The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-09
ACROSS THE ISTHMUS.
SAVANNAH AND TIE NICARAGUA
CANAL.

The City, Cotton Exchange, and the
Board of Trade to Be Asked to Send
Delegates to the New Orleans Con-
vention-Mr. T. T. Wright Here in
the Interest of the Enterprise.
Mr.. T. T. Wright, representing the Ne ,
Orleans Board Of Trade in the intcres. VI
the Nicaragua canal, arrived in the city
last night and will have conference with
the directors OF the cotton exchange and
board OF trade and probably with the city
council to-day, with a view to the
I appointment OF delegates to the
New Orleans convention Nov. 30. Mr..
Wright came direct to Savannah from
New Orleans and will 90 from here to
Charleston. He is thoroughly conversant
with the plans aud purposes of the promot-
ers of the great International enterprise.
THE CANALS HISTORY.
Since 1s49 the need OF water route join
ing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans has been
one of direct Importance to the American
people, and the thorough work of explora-
ton and investigation pursued almost unin-
terruptedly since that date has been mainly
accomplished by or under the auspices Of
army and navy engineers, acting in obedi-
ence to orders Of the government and at the
governments expense. Every locality from
Tehuantepec TO Darieu which might afford
claims for consideration has been
thoroughly examined in these explorations.
1t is significant fact that the government
engineers from first to last have expressed
decided preference for the Nicaragua
route, and that none of them have ever ex-
pressed any doubt regarding its entire FEAST
billty. The solution Of the problem OF inter
fanG ont. L.
moved more rapidly and more surely on its
way as full and intimate knowledge of its
characteristics has been obtained and it
now commands public attention as never
before, with assurance of ultimate success
ITS ADVANTAGES TO COMMERCE..
The MORNING News has before indicated
the route and pointed out the advantage to
the commerce Of the land. The entire
length Of the canal from the Atlantic to the
Pacific ocean is 1851 miles OF this distance
only 1854 miles will have to be excavated;
the remaining l424 mics are in the lake,
rivers and basins. which will be made q
part of the course by the construction of the
necessary dams and looks.
| The summit is Lake Nicaragua, 10 feet
above the level of the sea. There will be
| three locks near either end, and the level of
| the lake will be extended some sixtysfour
miles down the river by the construction of
| u O6All hCEO5S bDt lodu JuAu river at OC0Oa,
which will raise the level of the water in
that river TO deuth of from thirty to forty
feet. Thus vessels leaving the Atlantic
| ocean and entering the canal will sail on a
| level with the ocean distance of 12$1 miles,
where they will be raised by three locks to
the level of the lake; thence along the San
Juan river and Lake Nicaragua to the
| locks, within 81 miles Of the Pacific sea-
| shore, where they will be lowered by three
[ locks rn the iaVol Of the a fnipfTflyr m
depth of thirty feet will make the canal
| naYigeble for the largest vessels aflOat.
COST OF THE UNDERTAKING.
The cost of the undertaking has been the
subject of most careful computation by the
| chief engineer of the company now prose-
| cutting the work. This estimate has been
revised by a committee of distinguished
consulting engineers. and the cost, including
payment of interest during the progress of
| the work. has been placed at 500, 900, 900,
| aud the time required for completion is
within five years
Careful estimates show that the tonnage
| now existing which Is tributary to the Mica
| ragua canal, aud which would pass through
after it's opening, is little more than 5000
900 Of tons per annum. The income of SO
| per ton, which Is the charge now made by
| the Suez canal, would amount to Sl2, ZOO, 900
annually.
There can be no doubt, according to the
promoters estimate, that within five years
| of the opening of the canal the tonnage
would be nearer 100000 than 5000, 900
| tons.
The cost of maintenance, operation, etc.,
| they place at an amount not to exceed
81 900, 600 Thus an annual traffic of ,O0O, coo
tons will show a net income of 81, coo, 900.
Mr.. Wright will place before the com
mercial bodies to-day the advantages of the
| great enterprise and the questions that will
come before the New Orleans convention.