The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-11-30

washington. Nov. la serious blow has
been dealt the NfcaraKuan Cana. COM
pany's project for the construction or a
waterway across the isthmus by the re-
port Of tho Nicaraguan canal commission
Inevitable delay and q further AMI more
thorough investigation or the entire sub
icct are declared TO he necessary before
even the engineering feasibility OF any
canal across Nicaragua can be decided
upon.
A review OF the contents and the text
Of the conclusions OF the report OF tho
Nicaraguan canal commission became pub
lie Monday morning. This report In now
lying on the presidents desk. and IL now be-
ing considered by him In connection with his
annual message TO congress- The report
10 az such variance with the numerous
rumors and predictions which have from
time to time been published concerning
II. that Il VIII cause great surprise and
disappointment among those who nave
hoped for a generally favorable report.
and who have. therefore. placed crcdence
IN these rumors. which usually stated.
ION tho highest authority" that the conn
mission favored the route proposed by the
company. and placed the cost or the canal
at about SilO.o0o.0O0.
On tho contrary. the report points out
that II IS neither practicable nor adyis-
able 10 attempt the construction or the
Nicaragua canal upon the data al pres
ent available. and that the undertaking
would be frnught with hazards too obvious
10 disregard. That the necessary knowi-
edge may be had OF the physical and typo
graphical conditions affecting the con-
struction and maintenance Of canal
across Nicaragua. upon which 10 form
nnal Judgment as 10 tho Feasibility,
permanense and cost. the commission
recommends an appropriation by congress
OF Ss50.0O0 Tor extensive additional surveys
and combinations. covering period OF -
months.
The general trend OF the entire report
- certainly very unfavorable TO the canal
company. The commission refruins from
any direct criticism OF the companys
prospectus. but It's report shows that GER
tain features. which the company has
persisted In assuring the public. through
congress. were known TO be absolutely
safe and feasible. II put I'm execution
might Jeopardlze the practicability or tho
whole system. and possibly destroy for
ever the hope OF canal by means or tho
San Juan river and Lake Nicaragua.
The commission considers that too
much time and pains were devoted by
tas company TO ascertaining tho topog-
raphy or the country when II should
have paid more attention TO the FEAST
billty OF the waterway across Mica
ragua. and It's cost
The commission refraips from COM
menting on the company's methods OF
making Its surveys. and. In great many
cases. the failure 10 make surveys. Cer-
tain features OF it's plans are commended.
The report, however. presents many very
interesting comparative tables, which APP
pear TO show the astonishing insuficiencv
OF the company's data. tho inexplicable
smallness OF the amount OF work Il
thinks necessary TO be done, and conso-
quently comparatively modest estimate
OF cost OF construction and completion OF
the canal. The conclusions or tho com
mi -.on arc is In number. They refer
largely 70 questions involved In the detailed
construction OF the work
Perhaps the most interesting portion OF
tho work IN the section which gives "A
recapitulation OF the cost
This section follows: