The herald., 1894-12-23

necessary to prepare the way for the
exit OF ocean vessels through San Carlos.
This will be simple in character, and,
together with wharves and all improve
ments in and about the lake, is esti.
mated at cost OF little over So, 900, 600.
The eastern section OF the canal pre-
sents the greatest difficulties of the un-
dertaking, and calls for the principal
outlay of money. Fof the fret 6i1a
miles from the lake the canal runs along
the bed OF the San Juan river. and but
little work is required to put it in order
The construction of dam at Ochos, which
is located about 75 miles east of the
lake, will lift the waters Of this river 100
feet above their present level, transform-
ing it from a shallow stream full OF
rapids and sharp turns to broad, deep
river. A small amount OF dredging will
be necessary, the estimated cost OF
which, together with all Improvements
along the San Juan river, is $2, 800, 900.
The two greatest undertakings OF the
canal arc the cut through the eastern
divide and the dam at Ochoa. Forum
ately. the two are located near together,
and the ono in a way supplements the
west OF the Atlantic ocean, q great mass
OF rock nearly three miles across and Oh
an average 14l feet high. La some places
it ia nearly 800 feet high. As the canal
will be 80 feet wide, some conception
can be formed of the enormous magni-
tude OF the work at this point. Indeed,
q per cent of all the excavation to be
done on the canal will be found right
here in these three miles of distance.
The total estimated excavation for this
cut is about 10.000,0O0 cubic yards, Of
which about 5000, 900 yards are surface
soil and the remainder solid rock. The
estimated expense for this work is about
$l2,000,000.
part of the rock which is taken out
at the divide excavation will be carried
eleven miles to the east, where it will
be ueed in the construction OF the Ochoa
dam. AS the diversion OF the San Juan.
which carries always $4,000 cubic feet Of
water per second, and ie liable at times
to carry $4,000, is not feasible. the dam
will be constructed by the method
known as the "rock fill" A million
and half cubic yards of stone taken
from the divide cut will be dumped into
the river and allowed to settle in place
until they strike the bed rock below the
sandy bottom. The length between
abutments will be 1850 feet and the
height 104 feet. This dam is the moet
important feature OF the whole eastern
section of the canal and may be described
"a the key to the whole system. The
estimated cost is about one million dol
lars. If the material for its construc-
ton were not close at hand ia the great
divide cut, the cost would be IN much
greater.
Three locks must be built east of the
divide out. having lifts respectively OF
As, 80 and 81 feet. A little over a.mile in
tervenes between them Their esti-
mated cost is about $4,000 900. The
last lock let's the canal down to the level
of the Atlantic and after cut of a little
over nine miles through level country
it curves out into the harbor OF Grey
town or San Juan del Norte. A long
pier will be extended out into the ocean
and channel will be opened through
the sand bar that now closes in the har-
Dor. The Improvements at Greytown
are estimated TO cost somewhere in the
neig h borhood of q million and a hall
dollars.
The total cost of the canal is variously
estimated at from $50 100000 to $780,
U0O,UOO. The most conservative anu
careful estimates. including a large per-
csntags for oontingents, do not 60 be-
yond the latter figure. The total am
cunt to be excavated is 10000 600 ubic
yards, and 10 600 900 cubic yards OF en-
bankment must he constructed.
The total length of the canal is 1863. A
miles, OF which 12l miles are natural
waterwaye, leaving AS of canal to con-
struct. OF this q. 6 are natural basins,
needing only to have the water ad-
mitted to make them parts OF the canal.
This leaves net 81 miles of actual ex.
cavation. The Suez canal had 100 miles
of straight digging The depth of the
canal will vary from 2S to 50 feet; lite
minimum width 50 feet and it's average
width about 200 feet. 1t will take 28
hours to send vessel through the
canal.
1t ia estimated that it will take six
years to build the canal. The portions
of Nicaragua through which it extends
are favored with q healthful climate,
and no such holocaust as took place at
Pana ma need be anticipated. Several mil
lion dollars have been expended in pre-.
liminary work and surveys, ana the un.
dsrtsking now awaits the action OF the
government.