The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-31
WORK FOR THE BIG CANAL.
WHAT THE Federal COMMISSION
HAS DONE AND VILE 10.
A Thorough Examination Of the Nicaragua
Rnnte TO IicEIn on Ahnni ihnr. 1.-The nrnnrt

A Thorough Examination Of The Nicaragua
Route 10 HcEih ON About bee. 1.-The Report
TO Etc Exact ana huIhorItntlyc-Mrn on tho
Commission-Thc Present Preliminary work.
The Government commission appointed by
President Mckinley to examine the proposed
route OF the Nicaragua intcrorcanic canal and
report on tho feasibility and probable cost Of tho
work practically began its labors Mt the Army
building, in this city, the first of last week, and
1t has been steadily employed every day since
then. The commission, MS has boon told. con.
sists OF Admiral J. G. Walker, Col. 7. C. Hams
of the Engineer Corps Of the army, who was in
charge of tho Gorcrnm MT river and hnrbor
work in the Baltimore district. and Prof. L. NJ.
1Iaupt OF Philadelphia, who was formerly in
structor in civil engineering at tho University
OF Pennsylvania. The work which they now
have especially in hand ~ collecting u d Gr.
ranging for reference the data obtained by pro
vious surveyors of tho route, iacludi e, of
course. the surveys made by Mcnocal for tho
present Nicaragua Canal Company. The printed
reports made by all Government engineers who
have worked on the route are in hand, and dur.
Ing tho last week an engineer who is entirely
convcrsant with all The later wo K done by pri
vatc enterprise there has been putting the facts
in convenient form for reference.
Tho new Runboat Newport went to sea on
Wednesday for q two days trial trip to see that
her machinery and fittings were in order and
she is now at the Brooklyn navy yard preparing
to carry the commission TO San Juan del Norte,
or Grcytown, the northern terminus of tho
route under the last survey.
As told by ono who WINS authorized to speak 1t
is the aim of this commission TO settle once for
all, so far rs practical preliminary work can
settle it, the question OF the practicability OF
this route. A corps OF the best talent in the
nation for such work has been selected to assist
the Commissioners. Every survey and boring
and dredging and sounding and measuring of
currents and or silt deposits hitherto made will
be checked up and proved or disprovcd, after
which all the additional work needed to deter
mine beyond all doubt engineering questions that
may be raised will be done. 1t will interest the
! people OF New York and New Jersey to know that
Lieut.. c.. c. Hdnus, who was in charge of the
work of locating tho boundary between the two
States in the lower bay. will have charge of the
marine surveying needed for locating the har-
bors at the ends Of the proposed 'nnnls. Men
of Equal skill will have charge Of other branches
of the work.
The exact day for sailing has not been deter.
minei at this writing. but the Commissioners
! expect to start about the middle OF November
and 10 be well at work with the surveys and cN-
arninations by Dec. ]. AT the Office OF President
Hiram Hitchcock of the Nicaragua Canal Com
pany "A representative said:
~ we have men who are competent and un-
preJunlCeu, we are willing ana GLAD 10 nave thcIn
examine thoroughly anything and everything
pertaining to the canal enterprise
No opinion as to this commissions ability and
fairness MAS expressed, but il was said that
every facility had been and would be extended
to y in its examination of the company.s data.
Elsewhere "A man who hns gone over the route.
and is familiar with the various examinations
that hive been made. said that this was not
only the best.couippcd Government expedition
for the work in hand. but that it was the only
ore so far sent out that was prepared to make a
complete and unbiased report on the whole mat
No estimate OF the time necessary for the cx-
animation or the cost of il was made by any ore
engaged in the work. Congress appropriated
100000, but it is the opinion of competent men
that this sum will not be sufficient. When this
matter as mentioned at the office of The com-
mission The reporter was told that the work
would be done thoroughly over as much of the
part then remained uneHamined Congress
would be asked for the sum needed 10 complete
1t. There would be no skimmlng or scalnping on
any part whatever.
In connection with the work on which the
Commissioners will have TO rcpori, ii is not un-
interesting to note something of the reductions
in cost which recent impro ements In appliances
for snch enterprises have made. The Mcnocal
estimate OF cost for digging through the alluvial
deposits on the canal route WIS 20 cents per
cubic ynrd., During the lust year digging OF the
one cent per yard. and i've cents is counted "A
high price by competent men. Tie Ncnocal cs-
innate for blasting out the underwater rocks,
on the north side of tn big Il Ike, for instance.
Government is now paying but $3.50 per cubic
yard for harder rock in the Niagara River. But
whether csc facts w II serve or not to lower
the estimate OF the cost OF the enterprise. il is
regard d ms certain by all familiar With It that
the public will now be able TO learn definitely
all the facts that can be obtained b. preliminary
surveys.
Enrtx-Or,h aa,,o,