New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-08

MR. CLEVELAND TRANSMITS A REPORT ON
THE SUBJECT TO CONGRESS.

DIFFICTLTIES IN THE WAY Or lhc i'''
Ecr-ruE coMPANY's ESTIMATE OF
THE COST NEARLY DOUBLED
Washington. Feb I'm the judgment of the Board
Of Engineers which thoroughly investigated the
subject last summer. will cost s334'zo'S u eo"
struct the Nicaragua Canal. THESE hsures arc
ss4 O0O 900 In excess of the estimates OF the co'
many which now holds a charter from Nicaragua
% build the waterway. The Board when maze inc
,rvestsation consisted of Iieutenant-Colonel VIII
lam Ludlow Of the United States Army; Morueea'
EndIcott a civil engineer In the Cni'eu "'a.e'
NAVY and Alfred Noble. also civil engineer. Inc
Boards report which Is included In wv paseS "a
,vpewr,tten manuscript was sent TO-DAY o' i'e'
dent Cleveland 20 the fiouss
The most serious problems affecting the ue''s"
md construction OF The canal system at the present
time the report finds are those involved III tue
heavy rainfall and consequent discharges iroi" vi"
lake and streams, whose variations Oh suri"Ne -,
volume must be taken into account. Inc 'a'"'"A
record AT Greytown for period OF three years
shows a mean OF 27 inches. record AT f'l'a'' o'l
the west side for fourteen years gives mean Oh
e. inches In addition to these there Is reliable IN
formation OF preciptatons OF three degrees IN an
hour OF nne degrees In nine hours ana thirV-'Ne
d,raes IN eight days A record Of nearly twenty
five feet OF water In year on the Iari"pe"' ''
diminished TO five and half feet between '"e iah'
and the Pacific needs comment to indicate the
irortant results that must ense with reference u
matters Of local drainage and engineering cohS"u'-
ton ,.,,o,o
The report shows that the climate OF NICARAGUA
>, ,,,raors,ood II IL the continued moderate
,cmnerature In conjunction with the hgh huhilu.
,.v that so seriously reduces the value OF physca'
labor in the tropics There has never been any ye'
lou fever at Creytown. except when imported. Inc
-, rainfall will increase largely the cost or eX-
oya.ing the deep mud at severa! embankment SITES
IN excavations. building embankments' etc Inc
natives are not likely to prove usefui IN me s'e
and steady work OF canal construction 'a'na''''
,esroos who have been employed on the fd''"t
ruw.v are docile and. from a tropical point oil
,iew Industrious and fairy effective fhey VIII u'.
doubtedly form the labor supply fot tne ca"a'
vrces are on.y about half much as In the 'h.tei
c.,ea hut the efficiency OF the faborers Is proper
uonately much less III, J., ~,
Machinery Will be used largely nut Will We "
nil value after the completion Of the canal anu
,r,is n any viii be worth removal. us e"'''
cos, would therefore, be charged 20 the ca"'' ,O'-
,,c,,on making the pan,-charge higher INA"
,,l There are now shops or facilities OF any
L,ra ON or near the canal line and they VIII nave
n be supplied adjuncts OF the worn "N'''e'
labor will have TO be imported Frei VIII cos' ~
than double Frelgh, on materials ana supplies WI"
tn,reaso their cost greatly particularly II sent 10
interior points , . a.
! ,,rge mart OF the report Is devoted 20 Il ue-
sr,,,,on o, the character OF the soil. the Work
necessary to he performed at points along '"e P'o
posed route and the expense attacheu " '''
detailed recommended ons with regarh 10 M ~, =,
| dams and basins follow. lhc i"atu h.nh -
proper to make note OF the faciity NJ ", ,bn long
breach might be effected at any point OF Ine ,1''s
serins Of embankmen,s employed In connection
with the canal project . -. .orhor a.
Grevtown Harbor. the entrance 10 the mar 90 %
rronosed by the company the report says, ~ ."o
near the angle OF the coast me ana ai1 e' hdt
., tho canal should be moved eastward apVu'
mile and a half The harbor Throughout snou i, ~
drc,lged to thirty feet below water anu 'S "''
! Increased to six fathons ...o, -. tho
| In regard 10 the ochoa dam as propose" W w
conpanv the report says this dam rs 10 be q fVoh-
Am al consfrucicd the Commission says, mas
-, ure..drnt and It's erection n CONNECT win w
unknown volume % the hoods presents grave uH!-
cultics ,,,., ,o, ,ho iala
IA NJ" The r.pori says. The information with
reference the site proposed ior inc Ia or r nm
indicates that ~ construction IL l'npt r o'i
the Commission suggests an Alternative low 800
,"u,e which offers no special difficulties In con
80 - - tho terminus n, Rrto the Commission sug-
g.sts tho aesirabliy OF moving II southwark from
the location proposed by the company
The report closes with the following general con-
ciuslon The official estimate by the company or
SS W. sSl II insufficient Tor IN" "ork III s1neia'
rrra..I and I'm numerous cases the unit prices DO
M, make proper allowance for the difference IN
cost OF work between the nitei states ana Ni'a-
rasua The provisional estimate by the Board is
N33 az ga. . 49,,
ii should be understood that the existing data
Ar. inadequate basis for esiimat ng the cost
az many OF the structures. some portions or the
YORK may cost more others less. but In the judg-
mont OF the Board the entire project can be exc
cuted for about the total amount or MS estimate.
For obtaining the necessary data ior ths iorma-
lion Of a canal project, Il ;hteen months time. COW
cring Two dry seasons ana an expenditure OF SN'''-
! CO. Will be required.