The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-06-10
INSPECTING THE CANAL.
Nicaragua Com mission Going Over
the Route.


San Juan del Norte, Nicaragua, May lS.-
The committee of engineers appointed by
President Cleveland to examine the plans
and route of the Nicaragua canal is now
comfortably settled down here in the quar-
ters which had been prepared for it's menu
bers. AT noon, on the 18th, after a journey
of six days from Mobile, the steamer ar
rived off this harbor, and the commissioners,
all of whom were well, landed the same
afternoon. They buckled down to work i'm
mediately and have been much pleased with
what they have heard and seen of the con
diton of the canal work.
The canal line has been cleared between
the lake and Brito. the western terminus,
and the work of clearing the route from
Greytown (San Juan del Norte) to Ochoa,
was nearly completed The commission
found every one actively interested in the
work and also that everything had been
done to insure an adequate inspection OF
the route.
The commission first inspected the break
water. Here, as was to be expected, the
piles and timber were found to be much
eaten by the pest of southern waters. the
teredo. The commissioners are making very
careful examination of this locality. Some
surveys have already been started to de-
termine to what extent changes may have
occurred in the beach since work was begun
by the company in 1889.
This damage by the teredo is about the
only evidence of deterioration which the
commission has seen. The dredged section
of the canal is in excellent condition. Inc
high embankments on the sides have stood
the action of the weather perfectly, leading
to many expressions of approval from the
members of the inspecting party. The con-
dition of the company's buildings Is also
gratifying. All OF them, from La Fe to the
hospital, have been visited and found to De
in an excellent state of preservation.
The commission went over the whole line
of the railroad on May 10Th. This trip from
Greytown to the terminus al Camp No. .
was made on a hand ear, At an average
speed of about eight miles an hour. Inc
condition of the road, after so long sus-
pension of work. the subject OF favor
able and general comment. The eInbihh-
ments are firm and well settled, presenting
q uniform grade, as originally laid down.
The track is in excellent condition-one Oh
the commissioners renarlIng that loco
motive and train OF cars might even now
run over it in perfect safety. The ohiy
imperfections were where native uhioeL
had been used for ties With the replace
ment of these, which are few IN number
the road will be in perfect condition.
The inspection thus far made shows that
there has been no wash or perceptlbie set
thing of the entertainments ana the side cuts
i'm the sections of road in eXcaFathS
which in some eases were almost vertical
are practically as orig nally made. The
stability Of the work is shown by the tact
that writings and Car.catures made ny the
work,77cn on the face Of the cay Slope re-
tain even their sharp outlines fhe cruulo-
ling of earth from the face or the slope
has not III any case been sufficient 70 OBJ
struct the small side drains. This demon
strates that there need be no fear of IN
Jury bv rains to similar works in TINS the
rainy section of the canal.
The party viii finish it's preliminary WoIh
hero in two or three days more Then, en-
MAY DIST. the commissioners expect TO
start for the lake region.