The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-04-24

tHThe distance from port to port Is 16911S
miles. Of which 26A miles," according to the
company's survey, Twill have to be an ex-
cavated channel, and 14295 miles in lakes,
rivers and basins. The summit Is necessari-
ly Lake Nicaragua, ITO feet above the sea.
There will be three locks near either end; /;
the summit level maintained to within 12A
miles OF the Atlantic and extendineto With
In 81 miles of the Pacific" The whole
route Is divided into four divisions. =.
First, the eastern from the sea about 19
miles inland, in three locks to small basin
known as the San Francisco, will lift the
westward bound ships by steps of 81 feet into
the first foothills Of the eastern divide, so
feet higher utilizing stream called the De-
seado, and IS feet still above through the
heaviest cut Of the whole course, through the
dividing ridge INTO the valley OF the San
Juan-or total rise Of log feet. ,s.
Second, the San Francisco Division in
cludes the next 12L miles from the San
Francisco basin westward, utilizing the
course OF another small stream, the Limpio,
ing a broad waterway to q dam called the
Ochoa dam, in the San Juan, where the juno
tion with the river Is made. This dam. Is to
hold the level Of the river up to the 1o6 feet,
the maximum level reached on the divide,
and favors the river way to the lake.
Third, for the River and Lake Division
there are to be 121 miles accounted for.
that is, to the west shore Of Lake Nicaragua.
In the river channel lot OF rock blasting
will be required to secure the necessary
depth and width. Allowance is to be made
for the natural drainage OF the Lake by al.
lowing o fall Of feet from the lake level OF
10 feet to the minimum river level Of 108
feet at Ochoa dam. In the lake considerable
mud dredging will be required for l4OO feet
from the west shore.
Fourth, the Western Division comprises
the remaining II miles from the west shore
OF Lake Nicaragua miles excavation cut
ting through the western ridge, miles
across the flooded Tola basin, and the re-
naming 8 miles to the Pacific Ocean at
Brito, by three locks (Nos. 4. and 6) with
lifting distance Of from l06 to ia feet, varying
In tho last lock according to the rise and fall
of the ocean tides Here Il will be necessary,
to artificiully improve the harbor Of Brito,
by .'breakwater," part of which has already
been constructed
The estimated time Of transit from ocean
to ocean Is 2S hours for the 1881 miles. The
passage of the Suez Canal. 100 miles, requires
"a hours. The cost OF all construction Ia
estimated by the company to be $65.Os4 ,176.
The following persons have been appoint
ed Commissioners to investigate and report
upon the leaSlplnty. permaneace auu eA"
pense Of the Nicaragua Canal on the route
nroposed by the construction company:
From the Army, Major William Ludlow,
Corps of Engineers; from the Navy, Com.
mander U. T. Endicott, Civil Engineer, and
from civil life, Alfred Noble, Of Chicago,
member of the American Society Of Civil
Engineers.
The Commission will receive formal in
structions from the Secretary of State, and
then proceed to Mobile, Ala, and sail on the
warshlp Montgomery for Greytown. 4