The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-12-04
Serious Blow to the Canal.
Report of the Commission to
Examine the Nicaraguan
Route
Says the Project is Impracticable
on Present Data.
From The New York Herald

From The New York Herald
\ serious blow has been dealt the
Nicaraguan Canal Compaoy's project
for the construction of waterway
across the Isthmus by toe report OF the
Nicaraguan Commission.
Inevitable delay and q farthur and
more through investigation of the entire
subject are declared to be necessary be
fore even the engineering feasibility OF
auy canal across Nicaragua can be de-
cided upon.
am able TO give to give to the pub
lie through the Herald. for the first
time, review of the contents and the
report OF the Nicaraguan Canal Com
mission This report is now lying on
the Presidents desk, and is being COZ
sidered by him 10 connection with his
annual message to Congress.
The report is at such variance with
the numerous rumors and predictions
which have from time to time been
published concerning it, tha: it will!
cause great surprise and disappointment
among those who have hoped for gen
orally favorable report, and who have.
therefore, placed credence 10 these ru-
mors, which usually stated Ion the
highest authority" that the Commission
favored the route proposed by the con-
papy, aud placed the cost Of the canal
at about $4,000. 900
The report points out that it is
neither practicable nor advisable TO at
tempt the construction of the Nicaragua
Canal upon the data at presentavailable,
and that the undertaking would be
fcaugh: with hazards too Obvious to
disregard
That the necessary knowledge may
be had Of the physical and ;opographi-
cal conditions affecting the construction
aud maintenance of caoal across
Nicaragua, upoB which TO form iuai
judgment as 10 the feasibility, perwa-
ueuce and cost, the commission recon-
mends au appropriation by Congress Of
$3.50 ,00e fer extensive additional sur
7eys and examinations, covering a
period of eighteen months
With the data at hand, however, the
commission makes a provisional es,i-
mate Of cost of s133,4 ,472, 1898, or near
iy double that of the Maritime Canal
Compauy's unconditional estimate Of
$50, 1898, $3.50.
The commissi makes its estimate
provisional" for the commissioners
say the existing data are inadequate as
basis for estimating the cost of many
structures Some portions OF the work
may cost more others less
The report says the official estimate
BY the company of 500, 1903, $50. is in-
suficint for the work /; that ''!n several
important cases. the quantities must be
greatly increased, aud in numerous
cases the unit prices do not make pro-
per allowance for the difference in cost
Of work between the United States and
Nicaragua" !"
The general trend OF the entire re-
port is certainly very unfaVorable to
the canal company. The con mission
resrains from any direct criticism of the
coupasy's prospectus, but its repor;
shows that certain features, which the
company has persisted in assuring the
publich. through Congress, were known
to oe absolutely safe aud feasible, if put
10 execution nighs jeopardize the prac-
,icab;lity of the whole system, aud pos
sibly destroy fore-er the hope Of a
canal by mears of &c San Juan River
aud Lake Nicaragua
For instance, the Maritime Caual
Company has proposed to construct ia
Ochoa. on the San Juan River, twenty
nine miles from Greytown. On the
Caribbean. what is known as rock
gil" dam to hold the lake and river
level at navigable elevation, aud d.
vert the line thence from the river to
the sea by canal in excavating. This
has, 10 fact, been one of the foregone
certainsies of the project, and the COM
pany has told Congress that this enor-
nous structure could be erected for
s977.273.
The Canal Commission says "rock.
6u'' dam capnot be built 10 Ochoa for
less than $4,00c,000. 1t also shows