Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-12-30
THE PROJECT is FEASIBLE.
Maritime Canal cornpanys Route would
Make the Cost s1aa 200, 900 the Ha1l d
Route Million Less. An I'm
Undertaking.
{By Telegraph.l

Department Of State. Nicaraguan Ca
nal Commission, Washington, Dec.
26th, 1898.
To the Honorable, the Secretary of
State, Washington, D. c.:
Sir: We have the honor to acknowl- 81
eose the receipt OF your letter Il the #
18th instant, enclosing copy Of
luton of the Senate Of the 18th ssss
cember, requesting a report of
gress made by this commission 3sS
vestigating the question CT proper g
the feasibility and cost OF CONSTRUCT
of the Nicaraguan canal. s3ssjsSs
This commission has understood ~ s3
law, by which it was constituted HssSss
proved June 4, 1897, to require that En-
routes heretofore proposed, having anyW
merit, are to be considered, new rout es
mat appear to have merit are to be
developed, and the entire region of ca
nal possibilities to be examined with
sutlctent thoroughness to enable a Just
and comprehensive comparison, of the
various routes to-be and the most desj-s-
rable one selected In short, to enable
this commission to make a complete and
exhaustive report.
LABORS OF THE COMMISSION.
with this view the commission visited
Nicaragua. personally examined the en-
tire canal pegion from ocean to ocean
ana employed some seventy engineers
with their laborers and helpers, # or ten
4 months, IN l1lng@car eful surveys and
amino tllons. 81
metsorofogI i an iiydToidT obs
servers are Still Con "a III lcsa a
With a view to obtain g. full yea Of:
observations Of that nature. ifsg33
The entire field work has been OBJ
tanned N. s5S;
The reduction Of this field work to-
gether with the complication and conl-A
parson Of former surveys going backM
nearly nifty years, has been in progress
Tor more than two months; The com
mission believes that the construction OF
canal across Nicaragua is entirely
feasible
The estimates for two Of the best
known characteristic routes have been
nearly completed. These routes are
known as the Maritime Canal Compa-
nyss route and the Lull route. The es- Il
timated cost is $124 000, 600 and Sl23. 600.
600 respectively. i$
IMMENSE UNDERTAKING.
The assumed dimensions are consider
ably created than ever before proposed. ..5
both in length OF locks and in wild til,
depth and radius of curvature of canal.
These increased dimensions. have been
made necessary by the demands of
modern commerce, size and drift
modern ships, etc. This has necessarily
made corresponding increase in the
estimated cost. and is in no way cor1-s
slstent with the estimates made from.
the former surveys which contemplated
much smaller and cheaper canal.
canal of smaller dimensions, just
sufficient for present trade, is being Ees-S
timated. Such a canal would cost con-
siderable less than the estimate for "a y
canal suitable for modern necessities,
which is referred to above. sss5s s8sss
It is the opinion Of this commission
that of the two routes herewith estina-&
ted for the one called the LulI route is
the more desirable, because it is easier
of construction, presents no problems
not Well within good engineering precenx
dents, and Will be safer and as#s
reliable canal when completed
beileves that the dimensions9
OF construction preferred
mission are better than
form with smaller dineYH
would undoubtedly call II expe
i'm aen,nas,aa within time afss
COST MAY BE REDUCED.
Both of the routes referred to aboy,As
admit Of variance, which may reduc@ a
the cost. These are now being conside
ed by the commission ESs
The work necessary for an exhaustivEssas
discussion OF and report upon the entilSssss
canal problem, is being pushed as ra pitSSss|
~ as its great magnitude permits, ankkS#
when completed, the report will be SUI Ss
United without delay. Ss8S
We are, with great respect, your cbeHSSse
dent servants, s sA|
]. E. WALKER. Egass
Rear Admiral, u S. N, President Hs
Commission. Easz9s
LEWIS N. HAUPT, N@S ss
Civil Engineer Member. NMs
j concur with the other members of%
commission in respect to feasibility of 4
canal. but l think in view of the in
creased size OF the canal estimated, and
the difficulties incident to work in 4
tropical countries. that the estimate isEs
lower than it should be by a bqskw en3#
ty per cent eBasS5$
PETER C. IIA
Colonel Corps of Engineers