The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-03
At WORK ON THE BIG CANAL .
NICARAGUA COMMISSION PURSUING
ITS LABORS.
Estimated Cost OF the Waterway In
100000, 900 - Important Discov-
cries fn the Survey Of the Lake

NEW YORK. March A letter 20 the
Herald from Rivas, Nicaragua, says:
The canal commission has finished its
work on the division OF the canal project
between Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific,
and viii cross the lake on the Victoria on a
special trip today or tomorrow. The revo-
lutionary outbreak delayed the commits
sion five days. the Victorian not being
available, as the government Vas using
the steamer for transporting troops.
preliminary report on the canal project
could be made. should it be requested, for
the session OF congress. 1t would state
that the canal is wholly feasible, although
specific reports as to the more important
features could not be made. The cost Of
the canal. based on study and Observation
made up to the present time. is reckoned
at about 500. CO, 0I0
After arriving at San Carlos. the party
will go down the San Juan river as far as
Ochoa, proceeding from this point into
Greytown over the line OF the canal. The
line has been cleared and several well
provisioned camps established for the use
or Admiral Walker and his party. The
commission Will make thorough obserya-
tons OF the topography OF the country gem
orally. as we'll of that Immediately con-
cerned in the canal line. Admiral Walker
and his party have moved their camp from
San Pablo, on the I.axas, and are now sew
eral miles further westward the canal line
being cleared inland from the lake for
about six miles. The party is working UNI
der Instructions TO Determine that the
canal line as laid at present is the only
line and the cross sections are being run
LOCO feet either side OF the line. The
canal company's cross sections were run
400 feet. The present survey will conse
quently result in a Typographical map
showing 1000 feet width across the west
ern division, save in localities where the
higher land prevails.
The present is the dry season on the
western side and il is an open question
whether work on the rainy east side or
work on the dry west side is preferable.
Admiral Walkers party has experienced
great difficulty in cutting its way through
the very heavy unJerbrush and the pro-
gress has been considerably retarded.
The Alert, whose owners are 10 make a
survey al Brito, similar work TO that now
being done by the officers of the Newport
at Greytown. arrived at San Juan del Sur
on the night Of FEBRUARY =. The Alert was
detained at Acapulco on her voyage down
from San Francisco for a week in conSe-
quence OF the illness OF Lieut.. Young.
Lieut.. Hanus. In his survey and sound
ings of the big lake. has made some in
teresting and important discoveries. Sur
veys of the coast line have developed the
fact that the shore line OF the lower end
runs out into the lake five miles further
than existing maps show II. In other
words, the lake at this point is five miles
shorter than 1t has previously been held
to be. Lieut.. Hanus has aiso found a 80
foot channel running three miles nearer 10
the San Juan river entrance at San Carlos
than present plans or charts show. This
would mean a reduction of three miles in
the amount OF dredging 10 be done from
the river 10 deep water in the lake.
while camped at La Flor, the commits
sion studied the coast line az Brito. There
Is no harbor al Brito. There IS merely an
indention on the coast line, but the con-
struction and maintenance OF harbor are
not regarded as difficult. On this point
nearly all the experts who have studied
the situation. are agreeu. The details
alone remain TO be worked out and the IN
dividual opinions of the commission TO be
welded into one 1t Will not require nearly
the time for the commission TO come TO a
conclusion in regard To the harbor AT Rri,o
that II Will TO reach conclusion az 4 the
La Flor feature of the canal company's
project. The Ludlow commission Of 1895
refused to consider u dam at this point at
all, in consequence of the unsatis factorv
results of the canal COmpany's borines
and suggested another route for the canal
in this vicinity.
1T will probably be months before the
commission finishes its discussions OF this
feature. The Views OF the members vary
considerably. An Interesting compromise
for the situation has Leen suggested. IL
would construct two dams, one at La Flor
and ono a. a point just west of the divide.
some miles east of la Flor. The eastern
dam would be on higher ground and about
forty feet high. BY this compromise two
basins would be created instead OF one.
and the La Flor dam would become IA
much less formidable undertaking. The
tax upon its strength and permeabiiNy
would be much decreased. This suggests
a compromise which. when fully worked
out may possibly become the commits
son's solution OF the problem OF the west
ern division, should II develop that Il is
feasible in all is aspects and should no
better solution be found.
Final conclusions on this point. how
ever. as well as on other important fea
lures OF the line viii not be reached until
the reports of the various parties whose
work bears so materially upon the whole
canal project have been made"