
bring New Orleans and the Mississippi
Valley into the most direct conlmunics
ton with the markets Of the world.