The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-06
REPORT On THE CANAL
viii Be Ready About the
Time Congress Meets.
COMMISSION HAS AGREED
That the Project Is Feasible,
and is Computing Cost.

Washington, Nov. 5-The Nicaragu
canal commission appointed by the presi-
dent under an act Of congress, directing
a complete inquiry into this project, with
and cost. has about completed its work and
the present prospect is that the report will
be handed to Secretary Hay in about a
month. The commission has taken a
building on Eighteenth street. formerly
used as the legation, and under the direc-
ton of Admiral Walker, chairman, a force
Of thirty-five computers, draughtsmen, en-
gineers. etc, are at work on the report,
and the mass OF technical after which will
accompany 1t, making in al the most
elaborate presentation of the subject ever
attempted. The commission is laborng,
however. to avoid prolixity, and to CEN
tralize the salient features of this great
project, leaving the statistics and details
to follow in supplements. This promises
to give a report which will be ineligible
by its conciseness and not sufficiently com
prehensive to meet the requirements of
such a large problem.
The commission has gone about its work
feeling that it was likely to furnish the
basis for the final action of this govern
ment on the building of the canal.
PROJECT ENTIRELY FEASIBLE.
The conclusion reached by the commits
sion will not be announced until the re-
port Is submitted. 1t is known, however
that on the two salient features-prac-
ticability and cost-the commission will re-
port, first, that the project OF canal
Joining he Atlantic and Pacific by what is
commonly known as the Nicaragua route,
is entirely feasible and practical, present
ing no engineering problems which can
not be met; and, second, that the cost can
be presented with a fair degree of mathe-
matical exactness. allowing for excavation
construction and all other items. The re-
port will give this cost in figures, but the
amount IS not yet known. even to the
commissioners. as it will depend upon the
careful computations new being made.
NO GUESsWORK FIGURES.
The purpose is to make It as near math-
ematically exact as possible and not TO
give a mere opinion of the various COM
missioners. Admiral Walker has already
expressed the opinion before a congress
sioDal committee that the cost would be
within s125, O00. 000 and this is understood
to be his opinion still. But the report will
state a figure not based on opinion, but
on the careful calcula tons of the many
NJ n
branch of the project The only element
of doubt will be in establishing the unit
of cost for certain estimates, as there may
be differences as TO this unit, depending or
conditions of the soil, climate. etc For in
stance, while the commissioners may fix
with exactness the total number of cubic
feet of excavation required in such a
vast undertaking, 1t is not easy to fix on
50 cents, or any other sum, as the unit for
reckoning the whole or any considerable
part of the work. This VII lbe done as
close as possible under the circumstances
and the indications are that the figures as
to cost will be exceptionally conclusive in
showing the utmost limit to which the
government could be put If the building
of the canal is begun
The report. it is understood will be
unanimous, as the commissioners are
agreed upon all the essential features of
cost. practicability, route, etc. the only
difference being those natural shades of
opinion as to the unit OF cost on some Of
the branches of the work.
A NON-POLITICAL REPORT.
The report Will not refer to the political
to the scientific and engineering problems.
The political questions, it is recognized, are
for the state department and for congress
and these win be working out about the
time the report is presented. They in
volve the question Of concessions and
rights granted by Nicaragua TO the old
Nicaragua Canal company. and quite re-
Gently 10 a company of American capital
lists; also the question of the right of the
United States TO build the canal as dis
tinct government enterprise. without ref
erence to private concessions: and. finally.
the complications growing out of the dis
appearance of Nicaragua on November l
as a governing nation and it absorption by
the United States of Central America. As
stated, however, the commission will not
deal with the political questions and viii
not make recommendations or discuss con-
ficting private interests. but viii confine
itself strictly TO the pro5ec as an engineer
ing enterprise. It is known 20 be the
private opinion OF some Of the members
of the commission that the government.
and not private enterprise IS the only
means by which the canal can be con-
structed.
TO THE UNDERTAKING.
one Of the most serious obstacles urged
against the canal as q government pro-
tsct has been the Clayton-Bulwer treaty
and the right OF joint occupancy and con- |
troll under it claimed by Great Britain.
But there IS a growing feeling that the |
sentiments developed between the two |
during the progress Of the recent |
war VIII so far TO remove this obstacle. |
and will probably pave the way for a COM |
plece understanding between the countries. |
MILLION DOLLARS A DAY
Smashing Record OF Manufactures
Exported to Date This Year
Washington. Nov. An increase % over /