The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-08-12

greatest problems presented to US. wa
have harbor, and we have swift and
easy access to the whole of the lagoon
cut by our railroad.
On tho west side OF the lake the sur
veys are complete aud clearing is under
way. From Grcytown the cana runs
through the lag Don 10 Ochoa. Hero il
joins the San Juan River, and there are
sixty-iive miles of river navigation TO
Lake Nicaragua, then fifty-ive miles
across the lake to near the mouth Of the
Rio Lajas on the west shore. From
there TO Brlto 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 Saut Ste. Mario
Canal, and arc not therefore expert
mental. The first lock from Greytown
will be nine and quarter miles distant,
a thirty feet lift; one and one-Quarter
miles further is the second lock, 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
dam, aad the fourth and fifth locks,
lowering the Level eighty-five feet. Two
miles further is the sixth and last lock, n
tidal lock of twenty TO thirty feet lift.
The rock cuts are two and three-quar-
ters 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, ves-
sells can navigate freely. The time oc"
cuped in making the transit for steam
ers, will be about twenty-eight hours.
OF this time four and one-half hours wiz
be occupied in passing the six locks, an@
one hour and twenty minutes is allowed
for possible detention in the rock cuts.
On this basis IL, $50 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 2,0s0 tons
can be passed at each lockage, greatly
increasing the capacity. The Suez Canal
has present transit OF about 3, 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 a 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 equippo1
railroad with locomotives and cars
line of stations over the route, complct-
ed and accurate surveys, and the whole
line cleai ed OF trees and vegetation, q
long line of telegraph and telephone
service An aqueduct to bring pure,
fresh water TO Greytown is in construc-
ton. There is every reason to suppose
that the canal will be ready for opera
ton In 1897.
When 1t is completed the following
figures will show the enormous saving in
distance il will be between these points.
A very important feature Is that IL will
bring New Orleans and the Mississippi
Valley into the most direct communica
ton with the markets of the world.