The herald., 1896-02-08
On the Route for the Nicaragua
Canal
OF EXPENSES
Probable Stability of the Water Way
When Built
Much Further Investigation Shoa'd Be Made
Before any Route IL Finally D.
cidcd upoa
IS o,ialed rress snec!al Wire.

As o,ia,ed Press Special Wire.
WAsufSGToH, Feb. 7.-rhe president to-
day sent to the house the report Of the COM
raissoners appointed under act of con-
gress TO make an investigation of the route
of the proposed Nicaragua canal. The
salient features of The document have al
ready been published. The report contains
very elaborate data respecting the work al
ready done by the company, the physical
char arActeristcs of the country, the dangers
to be met, the weak points to be overcome,
and various other detailed statistical in
formation. The report treats the canal
question under three divisions, viz: the
eastern, Greytown harbor; the lake and
river divisions. from Ochoa to the west
side of Lake Nicaragua: and the western
division, from Lake Nicaragua TO the Paci-
fic ocean.
The commission presents The following
comparative grand recapitulation of esti
mates of cost for the whole canal as we'll
as those for separate portions, also Tor cef-
tain incidentals:
Eastern division-Company's estimate,
1898, Tola basin, SO ,399 ,S44; company s
estimate. 1895. low level line, S31 ,299, =
S44; boards estimate, 1895, low level,
So ,3O6,2
Lake and river division-Company's es-
innate, 1898. Tola basin. $5,922,5S2; !;
compaDy's estimate, 1895. low level line,
$5,922, 1872; boards estimate, 1895, low
level, 500 ,234.343.
Western division, company estimate
1895, Tola basin, 17.693.94 company
estimate 1895. low level line, $40. $40 ,091 /;
boards estimate 1895, low level, $2S,-
lS6,773: lights and buoys company's esti-
mate 1895, lola basin, S373,OOO; COM
pany's estimate 1895, $4,000; boards
estimate. 100000.
Management and engineering, board 8
estimate, 81 100000.
Hospital service, boards estimate,
81 100000.
Total company's estimate 1895, Tola
basin, $55 1899, ,O67; company's estimate
1895; low level line, $5S PATTI; boards
estimate 1895, low level, Sill ,227 All.
Contingencies. 20 per cent, conpany's
estimate 1895, Tola basin, 81 l .O77,S13;
company's estimate 1895, low level line,
S1l .G4S,943; boards estimate 1898, low
level, $22 ,245 ,4S2.
Grand total, company's estimate 1895,
Tola basin, 500 ,466,SS0; company's esti-
mate 1895, low level line, 69.S93, $50;
boards estimate 1895, low level, $780,
472,S95.
The commissions conclusions are that
all locks in the canal should have width
of eighty feet, as United States steamers
like the Iowa have a beam of seventy-two
feet: that all streams Affecting the canal
route should be gagged to ascertain regi-
men, and rainfall observations made at
points along the entire route. The con-
s,ructlon of the eastern division on the
line proposed by the company is in the
maintenance of numerous dams and en-
bankments, the final adoption OF any
route is inexpedient until all alternative
routes have been investigated. Explorations
for alternative routes in the eastern divis-
100 should include the so-called low level
line, on the left bank of the San Juan to
the San Juanillo and thence to Greytown
and investigation made as to the practical
bility of extending the canalization of the
river to the vicinity of the Sera Apiqui by
means of comparatively low dams. The
cost of the work, particularly in the eastern
division, will bs increased in consequence
of the heavy rainfall, but from ooserva-
tions made its destructive effect on COM
pleted work will be much less than that of
frost in the United States.
The climate of Nicaragua is mild,
equable and humid, and labor cheap, hut
the opening of earth excavations may be
expected to develop malarial disease. The
volcanic and seismic forces are declining,
and will not iInperil the stability of the
canal. For obtaining the necessary data
for final project. eighteen months time,
covering two dry seasons, an expendl ture
of $3.50, 900 will be required.