The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-12-04
Shall We Build the Great Canal I?

The published summary of the report
of the engineer commission that exam
ined the Nicaragua Canal last summer
will somewhat disappoint the friends
of that enterprise. 1t is far from de-
clariug the project impraclcable or in
expedient. Ga the contrary, it pro.
poses detailed changes of plan which
would hardly be worth the time devoted
to them were there anything radically
wrong and without remedy in the
scheme. But there are two dlsappoint-
ing features in the report, one being a
higher estimate of the cost of The canal
than had been hoped, and the other an
explanation of the need of further sur
veys before the country undertakes it's
| construction.
The company's estimate of the cost
of the canal was about $40 600 900, in
GLIDING an allowance OF one-fifth for
contingencies. 1t had been rumored
that the engineer commission increased
this estimate to about $110,000,000; but
it now appears that that sum did not
include the one fifth for contingencies
and that with this addition the full es-
innate is S133 ,472 1893. The commits
sioners remark that this is only pro-
visional estimate, as their data are in
Adequate; that some portions of the
work may cost more and others less.
n
But is this estimate Of the commits
sion prohibitory? Certainly not. There
is no reason why the government should
not undertake the canal at that cost,
provided it is practicable, and that an
| a hu shnnl6
sho =, that the tolls taken on the canal
would pay the interest on the cOnstruC-
ton bonds and the running expenses.
That, accordingly, may well be the
next subject of inquiry. Meanwhile
the very estimates, which so greatly
increase the cost, provide for better
structure than the original and for
greater accommodations, so that the
expenses of maintenance should be pro-
portionally less.
n
AS to the points against the feasibil-
itv of the canal made during last win
ter's debate in congress, the commits
sion says that tremendous flood in
the San Juan river might destroy the
Ochoa dam, and the canal thence to the
sea; the waterway might also be
wrecked through piercing of the San
Francisco entertainments by an enemy
or by some malicious person. Yet
these are contingencies which ought
not to be fatal TO the enterprise, if 9TH
wise sound. The Ochoa dam may not
be absolutely necessary, recOnnois-
sance indicating the possibility of sub
shutting a series of low dams near the
Serapiqui River. This, should further
surveys warrant the change, would
avoid the grave difficulties of the Ochoa
dam. Parolling the line of the en-
bankments should also guard against
the danger of mischievous breach
there. OF the stability of the embank-
ments distinctly favorable view is
taken, and the conclusion that the eli
| matte influences upon the embankments
need not be feared is an important
point gained.
1t must be admitted, however, that
the commission presents strong and
perhaps decisive argument for post
poning the enterprise until further sur
vels can be made. This is matter of
greet, but the need of delay appears
from the refusal of the commission to
say positively that the canal is feasible
until certain data have been obtained
which only new and thorough survey
would furnish. For example, extern
sive borings must be made in the San