The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-25
THE ISTHMUS CANAL.
It's Present Construction Said
to Be Impracticable
BY THE CANAL COMMISSION.
The Hazards Too Great to Disregard,
and Further Surveys and Exam
nations Are Recommended.

New York, Nov. c5.--A special 10 the
Herald from Washington City says: A
serious blow has been dealt the Nicara-
guam Canal Company's project for the
construction of waterway across the
isthmus by the report OF the Nicaraguan
canal commission. Inevitable delay and a
further and more thorough investigation
Of the entire subject are declared 20 he
necessary before even the engineering
feasibility of any canal across Nicaragua
can be decided upon.
Your correspondent Is able TO make pub
lie the review OF the contents and the text
OF the conclusions OF the report of the
Nicaraguan canal commission. This re-
port is now lying on the presidents desk,
and is'being considered by him in connec-
ton 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 IL that il viii cause great sur
prise and disappointment among those
who have heretofore placed credence in
the rumors which are usually stated, ION
the highest authority" that the commits
sion favored the route proposed by the
company. and placed the cost OF the canal
at Il The reDort points out
that 1t is neither practicable nor advisable
to ATTEMPT the construction OF the Mica
ragua canal upon the data at present
available. and that the undertaking would
be fraught with hazards too obvious TO
disregard. That the necessary knowledge
may he had of the physical and topo-
graphical conditions affecting the con-
structfon and maintenance of a canal
across Nicaragua. upon which to form
final judgment as to the feasibility. per-
manence and cost. the commission recon-
mends an appropriation by congress OF
s350.0 for extensive additional surveys
and examinations covering period OF
eighteen months.
With the data at hand, however, the
commission makes a provisional estimate
OF the cost H35, SOB, or nearly double
that of the Maritime Canal Companys I'M
conditional estimate Of $50. S93.660. The
commission makes it's estimate "proyis-
ional," and the commissioners say the ex-
listing data are inadequate as a basis for
estimating the cost Of many structures.
Some portions of the work may cost more:
others less. The report says the official es-
innate by the company OF 9,S23 go is in
sufficient for the work; that Gin several
important cases the quantities must oe
greatly increased, and in numerous cases
the unit prices do not make proper allow
ance for the difference IN cost OF work
between the United States and Nicara-
qua
The general trend of the entire report
is certainly very unfavorable to the canal
company. The commission refrains from
any direct criticism of the company
prospectus, but its report shows that GER
tain features which the company has per-
sisted in assuring the public. through con-
Sress were known 10 be absolutely safe
and feasible. If put in execution. might
jeopard.ze the practicabiiity OF the whole
system and possibly destroy forever the
hope Of a canal by means of the San Juan
river and Lake Nicaragua. For instance,
the Maritime Canal Company has pro-
posed TO construct IN Ochoa, on the San
Juan river, twenty-nine miles from Grey
town, or the Caribbean, what is known as
"rockfill'' dam to hold the lake arr river
level at a navigable elevation, and to d.
vert the line thence from the river to the
sea by canal in excavating. THIS has,
in fact, been one Of the foregone certain
ties Of the project. and the company has
told congress that this enormous structure
could be erected for S997,273. The canal
commission say ''rockflll' dam cannot be
built in Ochoa for less than $4,000. The
commission considers that too much time
and pains were devoted by the company
to ascerta!ning the topography Of the coun-
try. when Il should have paid more atten-
ton 70 the feasibility OF the waterway
across Nicaragua. ana It's cost. The com
mission refrains from commenting on the
company's method Of making surveys. and
In a great many cases, its failure % make
surveys.
Managua. Nicaragua, Nov. 1a-D:ar!o
Nicaragua. the official organ OF the govern
ment OF Nicaragua, publishes q report from
Gen. Pablo Reyes, civil and military gov
ernor of the Caribbean sea coast OF Mica
ragua. attempting to explain why his re-
Gently costly efforts 70 construct a ma
tional telegraph line. also 4 railroad about
100 miles long from Rama. at the head of
the ocean steamship navigation on the
Biuefeids river, have proved failure. The
telegraph line from Manaugua TO Rama
IN, Nm krsF hs,-
been open to the use Of the public. and is
only occasionally in a condition so It can
be used by the government. Work on the
railroad from Rama TO Lake Nic2rauga
was begun az Rama BY Gen. Reyes In Au-
gust. 1895, but after spending much money
IN preparatory work." he now declares he
VII soon complete a contract with a COM
pany IN the United States 70 construct the
road. which he also declares win rot cost
much.' although competent civil engineers
have twice made preliminary surveys from
Rama TO Lake Nicaragua ana reported tina
cost 20 be more than $4,000 IN gold a mile.
Considerable political disturbance has
just developed among high Officials OF the
government Of Nicaragua. The immed.-
ate cause IS a decree Issued October 10
by President Zelaya, granting the I'M
portation Of sugar free OF duty for tlfe
ensuing two months. Many persons be-
lieved large profits were 10 be gained by
d. \
er Of the present minister OF the treasury
in September ordered several tons OF
white sugar from San Francisco. His
brother about that time went to Eastern
Nicaragua. Soon after he left the CO pi-
tai the president Issued the decree. The
sugar ordered from San Francisco arrived
AZ Corint0 and came Into the country
free OF duty. +, Pueblo. a daily owned
~ jose D. Camex. charged tAat Minister
CaAejas knew BEFORE he LETT the capital.
and when mis- brother. John Callejas, or
dered the sugar. that the president would
.ssuo such q decree. and gave that in
formation at once 20 MS brother The
special Importation of sugar was, a few
days after the attack IL the newspaper.
scld n the name OF the government or
Nicaragua. thereby adding other c0npI-
cations. Minister CaLejas telegra Pied 10
the newspaper, asserting t1ar ne had TO
previous knowledge % the case. ard sad
the measure was OF doubtful constitution
Atty. He also telszraphed his res .gna-
ton 70 President Zelaya.
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