The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-05
DELAY NO LONGER.
Why the Nicaragua Canal
Should Be Built Now.
FALSE ARGUMENTS REFUTED.
Captain Merry Notices Some Objec-
tons Raised by Covert Foes
of the Enterprise.

ana assertions which are incorrect. The
writer argues for delay in construction
until additional civil engineering can be
done. While he expresses himself in favor
Oh the canal and admits that the Nicaragua
route offers the only practicable solution lie
fears that difficulties have been under
rated. He then proceeds to point out sup
posed difficulties. and makes it evident to
any one familiar with the conditions that
he has never made a personal examination
or visited the line OF the canal. The ques-
ton OF drainage is the one m Ost d welt upon.
and this OF course is connected with the
rainfall.
1t IS not necessary to contrOvert the
friend who has informed the writer az to
the excessive rainfall at San Juan del Norte,
the Atlantic terminus. A residence Of three
years at the location stated permits the
admission OF a heavy rainfall there; but it
is an error that it increases as advance is
made into the interior. On the contrary, it
is well-known fact that the rainfall above
Castillo and in the lake region is One-third
TO one-half that OF the Atlantic Coast. 1t
is not Tact, either. that the rainfall gen.
orally Increases on a lee shore as the winds
advance on the interior. On the contrary,
in all such cases the rainfall is greatest on
the beach and near the ocean. The first
impeachment to the moist atmosphere OF the
ocean, even though only grove of cocOa-
nut trees on moderately high beach.
causes heavy precipitation, and the water
laden clouds advance to the higher interior,
Invested of a greater portion of their
moisture This is the case not alone in
Nicaragua. but everywhere else.
AT Colon the rainfall Is generally double
that at Panama. On the California coast
it is always heaviest near the .ocean-in
h0fn tho fret Gtr1Qly hy the rain
being lee shore-and so far as my obserya-
tiOn goes this is the case in all parts OF the
world. TO my personal knowledge, ac-
CURED by personal passage over the canal
line dozens Of times in three years, there
are no floods in the San Juan River. The
highest have known the river TO rise is
six feet. The reason is that 1t has very
limited watershed and only tive affluents,
both two-thirds Of the distance from Lake
Nicaragua TO the ocean.
The writer. states that the San Carlos
River rs really the main river" an asser-
ton so wide Of the truth that it must cause
smile to those who navigate the San
Juan. The San Carlos has volume about
1ne-tenth Of the San Juan. j sent the
Stern-wheel steamer Cora up the San Carlos
in the rainy season, with orders to 20 as far
as she could, whence 1t was proposed 10
build a road over the mountains into the
coffee districts of Costa Rica. and the cap
tain had to tie up twenty-five miles from
its junction with the San Juan. although
the Cora drew only twenty-five inches of
water light. The Rio San Juan Is used to
navigate steamers of eight-foot draft
into Lake Nicaragua-keel boats CT 800
tons burthen.
The assertion that the artificial basins in
the San Francisco division Gnand from the
eastern locks are across the drainage of
the country, is an error. On the contrary,
they are exactly In line with the drainage.
Indeed. how can the drainage be otherwise
when these basins are the valleys of two
brooks, which are inundated by the en-
bankmentS alluded to
Let it be remembered that the Nicaragua
canal is a surface lock canal, rarely inter-
fering with natural drainage of the coun-
try; that only at its Atlantic terminus is it
subjected TO very heavy rainfals. which
rapidly decrease inland, until in the lake
region the annual average is about 80 inches;
that this inland sea, Ito miles long and 40
miles wide. takes the drainage of the sur
rounding country and seldom rises over
six feet during the rainy season. | do not
deny the embanRments IN MenOcoPS sur
yey, but embellishments on a surface
canal are far better than canal which be-
comes a drainage ditch Of the surrounding
country. In fact 1t does not take skislful
civil engineer. examining the profile of the
canal. more than minute 10 see that one of
the principal merits OF the work is its ele-
walton above sea level. so largely solving
this great question OF drainage.
in. regard to the question Of health the
writer has no foundation TO stand on. 1t is
unnecessary 10 surmiSe, as statistics are
available. The very low percentage in the
hospitals OF the canal company is abundant
proof Of the healthful climate. On the low
lands, near the Atlantic. there is malaria, as
In all river bottoms, but aside from chills
and fevers (the ''caenlura" OF the country
there is n prevalent disease | have passed
three years in Nicaragua. gOiug MP and
down the river repeatedly, with headquar-
tiers at San Juan del Norte, and never had
an attack OF fever while there. The lake
region is one Of the healthiest countries in
the.world. The northeast trade winds blow
across the lake almost perennialy, temper
ing the heat of the sun ana making a blan-
ket to sleep under necessary for CON fort.
With good habits and diet sickness need not
be feared in canal construction there, al
though hospitals will be necessary for men
who pay little attention to either.
The Eastern Divide cut is q source of
anxiety TO the writer, who thinks its slopes
are insufficient aud its width deficient for
ships Of large beam. On canal line offer
ing nuniberless places for half speed, full
speed aud for passage on the port helm it
may be admitted that in rock cut $40
miles long low SD Led and caution is needed.
But II this cut lacks 10 feet n width, or
even 20 feet, IL is a matter for subsequent
impr Ovement. As regards the slope, there
is no reason TO doubt the result of borings
taken every 1000 feet TO the bottom Of the
canal; there is possibility of error to a
moderate extent.swhch would be decreased
by additional bOrIngS. We have every rea-
son to presume the cut is practically rock,
all OF which will be needed for the break
water at Del Norte ana the Ochoa dam.
The method OF constructing the Ochoa
dam is criticized. There are dozen meth
DDS of building large dams, and very many
plans have been proposed by the most skill
full civil engineers for the Ochoa dam. That
adopted, considering the abundance of rock
available, has been decided upon as the
cheapest and safest. The writer need not
fear that stone will not rapidly 60 TO the
bottom 1t has habit of so doing.
AS to the silt of the San Carlos River; no
doubt the sand it discharges at high water
will gradually shoal the flooded region.
The location first selected for this dam was
above the confluence OF the San Carlos and
San Juan rivers where this would DO avoided,
but it was considered of so little eonse-
quence that a better location lower down
was preferred. Some dredging might or
might not be necessary here in nifty years or
more.
have noticed all the points raised in
the article that are OF consequence. Space
forblds any detailed discussion OF favor
able conditions for a ship canal through
Nicaragua and the writer admits them. so
let us consider his policy OF delay The
uoshe II Expressed tnat the Chiteu OtaleS
Government will hesitate to commit itself
TO the canal until another special commits
sion shall have examined the route. This
looks very conservative and, in the absence
OF facts. c0mmends itself to the cautious
Congressman. Instill doubt into his MIND
and You have himi What between Mr..
C0rthell, who assures him that ship rail-
way is the solution. and the proposed new
survey at Government expense. the object
OF delay Is accomplished.
1t is now over forty-three years since the
first instrumental survey of the Nicaragua
canal was made by Colonel Childs of Phila-
delphla for Cornelius Vanderbilt. Ii was
pronounced feasible at that time, since
which five other, either complete or partial
surveys have been made by the United
States Government. as we'll as on French
and American account. The present COM
PAW has run over 1000 miles OF levels in
locating the work, and bored every 1000