The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-28
THE REPORT OF THE NICARAGUA
COMMISSION.

COMMISSION.
The New York Herald claims TO have
had access TO the report which the com
mission OF engineers sent by the Govern
mcnt 10 inspect the proposed Nicaragua
canal route has made TO the President,
and IT publishes what II says Is the
substance OF that report. NO one hao
rghl. under the law. to see or make
public this report, and. II the hera'u
says II has secured its contents what
II says OF It is to be regarded with sus-
picion.
But II the Herad's forecast OF the re-
port is correct, that document IS Destined
to give some very great and disagreeapie
surprises, for It seems to show that the
feasibility of a canal by the Nicaraguan
route is still d matter OF doubt, ana
that If feasible, it will probably cost
s133. Az. s93 instead of s69. S93 $50, as esti-
mated by the canal companys engineers.
We do not regard the additional cost
as matter Of any moment. II the canal
is possible It should be constructed,
whether IL costs sixty-nine millions or
whether II costs one hundred and thirty
three millions. The important thing IS
the question whether the canal can be
built along this route at all.
The surveys made by tho canal COM
pany are pronounced by the commission
| defective. The great feature of its route
| is the Ochoa dam. which is TO be very
high. and is TO withstand the sudden
floods of the San Juan river Tropical
rains are TO be controlled by rock
| fill" dam-dumped stone-of great height
| at cost of S977,2 73. The commission
raises the point that the foundations
! on which this structure are to rest have
not been examined. Borings. ii says.
| have been few and far between. The
bed of the river is treacherous, and the
! geology OF the site is unknown II thinks
! proper dam here would be of cut
stone, and that ii would cost S4'ooo'ooo.
| But. even at this cost, the Ochoa DAM
| without further surveys, borings, records
| of rainfalls, and observations OF the
volumes of streams in wet and dry sea-
sons for year and half, would ne
| hazardous. 1t needs great deal more
| study than has been given 10 1t, ana
so great difficulty does IT constitute in
| the commissions opinion, that an alter
native route is recommended for inves-
| tigation. The companys reports upon
the route generally are pronounced in
| adequate. its maps being repetuons
without apparent attempt at revision
| OF the childs map made in 49,. II IS
recommended that $4,000 be aDpropri-
ated for a new and thorough survey.
without which It will be impossible TO
solve the canal question inteligently,
whether from a financial or engineering
| point Of view.
Many changes OF the canal company 5
| plans and estimates are recommended.
The cost Of labor should be gagged, II
is held, not by the rate of wages in the
United States, but in Nicaragua. The
| harbors =: each end Of the canal should
be denn.ta,y located and protected The
Ssyth c: tie canal. its width, and the
n. - n<l s~; size Of its locks should be
| different TO fit il for the work it is to do.
The effect of earthquakes Is considered
Strange 10 say, the survey OF 1872 IS
| described as the most comprehensive
vet made. The canal cVTpany's figures
Of cost differ greatly from those of the
commission. The company cs imated S3l.
| Sg9.S44 for the eastern division Of tie
canal; the com mission requires sol 3G. 2.j
For the western division the company
| allows 500 5l9. O91; the commission SIS.
1S6.773. For the lake division the com
pany thinks but $500. 7s5 is needed; the
commission says S.6,234.343 The commits
sion requires S5.OOO,0OO for management
engineering and hospital service-items
which the canal company does not pro-
| vide for at all The total provisional
estimates made by the company and com
mission, respectively 100000 and SILL
100000. which figures are brought by tho
usual allow ance of 20 Der cent. FOR con-
tingencies" to $50, 500, GGO and S133. Az. SOB
as already stated. IL is noticeable, how
ever. that the commission IS careful to
abstain from saying that the canal Is
feasible at any cost. The gist of It's
recommendation is that engineers be
given eighteen months and $4,000 tc
make a proper study of the whole pro-
blem and obtain data on which 10 base
| reliable estimates.
Such is the substance of this most i'm
portant document. in preparing which
we have made free use Of the admirable
| digest of it made by the Baltimore Sun
If the Herald has correctly reported it.
there will be delay in the construction OF
the canal until the Ochoa dam question
can be settled Nevertheless there should
be no despairing Congress should pro-
| vide at once for such additional investi
| cation of the route AS may be necessary
and the canal should be built as soor
rs a competent board OF engineers re-
ports that all engineering difficulties can
be safely overcome
| n ~ q, 4. 4