New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-30
FOR THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE COMMITS
SION MADE PUBLIC.

THE PROJECT DECLARED TO RE ENTIRELY
Feasible ESTIMATES OF COST.
Washington. Dec. 2s-Thc fun text OF he pre-
lmlnary report OF the Nicaragua Canal commis
sion was made public to-day. 1t IL as follows
Department Of State Nicaragua Canai 'on'ihis-
sion. n. ,oos
The Honorable. the Secretary OF state ""s"'"s
Sir We have the honor TO acknowledge, me re-
ceipt Of your letter OF the 18th inst inclosing =
copy Of resolution OF the Senate or DeSe'nDer 10
requesting report OF the progress maus ny lie h
Commission In investigating the question OF me
proper route the feasibility and cost oil '"hs'r"e-
lion of the Nicaragua Canal -, a.,
This Commission has understood the law by
which 1t was constitute approyen onn ne havinS
require that all routes heretofore PROPOSES, h
any merit. to be considered: new routts 'n NV
entire region OF canal possibilities TO be examined
with sufficient thoroughness to enable Ju,, 'o ~
be made and the most desirable one selected. In
short. to enable this Commission to make con"
With This in view the Commission visited ,Nicar-
aqua personally examined the entire cana arsrcn
engineers with their laborers and helpers ior ven
months in making careful surveys ana rSdmlna
and neurological observers are still continuing III
Nicaragua with view 10 obtain IA fni' year OF
The required field work has been obtained I ne
reduction Of this field work. together rr TM r s
ing back nearly nifty years. has been in progress
for more than two months cha, H.. construction
OF a canal across Nicaragua Is entirely feasible
The estimates for two OF the best known
These routes are known as the Maritime canal
Companys route and the Lulu route Ihe,r . ess
mated cost is approximately sl2i.Vp"p ana VIZ
600 600 respectively The assumed dimensions are
both in length Of locks and in width depth and
radius of curvature OF canal Inese the Se
dimensions have been made necessary " , ,r 81
mands OF modern commerce, size and drangh, Oh
modern ships etc hs has msGessnry cos and
is in no way inconsistent with the estimates maus
smaller and cheaper canal. canal or smaller =,
dimensions. Just sufficient for present meLs cost
considera bly, ess than the estimate ior u rn raa
suitable for modern necessities. which Is reiei'eu
II ia the opinion Of this Commission that or me
two routes herewith estimated FOR the o,r II ~
"a sier Of construction presents no problems NOT
we'll within good engineering precedehts anu cam mri
peted II also believes that the dimensions ana
form OF construction preferred by the Uqmss1'or
better than the chsaper iptn nv cai for ex
pensve improvements within short lii % ahove
completion Both OF Inc routes I Teare the
These now being considered by '"e O7
sion. 49, x,o,s,,cs discussion
Of and report upon the entire canal pronle,m =
being pushed az rapidly as IT, srea snor w be
Submitted without delay. We are. sir Win srea'
respect, your obedient servants WALKER
Rear-Admira. United States Navy. President OF
Commission. ,,,, \, .r,r-p1.
C.vi! Engineer Member.
concur with the other members Of the Com:
r,sson in respect to the progress OF the WORK at1
the Feasibility OF the canal but think N we" on o
No diricuties incident to work In tropical coun-
tr,es that the estimate Is lower than 1t should pe
by about 20 per cent ,,rrp ~ HAMS
Colonel. Corps % Engineers. Member.