Evening star., 1898-12-08
NICARAGUA CANAL
Proposed Immediate Issue of Bonds
With Government Guarantee.
TIE new CONCESSION DENOUNCED
Comprehensive Sketch of Affairs of
the Proposed Waterway.
SURVEYS AND LEGISLATION

Senator Morgan gave notice in the Senate
yesterday of an amendment TO the Nicar-
aqua canal bill, authorizing the immediate
issuance, with guarantee by this govern
ment, of $1,000, 600 worth of bonds for the
redemption of all outstanding stock, except
that held by the governments of NicaraglI
and Costa RiCa, and the cancellation of all
obligations. He submitted at the same
time report upon the situation with refer
ence to the canal, dealing exclusively with
the fact that the government of Nicaragua
granted concession to construct a canal
to another company than the Maritime
Canal Company. He dealt with this tran
sactlon in severe terms, upholdng the
rights of the Maritime company for the
present and for an extension of its conces-
sion for ten years more
Inc report arraigns in most severe terms
the conduct of the republic of Nicaragua
as well as that of the American citizens
obtaining the new concession attributinp
the course OF Nicaragua to jealousy of Cos
"a flca, ana that of the concessionaires to
oostruct great national policy in selling
out TO a transcontinental railroad com
pany for the defeat of a supposed comneti-
tor.
1t would be well for the reputation of
dlshonoring governments for their ner
sohfu advantage and using their powers to
create Jealousies between states if it could
appear that their conduct is not also cor
rupt"
The committee adduces as a justification
OF the new report the seriousness of the
si.uatlon' SAYING on this point: The seri-
Gus consequences likely to result to the
United States from this unprecedented and
unWarranted action of the late government
OF Nicaragua and the evident purpose to
large sum as compensation for the future
consent OF the republic of the United States
OIL central America to the creation of a
maritime canal through the San Juan
river and Lake Nicaragua, requires the
committee to present the grounds on which
1t insists that this proceeding is wirhonf
any support in -dw, justice or equity, and
that 1t violates the hitherto cordial rela-
t1ons of the United states with Nicaragua"
First Survey of the Line.
The report of the select committee on
the construction of the Nicaragua canal
contains brief yet comprehensive history
/ of affairs affecting the canal from the
earliest days of the project to the present
time
The first authentic survey and actual
location of canal route across Mica
ragua," the report states, were made bv
colonel o. NJ. Childs in 1850, 1851 and 1852
at the instance of the then existing transit
company, which had established trans
isthmian communication with California by
steamer from Greytown via the San Iuan
river to Virgin bay or the west shore of
Lake Nicaragua, and thence by stage ia
San Juan del Sur, a small natural harhor
on the Pacific coast about eight miles
southeast of Brito. The river transporta-
ton proved troublesome and uncertain at
low stages. and the transit COMPANY soueht
means to better these conditions and to
continue the water route across the narrow
neck of land that separates the lake and
the Pacific, with the object of securing a
continuous depth of seventeen feet.
"Childs found the ordinary high level
of Lake Nicaragua to be los feet above
mean sea level. This difference of eleva-
ton was to be overcome by fourteen locks
on each side. The locks were to be 30
by 60 by II feet; the bottom width of the
canal, 80 feet, increased to 80 feet at turn
outs, and of eXcavated channels in river
and lake. $50 iaet. The total length of the
proposed navigation was 1914 miles The
total estimat I'd cost of the project, includ-
ing 10 per cent for contingencies was
$3l S,319, based on the supposition that on
the average the expense for construction
would be about double the cost of similar
work in the state of New York.
The LuT Project, 1877
In 1872 a United States expedition was
fitted out for the re-examination of the
Childs route. The final report of the ex-
ploration, including location and estimates
cember l, 1873 by Commander Lull, u. S
N, with whom was associated as chief civil
engineer Mr.. a. G. Menocal, subsequently,
chief engineer of the canal company
The Lull project contemplated a canal
of 26 feet depth. 1t lowered Childs' sum
nit level to 107 feet. To overcome this
elevation eleven locks We're projected on
the Pacific side and ten locks on the At
lantic side. The locks We're to be 400 by
30 by 26 feet. the bottom width of the canal
J, q
of eNcavated river channel 50 feet. The
total length of navigation from Brito to
Greytown was Isl IA miles. The total
estimated cost, including an item of So
100000 for the restoration of Greytown har-
Dor, destroyed since Colonel Childs exam
ined 1t, and including % per cent for con-
tingencies, was 500, -, ,147. The instru-
mental work of the Lul survey was not
adapted to much more than a preliminary
location, the levels We're not checked and
for about forty miles of San Juan river only
gradienter was used in place of transit
and level The unit prices used in COM
putting cost were apparently based on the
supposition that they would not exceed
those for similar work in the United States.
The Menocai Project, 1855.
In 1885 Mr.. Menocal, under government
direction, made 4 partial re-examination
and location. The project was for a depth
of % feet. and in some places 80 feet. The
summit level in the lake was to be raised
to an elevation of 10 feet above mean sea
level and the ascent from the Pacific to the
lake to be accomplished by four locks. Pro-
ceeding eastward from the lake, the bold
measure was proposed to dam the San Juan
river at Ochoa with a dam GO feet above
water surface, and thus practically extend
the lake navigation by 20 miles. A COM
plete change of line was projected from
Ochoa to Greytown, accomplishing a con-
siderable saving of distance. Between
Ocho and Greytown there were to be three
locks The locks were to be $50 by IS by
% feet; the bottom width of the canal so
feet, increased at the terminals to 12O feet:
of excavated channel in river 125 feet, and
in lake $50 feet.
THE total length from Brito to Grey
town was 1898 miles The estimate cost
of the first project, including % per cent
for contingencies, was S64, ,036, 1877.
The Maritime Canal Company.
Under the direction of the Maritime
Canal Company, engineering examination
of the country was conducted from 1887 TO
1890. The resulting project, as set forth in
no h1r