Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1895-11-30
Commission Sent There Does
Not Give Glowing Report
NEW DATA is MOST DESIRABLE
Instead of Costing S7O,OOO,0OO, 1t Is
Estimated That Over S133,-
100000 Is Required.

New York, Nov. 25.-A special to the
Herald from washington says:
"a serious blow has been dealt the
Nicaraguan Canal Company project
for the construction Of a waterway
across the isthmus by the report Of the
Nicaraguan canal waterway commits
sion. Inevitable delay and a further
and more thorough investigation Of the
entire subject are declared to be nee
essary before even the engineering feas-
Utility Of any canal across Nicaragua
can be decided upon.
Your correspondent is able to make
public the review and the text OF the
conclusions of the report of the Mica
raguan canal commission. This report
is now lying on the presidents desk
and is being considered by him In con-
nection with his annual message to con-
gress.
THE report is at such variance with
the numerous rumorS and predictions
which have from time to time been
published concerning it that it will
cause great surprise and disappoint-
ment among those who have heretofore
placed credence in the rumors, which
usually stated ON the highest author
ity that the commission favored the
route proposed by the company and
placed the cost of the canal at about
Sic, 900, 900.
THE report points out that 1t is
neither practicable nor advisable to at
tempt the construction Of the Nicara-
guam canal upon the data at present
available and that the undertaking
would be fraught with hazards too OBJ
vious to disregard.
That knowledge be had of the phys
ical and typographical conditions af-
fecting the construction and malnte-
nance of a canal across Nicaragua,
upon which to form final judgment
as to the feasibility, permanence and
cost, the commission recommends an
appropriation by congress of $35O,OOO for
extensive additional surveys and sx-
aminations covering a period of lS
months.
with the data at hand, however, the
commission makes provisional estl-
mate Of the cost as 1888, 472, 1913, or near
ly double that of the Maritime Canal
Company's unconditional estimate or
$50, 500, go. The commission makes its
estimate PROVISIONAL The commission
ers say the existing data are made
quate as a basis for estimating the cost
of many structures. Some portions or
the work may cost more, others less.
THE report says the official estimate
by the company of $69, 1898, $50 is INSULT
cient for the work, that in several i'm
portant cases the quantities must be
greatly increased, and in numerous
cases the unit prices do not make prop
err 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 commission
refrains from any direct criticism Of
the company's prospectus, but it's re-
port shows that certain features which
the company has persisted in assuring
the public, through congress, were
known to be absolutely safe and FEAST
BILE, if put in execution might jeopardize
the practicability of the whole system
and possibly destroy forever the hope
of a canal by means Of the San Juan
river and Lake Nicaragua"