Omaha daily bee., 1896-04-18
STANDS BY HIS ESTIMATES
Cost Of the Nicaragua Canal Will Reach the
Commissions Figures.
LOOKED CAREFULLY OVER THE GROUND
United states Could Not Hope 10 Hold
that waterway Against the Naval
strength of Great
britain.

WASHINGTON. April T.--The Nicaraguan
canal commission. which visited the isthmus
last summer, presented some features Of its
side Of the canal question before the house
committee on Interstate and foreign COM
merce today. Engineer Mordecai T. Endicott,
U. S. N, member Of the commission, was
the witness. He resented the statements by
Hon. Warner Miller and Engineer Menocal
of the canal company that the investigations
by the commission had been OF a cursory
nature. The board was in Nicaragua forty
two days and spent thirty -four DAYS in actual
field work. Except in few important de-
tails the plan of Engineer Menocal seemed
to Mr.. Endicott feasible. While the com
pany's plan contemplated a canal twenty
eight feet deep, the commission was con-
WINGED that at certain seasons the water
would fall to twenty-elght feet unless the
dams were built to greater height,
Mr.. Endicott was asked IL he thought the
canal would be a danger to the United States
in case of war. He replied that in the event
of war with nation like Great Britain the
government would be obliged to abandon
the canal, but might solve the problem by
blowing up the locks. From a military point
OF view the canal was desirable.
The present value of all the work done by
the company, Mr.. Endicott estimated at half
million. Its harbor works at Greytown we're
In bad condition and not much of value re-
mained. Portions of the work would have
to be removed. The companys FIVE dredges
were sunk in the harbor and were obsolete
His estimate OF the value of the comDany's
property, when in good condition was 81 ESQ.,
900.
He did not believe the canal could be
built for s65 900, 900 0he company's estimate)
even concedng Mr.. Menocal's plans to be
feasible. The question being asked whether,
If the government was willing to pay $13S,-
900 for the canal, II would be advisable
TO begin work al once. the engineer replied
that the government should make more sat
isfactory surveys and estimates before going
forward. 1t was most important that sufll-
cient hydraulic figures be secured, and 1t
was also possible that further investigation
would increase estimates of cost
In the afternoon the canal hearings were
continued. Mr.. Endicott explained the plans
for Ochoo dam and said that the dam would
be safe If not used as weir.
Mr.. Noble of Chicago, the civilian member
of the committee, explained how the commits
zion had made up its estimates of the cost
Of the work by consultation with contractors
in the United States accustomed to handle
work of the same character. About $22,-
600 900 Of the additional cost over the COM
pany's estimates found by the commission
was due to the enlargement of the canal,
which the commission thought necessary.
Mr.. Noble thought the climate of Nicaragua
more healthful than that of the Mississippi
bottom.
In reply to question from Chairman Hep
burn, Mr.. Noble said there had been no con-
versation with Nicaraguan officials regard
ing their willingness to have the United
States government assume control of the
work. With the notifications proposed by
the board he had no question that the canal
would be a commercial success.