Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-04-12
WHERE OCEANS ALMOST MEET
A Kentucky Engineers Idea as to the Place
for q Panama Canal.

A Kentucky Engineers Idea as to the Place
for q Panama Canal
J. A. Karweise, a Kentucky civil
engineer, has arrived at Tacoma from
the United States OF Colombia on
business connected with the new
state capitol, and brings with him
charts and drawings and estimates
OF construction of an ocean-level ship
canal, which, owing to heretofore I'M
discovered natural formations and
assures In the backbone OF the Cor
dilleras discovered by him, can be
built for $4,000, 900 less than the
Nicaragua Canal, and can be COM
pleted, in three years from the date
of beginning work, for $48, 900, 900.
At the point where Mr.. Karweise
claims to have made his discovery
the Atlantic and Pacific ocean tides
approach within eighteen miles of
each other. This, in connection with
the new assure discoveries In the
Cordilleras, results from the lagoons
and marshes of the Gulf Of Darien on
the Atlantic side and the San Miguel
Bay on the other. Mr.. Karweise IA
vOrs the joint building by all nations
of a double-track ship canal at the
point OF his discoveries and the set
ting aside Of a neutral zone. He does
not believe In the feasibility Of the
l68-mile long lift-lock Nicaragua Can
al, and said, in speaking to a CORE.
spOndent OF the Globe Democrat, OF
his discoveries:
The location of the double-track
ocean-level ship canal route is direct
ly south OF the eastern isthmus bend,
and actually in the northwest corner
of the South American continent.
The distance between the points
where the ocean tide ends is eighteen
and a half miles and the total length
Of the combined canal works, inclu-
sive of IL 800 feet tunnel, is eight
and five-eighths miles. The so-called
free navigation exceeds eleven miles
in distance, and carefully prepared
estimate OF the cost puts the total
canal expenditure at $4S, 900, 600, and
the commencement of operation Of
his double-track ocean-level ship ca
nal route thirty-eight months from
the time OF beginning labor. The
harbors at each end OF the proposed
double track ship canal route are Of
magnificent proportions and may be
counted as the finest and safest on
the continent, with San Miguel Bay
as the Pacific harbor and the Gulf Of
Darien as the harbor in connection
with the Atlantic ocean. The dis
covery of assures in the two back
bones of the Cordilleras Immediately
west of the principal mountain which
is proposed to be pierced by tunnel
will alter all ideas about the correct
location OF the Atlantic and Pacific
ship canal all over the world. There
is no interior work along the pro-
posed ocean-level ship canal route
necessary, dredging excepted. There
fore no railroad line for the transpor-
tation of heavy building material
will be necessary. One lock at each
| end for the protection OF the shipping
trade against high tide, volcanic tidal
waves and other unforeseen disturb
ances will be sufficient for the pro-
posed double-track ship canal, which
will be quadruple channel for about
| eleven miles at the free navigation
level. The method OF construction Is
clever and ingenious, with the assist
ance of the most superior mechanical
devices. The total ship canal length
will not exceed twenty-eight and
three-eighths miles Of distance lie
tween the salt waters. The great
canal tunnel is measured at 1900
feet in length, exclusive OF the ap'
proaches.